The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-08
The Use and Abuse OF Fun.

What should we be without this
gift to brighten our existence on
our earthly pilgrimage? A love of
fun is most often found accompan-
led by a cheerful and lively disposi-
ton. We can imagine no drearier
state than that of an individual
who, during the whole of his life
time, can obtain no fun or pleasure,
in the slightest degree, in his daily
intercourse with his fellow crea-
lures. But it is a well-known fact
that even of the best of things one
can have too much.
Even fun has limit, and a more
wearisome thing can scarcely be
imagined than an individual who, at
the emostinappropriate times, can not
refrain from turning the most COM
monplace of conversation into fun
and ridicule. This is certainly a great
failing; but of course there is q
grayer aspect under which it can be
regarded, namely, the love of lima
tured fun. A laugh raised at the
expense of a well-Meaning person is
highly injudicious, and in many
cases rarely forgotten. The turning
into ridicule of another persons
words and ideas is most uncharit-
able and hurtful habit, which when
long forgotten by the speaker, ran
kles in the mind of the victim.
There is nothing more disagreeable
to very sensitive natures than the
fear of being made fun of and turn
ed into ridicule, and the very slight
est inclination toward this unchris-
tianlike habit will cause the victim
of it such pain and shrinking that
less sensitive mind would scarcely
deem possible. We should be espe-
cially careful of these sensitive ones,
especially as one can never tell the
harm careless world levelled in
mere Jest may do. 1t rankles in the
mind of the sensitive one, and gives
a pernicious precedent to the hear
ers of it. After all, this is failing
which happily is not general, and
brings its own punishment; for
those few who find real pleasure in
giving pain to others by ill-natured
and personal fun are rarely well
spoken of, even by those who pro-
fess to see no harm in it. A sarcas-
tic person may have many admirers,
but no real friends, as, directly per-
sonal intercourse with them ceases,
and when ones back is turned, then
one trembles for ones own character.
But this is a spiteful and uncharita-
bic fun, only resorted to by those
who, disgusted with and weary of
the world, can find co1solation in
the endeavor to convert Others to
their opinion.
There is one more abuse of fun
which is necessary only ju-tto touch
upon, and which, while ;he love of
pure and holy things exists, can J..
never become q habit mean the
danger that one has toguard against
of speaking in fun OF sacred and
holy things, or in any way bringing
them into ridicule. 1t may be that,
to real witty person, the inclina-
ton TO this irreverent practice has
to be more carefully guarded against
than to those whose sense of wit is
less keen. If a witty speech or joke
is on your lips which would turn
into the slightest fun or ridicule
things only to be spoken or thought
of with reverence, let the words re-
main unspoken, let the witty SEN
tence be WASTED, rather than be ut
tered to fall on some untutored and
waivering mind, and prove stum-
bling block in that mind for years
and years after the words were ut
tered and forgotten. So much for the
abuse of this gift. But, on the whole,
much more may be said for than
against it; for though it may prove
a stumbling block and occasion of
falling" to some few, it is an unde-
niable blessing to those who, with
constant and ever ready source of
cheerfullness and fun, can make
lighter daily trials and difficulties,
and even afford to help less hope
ful brother or sister on their earthly
journey: