The private life of |Donald Duck

Title

Language

English

Year

1939

Subject

Donald Duck (Fictitious character)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

1TSee yourself hereTHE PRIVATE LIFE OF DONALD DUCK Hrs publicity agents will tell you gravely that Donald Duck represents what every member of the audience has at some time wanted to be-scrappy, irrepressible, and generally ornery. His lack of inhibition makes him the favorite of millions. Paradoxically, he is said to appeal to the maternal instinct of women, each of whom feels that she would be capable of making him a better duck. Donald's cinema role is the direct opposite of the role of Mickey Mouse. fo contrast to Mickey's unimpeachable character and sunny smile, Donald's most characteristic trait is his pugnacity. His favorite line is "Wanna fight?" His stinging repartee, "Wah, wah, wah, wah," is delivered in perhaps the nastiest manner of which any stage or screen actor is capable. Friday the Thirteenthany old Friday the Thirteenth -is his birthday. Prophetically, he made his first appearance in Silly Symphony Number Thirteen, where for the first time plot exigencies left him a defeated but not despairing duck. Asked by the Wise Little Hen to help her plant corn, Donald developed colic. Subse32 quently, when the Wise Little Hen was enjoying her corn muffins, she informed Donald, "You were too sick to work, so you must be too sick to eat." Successful in this small role, Donald was called to appear with Mickey, the virtuoso of the cartoon world, whose popu~ larity must not be damaged by a poor supporting cast. Now Donald is regarded second in popularity to Miekey himself. Despite his bad disposition, he has a definite commercial appeal. He appears on balloons, sweatshirts, pencil sharpeners, penknives, flashlights, greeting cards, and lamp shades. He is manufactured in everything from hard rubber to platinum, and in all sizes. You may even purchase Donald Duck in diamonds and platinum for anything from $10 to $150. But with all his popularity, Donald is after all only a runner-up. You cannot even find out his salary; it is incorporated under the name of the more famous Mickey. Mickey winds up his pictures with Minnie safe at his side, receiving plaudits for his heroism and cleverness; PANORAMA Donald, when the curtain goes down, is usually peering, pathetically cross-eyed, from under some large, solid object. Perhaps the ultimate inferiority of his position accounts for Donald's ·unfortunate manners.Digest and Re'l'iew. MOST men are proud to be called bard workers. They like to brag about the tension, strain, and worry of their duties. Working bard is a religion with them. Modern psychology, however, points out that it is more important to be an easy worker than to be a hard worker.. Instead of working at high tension, the easy worker relaxes. He has trained himself to be calm and poised. He knows how to let go, and rest mind and body. He keeps fresh and vigorous. And most important of all, be gets more done than the bard worker! Walter Pitkin's little book, Take It Easy, discusses the art of easy working, and relaxation: "Today we begin to see that work and rest are not opposed quite so crassly as men once thought. We see that, while we shall never be rid of work, we may slough off its drudgery and overstrain. He. works best who uses the least energy, and yet accomplishes what he sets out to do. He works best who works laxly. He works best who works at what he likes. He works best who is the master of his job and not its slave." Here are a few of Pitkin's tips for relaxing: Imitating a restful person; lying down with lights out, listening to the radio; finding peace by glancing upward into the night sky; going regularly to motion pictures; simplifying our work and activities; letting go in the odd moments of unavoidable delay; concentrating on today, and not worrying about the tomorrows. Most leaders, Pitkin finds, are easy workers. In the midst of the whirl of things they remain unhurried, and calm. Yet they are prepared· to strike hard and fast when the need arises. Learning to be an easy worker is not easy. But the mastery of this art is the salvation of the business man.-The FrieruUy Adventurer. JANUARY, 1939 33

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