Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24
The Decay Of Enthusiasm.


Like fire, enthusiasm might be described as
"a good servant but a bad master" Enthu-
siastic persons are apt to be disturbed by their
quieter brethren who share Talleyrand's dislike
to ''trop de zele" in any cause. And yet what a
blank would be left in tho world If all enthu-
siasm were banished from It, The calm judg-
Ing, sober-minded man. who can never be
stirred to strong emotion, is doubtless a wise
and safe acquaintance, but is apt to become an
extremely tedious one. An "impartial" histo-
son said that he liked "a good hater," he
doubtless intended to convey protest against
the cOlOrless. amiable characters who are
capable of neither strong affections nor strong
dislikes; who cannot be stirred to anger by
sight of wrong doing, nor to admiration by
knowledge Of deeds OF heroism; who pass
through life without experiencing half the
troubles Of their more sensitive neighbors, and
generally attain to an extreme old age. FOn-
tenelle was an example of this kind Of person;
and he himself attributed his unusual length of
life Che attained the age Of ninety-four) to the
fact that she 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 directions regarding the
dressing Of dish of early asparagus. FOnten-
ellie invited his visitor to share the delicacy; and
finding that he preferred the asparagus
cooked without oil, directed the cook to prepare
half Of the bundle to his friends taste, half to
his own Scarcely, however had the cook
quilted the apartment than the visitor fell down
in fit and expired. This tragic occurrence did
make him forget his dinner. He ran promptly
to the door and called to the servant, "My
poor friend the able is dead. You can dress ali
the asparagus with Oil. Fontenelle was not
solitary example Of this equanimity of temper;
a nature peculiarly irritating to more excitable
VII m do nnf 10 fo OFT vsh r,ko kho
philosophers calm to the selflshness OF the phil
OsOpher's disposition. Enthusiastic people
often commit great absurdities, but are Ger
tainly more lovable individuals than the in
tensely reasonable man, whose heart never
overrules his head. Most Of us would prefer
our friends to love us after the partial fashion Of
the fair Quakeress, who, when asked by q
youthful friend If she could s'give him her
love, "demurely replied, ssYea, 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. It
is decidedly out offashion. Centuries ago 'tre-
pose" of manner was not q characteristic of s'the
class of We're de vere;" What We 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 de Confines relates, quite as matter Of
course, how the Duke Of Burgundy was wont
to yield to the widest outbursts Of pas
sion II opposed or thwarted; and appears
to have thought none the worse Of him for
these outbreaks. How constantly do we read
of death or injury inflicted on their nearest
and dearest by men incapable OF self-eontrol,
and how leniently their age judged these fits OF
Berserker fury. They were equally outspoken
in their repentance. To walk In procession
publicly acknowledging their crimes was as lit
tie humiliating to king or noble, as to fall
into fits Of mad passion. Mail-clad warriors
embraced in public to shed tears readily was
looked upon as mark Of sanctity the ssdonum
strangest vows were made, the widest projects
undertaken. by acute and talented men, In an
age when enthusiasm was respected and en-
cOuraged.