Miscellany: Shame Chart

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In Manhattan, J. Robert Stout, 55, president of the International Benjamin Franklin Society, founder of Educational Thrift Service and onetime president of the New York Rotary Club, asked a dozen assorted bankers, psychologists, admen and businessmen to lunch. After lunch, Mr. Stout presented each of his guests with a booklet containing 100 exceedingly personal questions which were designed to foster sharp self-appraisal, shame the questionee to better behavior. Each answer carried with it a grade, and the final total of plus and minus ratings located the individual in society. Some questions:

Do you pay more than your equal share of common expenditures when in the company of others?

If you failed to keep a promise to repay borrowed money to a person and were ushered to a seat in the theatre next to him, would you change your seat?

How many occupants in your sleeping room?

Do you attend church only as a social or business expedient?

How often do you bathe each week?

Do you understand the conventions of contract bridge?

Do you always use a handkerchief when you sneeze or cough?

Do your eyes need attention right now?

How much do you walk, daily average?

You will now take a ten-minute recess. during which you will go in person, call on the telephone, write a letter or send a telegram, fully and frankly confessing your most recent deceit, explaining a recent negligence, apologizing for a discourtesy or keeping an overdue promise.

If you found $10,000 in currency would you make a sincere effort to find the owner? (Take five minutes to answer.)

Do you of your own knowledge know how nearly your watch show's correct time at this moment?

What is your habitual form of gambling?

How many of your accounts payable for living expenses are delinquent 30 days or more?

Do you remember the place where you last saw a beautiful sunset?

Is your living standard adjusted to your present income?

Have you now in your possession a borrowed book or umbrella you are ashamed to return?

How many times have you seriously considered suicide?

If you had a dinner engagement with an interesting person whose favor you were seeking, how long would you delay keeping the engagement to wait for the veterinary to come to see your very sick dog?

"The average seems to be somewhere around 70," said Questioner Stout. ''I personally must confess that I got a terrible minus score, but since applying myself diligently I have succeeded in showing an improvement of 4.06% over the first time."