The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-26

AmO W. 49, >~W~-1~ - = e@@
What should we be without this gift
TO brighten our existence on our earthly
pilgrimages A love Of fun il mcst Oft
on accompanied by . cheerful and
lively disposition. We can imagine no
drearier state than that of On individual
who, during the whole Of his lifetime,
can obtain no fun or pleasure in the
slightest degree, in his daily inter-
course with his fellow-creatures But
it is O well-known fact that even of the
best of things one can have too much.
Even fun has its limit, and a more
wearisome thing can scarcely be mag
ined than an individual who, at the
most Inappropriate time, cannot re-
frain from turning the most common
place of conversation into fun and ridi-
cule. This is certainly great failing;
but of course there is grayer aspect
under which it can be regarded, name
ly, the love of lll-natured fun. A laugh
raised at the expense of a well-meaning
person is highly injudicious. and in
many cases rarely forgotten. The turn
ing into Eidicule of another persons
words and ideas in most uncharita-
BILE and hurtful habit, when long
forgotten by the speaker, rankles in
the mind OF the victim. There is moth
ing more disagreeable to a very Sensi-
tive nature than the fear of being made
fun of or turned into ridicule, and the
very slightest inclination toward this
unchristianlike habit will cause the
victim of it such pain and shrinking q
less sensitive mind would scarce deem
possible. We should be especially care
full OF these sensitive ones, the more so
as one can never tell the harm care
less word leveled In mere jest may do.
1t rankles in the mind of the sensitive
one, and gives pernicious precedent to
the hearers, which happily 10 not
general, aud brings its own punish
ment; for those few who find roal
pleasure in giving pain to others by i'll
natured and personal fun are rarely
well spoken of, even by those who pro-
Tess to see no harm in it. A sarcastic
person may have many admirers, but
no real friends, as, directly personal
intercourse with them ceases, and when
ones back is turned, then one trembles
for ones own character. But this is
spiteful and uncharitable fun, only re-
sorted to by those who, Disguised with
and weary of the world, can find
consolation only in the endeavor
to convert others to their opinion.
There is one more abuse of fun
which is necessary only just to touch
upon, and which, while the love of pure
and holy things exist, can never become
habit mean the danger that one
has to guard against of speaking in fun
of sacred and holy things, or in any
way bringing them into ridicule 1t
may be that, to really witty person,
| the inclination to this irreverent prac-
| tice has to be more carefully guarded
against than to those whose sense of
wit is less keen. If witty speech or
joke is on our lips which would turn
into the slightest fun or ridicule things
only to be spoken or thought of with
reverence, let the witty sentence be
wasted, rather than be uttered to fall
perhaps on some untutored and waver-
| ing mind, and prove stumbling block
| in that mind for years and years after
the words were uttered and forgotten.
| SO much for the abuse of this gift.
But, on the whole, much more may be
said for than against it; for though it
may prove stumbling-block and "oc-
casion of falling" to some few, it is an
undeniable blessing to those who,, with
a constant and ever-ready source of
cheer fulness and fun, can make lighter
daily trials and difficulties, and even
afford help to less hopeful brother or
sister on their earthly journey. -Har-
per's Bazar.