How to Analyze People on Sight. Elsie Lincoln Benedict
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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