St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-12-06
Profitable Diversions.

1t IS well that q man, major portion
OF whose life must, from the actual
necessities of living, be devoted to
money-getting, should cultivate some
speciality by way of diversion. 1t NAV
be scientific pursuit, study of some
branch OF art, an investigation of some
agricultural subject, a following of
some historical will-o'- the-wisp, or
what not-only let it be labor of love.
The banker who devotes his odd hours
to ee-keeping, the mechanic who
takes up line of philosophy, the mer-
chant who INDUCES a stock breeding
whim, the lawyer who delights in
microscopy, the book-keeper with a
fancy for aeronautics, or the broker
with a passion for music-these are
the men who do not become drudges.
and who continually grow in moral
stature.
Such diversions are conducive to
longevity, and give to life a zest that
the possible rewards of commercial or
professional or mechanical industry do
not afford. And these diversions need
not be followed as purely recreative
matter, but earnestly and arduously,
with the purpose of securing impor-
tant results. personal and other
wise, though they will prove rec
reative nevertheless. 1t is, indeed,
sometimes most advisable that a Young
man should, for the sake of support dur
ing the prosecution of a particular scien-
titc, literary or artistic purpose, devote
himself to some wage-work, thereby
enabling him to hold himself independ-
ent of financial obligations or the dis
couraging effects of disappointment.
Great achievements in science and lit
erature and art have been made by
many who have adopted this course.
And this brings one round to a con.
sideration of the value of ones off
hours. If clerk in a counting-room,
whose days work is done at six O'Clock
in the afternoon, were to devote him
self to reading for the half-hour inter-
venlng between tea and the time the
theater or his lady-love may expect
him. and adhere to it for q year, he
would be amazed at the large number
of volumes through whose pages he
had gone. If, also, he had under
taken the course of reading with
the distinct purpose of obtaining knowl-
edge about some one thing, he would
have great reason to pride himself on
his acquisitions, and it is not improb-
able he would find higher desk at the
office awaiting him at the end of the
year. But better an aimless wander
ing in literature than no inspection at
all, 1t does not require much labor to
learn great deal of what other men
have learned, and such learning makes
a far better voter and citizen of the
student.
Benjamin Franklin was an admirable
type of man who found profit in d.
versions, and his character deserves at
tention from those who find their odd
hours going to waste. AS statesman
he played an important part in the
foundation of the government, yet as a
philosopher who sought the secrets of
Eature and who closely investigated the
principles of moral life, he left no
less definite impression upon the world.
We have stronger admiration for
D'IsraeDi when we find his name on
"Nivian Grey" and Macaulay and
Milton grow in our esteem when we
turn from their essays and poems to
the record of their political perform
ances. Our respect for Holmes, the
poet, is increased when we perceive |
that he is distinguished physician;
for Lubbock, the banker, when we hear |
of his bees, and for Wallace, the SOL |
der, when we read ssBen Hur." All |
these men found golden opportunity in
the hours for diversion, and their ca
reers should be full of suggestion to |
every young man with an ambition |
higher than his pockets.-G. C.. Nat |
utetcS, in The Current