Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-01-16


It Is well that 3 msn. major portion
Of whose life must, from the actual
necessities OF living. bo devoted to
money-getting. should cultivate some
speciality by way Of diversion. Il NAV
be scientific pursuit, study of some
branch OF at, an Investigation OF some
agricultural subject, . following of
some historical wiil-o'-tho-wisp, or
what not--only Let 10 be labor OF love.
The banker who deyotes his odd hours
to Bookkeeping. tho mcchanic who
takes up . line of philosophy. the mer-
chant who indulges q stock. breeding
whian.s the lawyer who delights in
microscopy. the book-kceper with a
fancy for aerouautics. or the broker
with passion for mpsic--these are
the men who do not become drudges,
and who continually grow in moral
stature 3es - ls -
Such diversions are conducive to
longevity, and give To life a zcst that
the possible rewards of commercial or
professional or mechanical industry do
not afford. And these diversions nee,l
not be followed ~ q purely recreatiys
matter, but earnestly and artluously.
with the purpose of Securing impor-.
tant results. personal and other
wise, though they will provo rec.
reative nevertheless. II Is, indeed.
sometimes most advisable that q Young
man should. for the sake ofsupport dur
ing the prosecution OF q particular scien-
titic. literary or artistic purpose, devote
himself TO some wage-work,5 thereby
enabling him tn hold himself indcpend-
ent OF financial obligations or the dis
couraging effects OF disappointment.
Great achievements in science and lit
eratIre aud 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. II clerk in 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-
vening between tea and the time the
theater or his lady love may expect
him, and adhere to it for year, he
would be amazed at the large number
OF volumes through whose pages he
bad gohe. IL. also. he hail under
taken the course of reading with
the distinct purpose of obtaining knowl-
edge abort some zone thing. he would
have great reason to pride himself on
his acquisitions, and it is not improb-
able he would lind 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 a great deal of what other men
have learned, aud such learning makes
a far better voter and citizen of the
student. 5~@aFSs a'A -9seeA
Benjamin Franklin was an admirable
type OF man who found profit in di.
versions, and his character deserves at.
tention from chose who find their odd
hours going to waste As q statesman
he played an important part in the
foundation of the government, yet as q
philosopher who sought the secrets Of
nature and who closely investigated the
principles of moral life, he left q no
less definite impression upon the world.
We have stronger admiration for
D'Israe)i when we lind his name on
"Viyian 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 u distinguished physician;
for Lubbock, the banker, when we hear
of his bees, and for Wallace, the SOL
dier, when we read "Beu Hur." All
these men found golden opportunity in
the hours for diversion, and their ca
reers shoald be full of suggestion to
every young man with an ambition
higher than his pockets.-G. C.. Aqi-
usews. in Tic Current fo a1g