New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-21
The DECAY or ENTHUSIAST.
From The Londol Globe.


Like fire, enthusiasm might be described as L" a
good servant but n bad master" Enthusiastic
persons are apt to be disturbed by their quieter
brethren who share TalleyIands dislike to tTop do
zele in any cause. And yet what "a blank would
he left III the world If all enthusiasm banished
IRON it. The calm judging, sober-mlnded man, who
can never be- stirred to strong emotion, Is doubtless
n wise and safe acquaintance, but is apt TO become
an extremely tedious one. An impartial histo-
ran is generally very dull reading When Johnson
said that he liked good hater' he doubtless IN
tended to convey protest against the cOlorlcSs
amiabe characters who are capable OF neither
strong affections strong dsllkes; who cannot be
stirred to anger by sight OF wrong doing, nor to
admiration by knowledge of deeds of heIolsin; who
pass through life without experiencing half the
troubles of their more sensitive neighbOrs. and gen
orally attain 10 an extreme old age. FOnenelle
an example OF this kind of person and he him
self attributed his unusual length of life The at
tanned the age of ninetyfOurl &c the tact that he
never laughed and never cried" Most people are
familiar with the story of the friend who came to
visit him when the savant was about to give dIrec
tons regarding the dressing OF dls1 OF early
asparagus. Fontenelle invited his visitor to share
the dellcacy, and finding that he preferred the
asparagus cooked without oil. directed the cook to
prepare half OF the bundle to his friend taste half
10 his own. Scarcely, however had the cook
quilted the apartment than the visitor fell down in
fit and EXPIRED This tragic occurrence did not so
disturb the easygoing philosopher as to make him
forget his dinner. lie ran promptly to the door and
called TO the servant, My poor friend the able is
dead. You can dress all the asparagus with oil"
Iontenelle was not n solitary example of this
equanimity of temper a nature peculiarly Irrtat-
ing to cXctable persons, " no do not scrupe
attribute the philosophers calm 10 the seliishness of
the philosophers disposition. Enthusiastic people
often commit great alsuIdities but certainly
more lOvabe individuals than the intensely reason
able man, whose heart never Oyerrules his head
Most of would prefer friends to love after
the partial fashion OF the fair Quakeress who,
when asked by "a youthful friend if she could give
him her love-" demurely replied. Yea, john, give
my love to all our members, but am afraid that
thee is getting more than thy due share"
Whether for good or evil, enthusiasm would seem
to be on the wane in the present day. 1t is decid-
eddy out of fashion. Centuries ago "reposep of
manner not characteristic of the class OF
We're de Nere" What should now term
childish exhibition of emotion was looked upon with
respect. Great kings were not ashamed OF giving
way TO public bursts of fury, rarely beheld save in
lunatic asylums. Philip dc Confines relates, quite
rs n matter of course, how the Duke of Burgundy
was wont to yield TO the widest outbursts of pas
sion If opposed thwarted and appears TO have
thought none the worse OF him for these outbreaks
How constantly do read or death or injury in
fcted on their nearest and dearest by men incap-
able Of self-control, and how lenenty their age
judged these fits of IeTseTker fury. They were
equally outspoken in their repentance. To walk in
procession publicly acknowledging their crimes was
az little humiiating to q king noble as to tall
into fits of mad passion. Mail-clad warriors en-
braced in public TO shed tears readily was looked
upon as a mark of sanctity, the donum lachryma-
rum coveted by pious monks. The strangest vows
were made, the widest projects undertaken by
acute and talented men, in an age when enthusiasm
was respected and encouraged.