St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-07
CONCERNING HOBBIES
whs Importance of Having Ono and Gea
TIM. the Rest ONT of IT. IL

able to ride hobby well and grace
# v. 1t is more than an accomplish
+, if the rider is a Judge of hobbies;
has made the right selection; If
neither too proud Of his mount or /.
riding. Granted all this in the
horse rider, and he is not only
c. It to himself but help to his fell
lows. In fact, to be of any lasting help
and usefulness to mankind; to add to
its knowledge, to its comfort, to its
power, man must not attempt to reach
his object on foot The way Is too
long, his time too short. He must
mount hobby for the journey after
having learned to manage it in short
trips, which will show him whether 1t
is the right hobby for the man; the
right man for the hobby. The subject
ought to have in it possibilities OF ex-
tended usefulness. Chemistry is such
subject. 1t has the future of the world
in 1T. It's possibilities are vast; its horl-
zon is beyond the scope of the keenest
vision. 1t may work great Industrial
TSFOlutLODSi IL Aiel5 StAiis-O eiic "AohS
aspect of art, of science, OF social life
at any time 1t offers in exchange for
labor, lovingly bestowed on it,
such power as may put to shame
the poetical dreams of enchanters
and magicians. Ii every man may
not have such a hobby as this there
Is, fortunately no lack OF others. Geog-
raphy, history, astronomy, language,
science, are all easy-going, easily-man-
aged hobbies. Geography, for instance,
is far more attractive as q hobby than
some might think. Some slight knowl-
edge OF 1t is generally acquired in the
schools, but knowing the number of
capes ona given coast is not geography.
The young man who has not taken it
for hobby at twenty-one will know at
thirty-five more than most men ever
knew of the earth they live on and the
men in it. He will learn the effects OF
climate, and the laws of climate;
he win comprehend how cold and
heat can change men in their habits,
ia their customs, in their languages.
He will discover that books of travel, II
the travellers and explorers tell the
truth, are the most important part OF
geography, and, following the develop
ment of the human mind in its increas-
ing knowledge Of the earth, his own
raind will develop with it. History is
most useful study. So is language.
-Four hours week devoted to either by
any young man viii make him thor
ough scholar in his speciality long be-
fore he is old. Real study for four
hours week will have the most aston
ishing results. In FIVE years the stu
dent will have learned SO much that he
will be inclined in his aston
ishment at himself to think he
knows all. there is to be
known; in ten years he viii know what
he does not know of what is yet to be
learned; in fifteen years he will be al
the front among those who know al
that is known. The number OF hobbies
is almost infinite Some few are vicious
by nature; all can be made vicious by
wrong treatment; but, nevertheless. i
is the duty of every intelligent Ameri
can to select his hobby; to take what
ever risk is to be taken and to master
it. We are in great danger OF becom
ing q nation of mere imitators AMI
smatterers. We try to ride too man.
hobbies, when no man in one life
time can get the best work out o
more than one of them. We are doins
real work in mechanics, but seldom
anywhere else We can do no rea
work for the world without the thor
oughness that comes from the struggl
with one subject. 1t is this struggl
that makes the master. No State foster
ing Of literature, no dollhouse system
of State education can do it. From be
ing q smatterer to becoming acharlata,
there is only a step. Without smat
terers, charlatans could neither com
into existence nor thrive. Against tn
national habit of smattering, whicl
produces and fosters national charian
try, we have O. sure defense in thorough
ness-thoroughness In some one thing
since thoroughness In all is impossible
But thoroughness in one thing mean
broadening In all. The smatterer /
the material for the crank as well a
for les charlatan. So. Louis Repaid
can.