Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

When you call me that, smile

from “The Virginian: a horseman of the plains” by Owen Wister

The statement above is one of the most misquoted from American literature, movie folklore, and culture. The misquote is:

smile when you say that

The implication is simple, if you are smiling, you can say just about anything to anyone. The smile erases all harm in the words and conveys the I am your friend message.

There is something about a smile that seems to open eyes, not literally, but opens the eyes to the inside of the person. Notice the eyes of people in a crowd. They eyes are open, but the person does not appear. When someone greets the person with a smile, the person appears through the eyes.

You can read most of The Virginian at Google Books. It is also for sale at Barnes and Noble.com. No doubt, you can find it at a local library. Its the best.