Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-05-04

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much for the fame of the thing. or be-
cause OF any strong desire to benefit the
world; they are the victims Of an irresti-
BILE impulse to penetrate the ice-bound
shores of th0 Arctic. or to hunt ostriches
in Patagonia. or to rub noses with the sa-
bic kings Of Central Africa. In carrying
out theirschemGs, these men will expend
any amount of money and endure any
amount of suffering, and the world at
large gets the benefit of their travelling
mania.
We arc much indebted for the increase
Of our knowledge to naturalists, who also
endure much fatigue in hunting but
terfIes and birds. and collecting shells
and snakes and sea-weeds, and sorting
out the rocks of which the earth is made;
all which they would not have been like
ly to do if they had not had mania in
that direction
Then there are others who have an
Unsuitable appetite for ferreting out and
collecting cid books and pamphlets
and manuscripts-not that they ever ex-
pect to read them, but simply for the
pleasure of the hunt. They rummage
garrets and about book-stalls day after
day, and dig into all sorts of crannies and
holes, and attend every library sale, not
always for any special love of literature,
but because they have mania for col
lecting; and if they can get hold of an
old book which nobody else has, their
cup is full to overAowing.
Rich treasures havs thus been brought
to light, for which scholars have great
cause to be thanktul-rare gems are
sometimes found am ing the rubbish
which these men rake together.
The coin collector is one of the most
indefatigable of human beings. The in
trinsic value OF q coin Is not matter
of the slightest account, and its histori-
cal value may not be especially regarded
il he can only beat everybody else in
the size and rarity OF his collection.
The autograph mania is still more
general, and when it develops itself, not
merely in accumulating the signatures
of ordinary men and women, but rath-
er authentic documents in the hand
writing of the great personages who
have figured in history. it is very re-
spectacle hobby.
The mania for collecting postage
stamps, which of course is quite modern
cannot be regarded as OF so high an or
der, the hkenesSness of great people
with which they are adorned have not
much attraction as works of art. and the
main charm depends upon the complet-
ness of the collection; if one or two
stamps are wanting in the Austrian or
any other list, its value is very much
| impaired.
There is, to besure, certain degree
Of interest in studying the style in which
the taste of different nations manifests
itself in their postage stamps; for even
here the peculiarities of the several por-
tons Of the earth can be more or Jess
distinctly traced.
The rage for old porcelain or pottery,
or what is known as the ceramic fever"
prevails just at present with great force
together with a passion for ancient
things in general.
Venerable relics that had long been
slowed away in remote places as of no
further service, are now brought to
light; chairs. buffets, chests of drawers
broken-winded bellows, andirons, brass
tenders, and warming pans, are all in
great demand.
Antique glass and crockery are equal
ly sought fer and rich treasures of ce-
ramic art are sometimes found among
the old kitchen cups and platterp.
There are persons who have mania
for rings and bracelets, and chains and
sleeve buttons. and necklaces and fancy
pins, and Iewelry in general; and when
they appear in public, they look as if
they were employed to advertise the
goods of some thriving goldsmith.
Fashion, in all Its extreme forms, may
be regarded as sort of mania. A little
while ago, all the ladies expanded their
dress with steel and whalebone, until it
took the form of an umbrella, and now
the balloon has collapsed and the UNI
brella is closed again.
| Structures are sometimes made to
grow upon the top of the head, archi-
tectural, botanical, chronological, or
otherwise, that are very suggestive of
the insane asylum.
It is very ancient mania that mani
tests itself in this way, and it is found
all over the world-ssvages often treat
ing their heads and hair after q more
elaborate style than anything we are
capable of doing.
Different people are marked by ma
MIA for some particular kind of game
croquet, lawn-tennis, polo, or perhaps
the Scotch golf.
Manias of one sort or another break
out in very mysterious way. They
cannot be explained, but we are carried
away by them none the less for this.