How to Analyze People on Sight. Elsie Lincoln Benedict

is no

      waiting for the show to start, for one thing.

      This is a decided advantage to him, for fat people do not like to depend

      upon themselves for entertainment.

      The Babies of the Race

      The first stage in biological evolution was the stage in which the

      alimentary apparatus was developed. To assimilate nutriment was the

      first function of all life and is so still, since it is the principal

      requirement for self-preservation.

      Being the first and most elemental of our five physiological systems the

      Alimentive--when it overtops the others--produces a more elemental,

      infantile nature. The pure Alimentive has rightly been called "the baby

      of the race." This accounts for many of the characteristics of the

      extremely fat person, including the fact that it is difficult for him to

      amuse himself.

      He of all types likes most to be amused and very simple toys and

      activities are sufficient to do it.

      Loves the Circus

      A serious drama or "problem play" usually bores him but he seldom

      misses a circus.

      The fat person expresses his immaturity also in that he likes to be

      petted, made over and looked after.

      Like the infant he demands food first. Almost the only time a fat man

      loses his temper is when he has been deprived of his food. The next

      demand on his list is sleep, another characteristic of the immature.

      Give a fat man "three squares" a day and plenty of sleep in a

      comfortable bed, and he will walk off with the prize for good humor

      three hundred and sixty-five days in the year. Next to sleep he demands

      warm clothing in winter and steam heat when the wintry winds blow.

      Fat People at the Beach

      If it were not for the exertion required in getting to and from the

      beaches, dressing and undressing, and the momentary coldness of the

      water, many more Alimentives would go to the beaches in Summer than do.

      Not Strenuous

      Anything, to be popular with the Alimentive, must be easy to get, easy

      to do, easy to get away from, easy to drop if he feels like it. Anything

      requiring the expenditure of great energy, even though it promises

      pleasure when achieved, is usually passed over by the fat people.

      The Art of Getting Out Of It

      "Let George do it" is another bit of slang invented by this type. He

      seldom does anything he really hates to do. He is so likable he either

      induces you to let him out of it or gets somebody to do it for him. He

      just naturally avoids everything that is intense, difficult or

      strenuous.

      The Peaceable Type

      If an unpleasant situation of a personal or social nature arises--a

      quarrel, a misunderstanding or any kind of disagreement--the fat man

      will try to get himself out of it without a discussion.

      Except when they have square faces (in which case they are not pure

      Alimentives), extremely fat people do not mix up in neighborhood,

      family, church, club or political quarrels. It is too much trouble, for

      one thing, and for another it is opposed to his peaceable, untensed

      nature.

      Avoids Expensive Quarrels

      The fat man has his eye on personal advantages and promotions and he

      knows that quarrels are expensive, not alone in the chances they lose

      him, but in nerve force and peace of mind.

      The fat man knows instinctively that peace times are the most profitable

      times and though he is not for "peace at any price" so far as the

      country is concerned, he certainly is much inclined that way where he

      is personally concerned. You will be amused to notice how this

      peace-loving quality increases as one's weight increases. The more fat

      any individual is the more is he inclined to get what he wants without

      hostility.

      The Real Thing

      The favorite "good time" of the Alimentive is one where there are

      plenty of refreshments. A dinner invitation always makes a hit with him,

      but beware that you do not lure a fat person into your home and give him

      a tea-with-lemon wisp where he expected a full meal!

      Always Ready for Food

      Substantial viands can be served to him any hour of the day or night

      with the certainty of pleasing him. He loves a banquet, _provided he is

      not expected to make a speech_. The fat man has a harder time than any

      other listening to long speeches.

      The fashion of trying to mix the two most opposite extremes--food and

      ideas--and expecting them to go down, was due to our misunderstanding of

      the real nature of human beings. It is rapidly going out, as must every

      fashion which fails to take the human instincts into account.

      Avoids Sports

      No prizes lure a fat man into strenuous physical exercise or violent

      sports. Although we have witnessed numerous state, national and

      international tennis, polo, rowing, sprinting, hurdling and swimming

      contests, we have seen not one player who was fat enough to be included

      in the pure Alimentive type.

      The grand-stands, bleachers and touring cars at these contests contained

      a generous number of fat people, but their conversation indicated that

      they were present more from personal interest in some contestant than in

      the game itself.

      The nearest a fat man usually comes to taking strenuous exercise is to

      drive in an open car. The more easeful that car the better he likes it.

      He avoids long walks as he would the plague, and catches a street car

      for a two-block trip.

      The Personal Element

      Due to his immaturity, the fat person gives little thought to anything

      save those things which affect him personally.

      The calm exterior, unruffled countenance and air of deliberation he

      sometimes wears, and which have occasionally passed for "judicial"

      qualities, are largely the results of the fact that the Alimentive

      refuses to get stirred up over anything that does not concern him

      personally.

      This personal element will be found to dominate the activities,

      conversation