Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-04-01
Selected Miseellanp.
The Use and Abuse of Fun.

What should we do without this gift
to brighten our existence on our earthly
pilgrimage? A love Of fun is most often
found accompanied by a cheerful and
lively disposition, We can imagine no
drearier state than that of an individual
who, during the whole of his lifetime,
can obtain no fun or pleasure, in the
slightest degree, in his daily intercourse
with his fellow creatures. But it is q
well known fact that even of the best of
things one eau have too much. Even
fun has its limit, and a more wearisome
thing can scarcely be imagined than an
individual who, at the most inappropri-
alto times, can not refrain from turning
the most commonplace of conversation
into fun and ridicule. This is certainly
great failing but of course there is
graver aspect under which il can be re-
garded, namely, the love of i'll natured
flu. A laugh raised ut the expense of
well-meaniDg person is highly injudi-
cious, aud in many cases rarely forgot
ten. The turning into ridicule of an
other PERSONS words and ideas is u most
unchartable and hurtful habit which.
when long forgotten by the speaker,
rankles in the mind of the victim. There
is nothing more disagreeable TO o very
sensitive nature than the fear Of being
made fun of and turned into ridicule,
and the very slightest inclination toward
this understandable habit will cause the
victim Of it such pain and shrinking
that less sensitive mind would scarcely
deem possible. We should be especially
careful of these sensitive ones, especially
as one can never tell the harm a care.
less word leyeled in mere jest may do
Il rankles in the mind of tho sensitive
one, and gives pernicious precedent to
the hearers of it. After all, this is a
failing which happily is not general, and
brings It's 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 profess to sec no harm in it. A
sarcastic person may have many adj
mire:s, but no real friends, as, directly
personal intercourse with them ceases,
and when ones back is turned, then one
trombles for ones own character. But
this is . spiteful and uncharitable fun,
only resorted to by those who, Disguised
with and weary of the world, can find
consolation in tho endeayor TO convert
others to their opinion There is one
more abuse of fun which is necessary
only just 10 touch upon, and which,
while the love Of pure and holy things
exists, can never become habit
mean the danger that one has 10 guard
against of speaking in fun Of sacred aud
holy things, in any way bringing them
into ridicule II may be that, to re-
ally witty person, the inclination to this
iircverent practice has 10 be moFo care.
fully guarded against than to those whose
sense Of wit Is lest keen. II witty
speech or joke Is on our lips which would
turn into the slightest fun or ridicule
things only to be spoken or thought Of
with reverence, let the words remain I'M
epoken, lot tho witty sentence be wasted,
rather than be uttered to fall perhaps on
some untutored and waverlng mind, aud
prove stumbling.block. 10 that mind
for years and years after the words we're
uttered and forgotten SO much for the
abuse Of this gift. But, on the whole
much more may be for than against II (,
for though IL may prove a stumbling
block and "occasion Of falling" to some
few, il is an undeuiable blessing to those
who, with constant and eyer-ready
source Of cheerfalness aud fun, can
make lighter daily trials aud difficulties.
aud even afford TO help less hopeful
brother or sister on their earthly jour
ncy.--Harper's Weekly.
When pretty Irish girl Is stolen away
they suspect some Boycotter.
/ A matchless story--onc in which there