The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-21
CRAZES.

20. -HODOuf hAiOWS WHltHcls y IhC Noi
latest craze Gf there is a fafer ,Dne We
have not heard of it) is the ''toboggan
craze" which began to be epidemic at
the time of the Montreal carnival, when
taH the gay world within the reach OF
-Ttfsit city or Saratoga was suddenly IN
,fecsed, and men and women and chill
stten donned red caps, redn hunting
skirts or tunics, red leggins Eith TRIM
nnings OF Indian toggery. and took to
Sliding down Hill with all theif might
on ilat boards, ignoring sle1ghs, sleds
and skip-jacks, all of which Ihecame an
(eguated in a moment. .Hks toboggan
craze will be limited byLfEmate, cold
ard the formation of Ne2ffack slides,
hnless. as VIC confidently expect, some
Genius should invent IA mode of sliding
down hill on rollers, when the roller
toboggan will share in popularity
with the skating rink Rollers, 'or par
Tor skates, have been used in France
from time immemorial, How they be-
came popularized and converted into
popular mania in this country in few
months is one of the maryels of epi-
demic crazes. The word rink is
modern, having found its way into
Webster's supplement half dozen
wears ago, as covered hall into which
water was let and frozen fer skating
purposes, and also as a foored arena
for roller-skatng. From being a pas
time for little girls on sidewalks, it has
suddenly famed into universal pas
time Whole communities are infected
and rinks rival churches in numbers
and attendance. Divines, and even
Legislators stand aghast at the sudden
ness, violence and universally of this
new epidemic. 1t is only another evil
dence OF the predisposition of humanity
10 craZeS.
In the way of amusement, for a time
everything ran to croquet, now lawn
tennis is in the ascendant. The bicycle
had its turn. and it is yet a problem
whether it will subside into one of the
worlds recognized modes of locomO-
ton or whether it will die out and be
succeeded by some other temporary ce-
lebritv, No man is perfectly sane. If
one is not naturally cranky in streaks.
he is at least liable to fits of crankiness.
The wisest OF men do some things in the
course of their lives that show them to
be temporarily '.otf their base and
makes their friends wonder if they are
not getting ready for the lunatic asylum.
Every man counts certain doings of his
among his mistakes in life, )" when he
followed impulses that, in the light OF
subsequent reflection, seemed unac-
countabie. perhaps irresistible
Sympathetic crazes are far more COM
mon than individual. Men are gregari-
GUS like sheep. If one goes over a wall
the whole flock follows, if it is to plunge.
into ditch on the other SIDE An
army is routed if you can only start
panic in the ranks. Law and order are
overturned in the crowded city if you
excite and spread the mobocratic fever
on Il stirring question. Under the intlu-
ence of sympathetic fear strong men act
like children. There are crazes OF
every variety in style, social, civil, po-
litical. religious crazes in fashion, crazes
in amusement. business craZes, money
crazes, and each has its crowd of fol-
lowers and fanatics. Like the inmates
OF a madhouse. each ignores his own
malady and wonders at the craZiness of
his neighbor.
At the beginning of the last century
the gigantic speculation known as the
Southeast bubble craZed all England.
Shares went up in few weeks from
E100 to $1,000. 1t lasted only one sea-
son, from April to September, 1920, but
thousands of families were reduced to
beggary and the directors punished.
Small consolation TO the multitudes who
had been ruined by the infamous
frauds. Another stupendous swindle of
in . same era was George Laws Missis-
sinni scheme. The shares of the COM
ranv u,ore sold for a while at sixty
times their original value. Inevitable
colIapse and ~uin followed, and the
originator, once regarded as the prlnce
OF tinancicrs, died in poverty and dis
grace few years later.
The spread of the stock-gambiing
craze is one of the most notable OF our
later inSanities, due to two causes,
mainly, the innate love Of hazard and
lis games on the one hand, and covet-
ous desire 10 be rich on the other. The
spread of this craze is rs unaccountable
rs that of tobogganism or the roller
rink. Gambling is forbidden by law,
lotteries are interdicted, but the little
agencies, rills to Wall street, established
all through the country, enable new
comers and children, clerks and SER
wants, to invest their earnings and very
soon their steaiinos. in gambling vent
ures in stocks, till the whole community
Is infested by the mania Tor sudden
wealth.
The spread of this infection during
Ebo last few years among bank cashiers,
presidents, and holders of trust funds,
and the corresponding fraud and rascal
itv are at once astonishing and alarm
iag. Every now and then whole COM
Dmties are beggared by the collapse
, q trusted bank, and a worse feature
ian the loss OF the money is the wreck
, confidence in man-above all the
shock to all outward professions of hon
,ssy and religion. The highwayman is
q dreaded outlaw who takes what you
happen to have about you at the mo-
m ut: the burglar is vulgar thief, who
rs.gs your premises and takes what he
aaH lay his hands on III a hasty visit;
tie banker, perhaps an Archbishop, q
church elder, Il Sunday-school superin-
aadent. kindly takes charge of your all.
Eou trust him as you would the angel
G-bTiei, and III trice he scoops il
! q and Degg2r5 you as no chance bur
gIar or highwayman would think of do
Gg. The detected burglar or highway
I .aan goes to State prison under heavy
sentence; the respectable swindler or
defsultcr for light period, or he es-
capes altogether. except now and then
when a Fish or Ward commits enormi-
uas that compel prompt punishment.
Swift and sure justice on offenders in
h ~ places can alone check the tend
ency 10 the disposition to appropriate
tbe hard earnings OF others, and return
to society The confidence lost through
the swindling operations of trusted men
in public and private life.-Albany
! journal.