Chapter I: Foreword

My definition of a _Wallflower_ is: One who is for some reason or other always on the outskirts of social life. Strictly defined a _Wallflower_ is one who stands against the wall at dances.

I know perfectly that being a _Wallflower_ hurts more than anything on earth because that is what I am myself or that is what I was until I conquered my sensitiveness which after all is the main fault of that _avis rara_. Even now, criticism, too harsh or too personally aimed, is liable to drive me into my particular hole whence it takes a mighty strong bit of persuasion to entice me.

Those lapses are fewer and fewer now, however, and I feel that eventually I’ll be as hard as nails and quite the life of the party whenever I choose to be.

The exact mode of dealing with the malady stumped me at first but after having made my first facetious attempt which was by way of crucifying the very soul (if there is a soul) of the person I might be trying to help, severely criticized by one whom I happen to know could never have been a _Wallflower_, I have chosen the confidential chat manner. I shall take every one of you quietly aside in a sort of Ben B. Lindsey manner and try with all I have in me to help you to get as far as possible from the _Dread Wallfloweritis_.

We shall see together just what can be done to make you, if not the life of the party, certainly a passable sort of person whom everybody greets with a happy smile and who feels that he is wanted.