The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-03-30
FAps OF BoSToNIANS.
They Arc Merely the Outward Circum-
stances of Mental Amusement.

They Arc Merely the Outward CIrcum-
stances of Mental Amusement.
Although the outer world, the mo-
tions living in the darkness beyond the
zone illumined by the light reflected
from the gilded dome on Beacon Hill.
is fond of discussing the eccentricities
of Boston people, they. seldom appear
to understand them. The mental at
titude OF the genuine Bostonian in re-
gard to what are popularly known as
"fads" seems to be q matter absolutely
beyond the comprehension of all those
who have not shared it.
A fad, properly speaking, is any sort
of theory or idea which the class of
people who think for amusement may
chance for the time being to take up in
considerable numbers. The accidents
of the pursuit of this idea are usually
the formation of clubs, with discus
sions, the reading of essays and any
other mental gymnastics which the
particular character of the fad may
suggest. These accidents, being most
In evidence, are usually received by
not uncommon for New Workers. and
Westerners to manifest not a little irri-
tation that the people who should
know better waste their time over fol-
lies so obviously childish and futile
The truth of this matter is, after all,
simple, as the truth is apt to be. The
people of Boston have the most practi-
cal and manageable imaginations of
any folk in this round earth. They
come of race which has turned its
imagination to theological uses until
it has become, so to say, house broken.
1t will fetch and carry, play one hum
dred harmless tricks and devote itself
to the amusement of its master with
ali the docility and far more than the
ingenuity of the cleverist spaniel or
terrier of them all. And the educated
Bostonian is quite clever enough to
perceive the possibilities of the enter
tainment in this quality of his imagina-
tion, and Boston fads are simply the
outward circumstances of what is real
ly u game of mental amusement.
Obviously one of the first qualities
of any successful use of the imagina-
takes his fads with a seriousness truly
beautiful to behold, be it theosophy,
transcendentalism radicalism, or any
other ism whatever; be it the poetry of
Browning or Shelley; or some artistic
adventurer with fute-like voice and
ut f,l, 1;,+
to coin word which is surely
needed-gives himself up for the time
being with deliberate and grave self
surrender which has no reservation
save the important one of the secret
inner consciousness that the whole is
but pastime to be enjoyed while it
lasts and be discarded like broken
toy when it ceases to amuse. This is
practically the whole story. Boston
people find endless amusement in in
tellectual gymnastics. They enjoy try
ing their wits with all sorts of prob
lens, with testing every new intel
lectual sensation, and when any fresh
scheme presents itself they are always
ready to lay the old aside and give
themselves up to the fresh diversion.
To follow their fads without this mem
tai reservation would justify all the
abuse and ridicule our detractors are
fond of heaping upon the typical Bos-
tonian. With this perfect comprehen-
sion and mastery of the situation the
Bostonian is able to smile in n superior
manner at all outside attacks, and go
serenely on in undisturbed amusement
of his favorite fads. s.-Boston Courier