The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-30
FADS OF BosToNIANs.
They Are Merely the Outward CtchI
stances of Mental Amusement.<

Although the outer world, ttsAeRr
tions living in the darkness ~ 49,
zone illumined by the light reflected
from the gilded dome on Bescon Hill,
is fond of discussing the ecentridties
of Boston people, they seldom appear
to understand them. Themental at
titude of the genuine BOSNIAN in re-
gard to what are popularf known as
"fads'' seems to be a matte absolutely
beyond the comprehension of all those
who have not shared it.
A fad, properly speakin. is any sort
of theory or idea whictthe class OF
people who think for amsement may
chance for the time beingo take up in
considerable numbers. The accidents
of the pursuit Of this idefare usually
the formation of clubs, 9TH discus
sions. the reading of essgs and any
other mental gymnastics which the
particular character of tie fad may
suggest. These accidents being most
in evidence, are usually 'eceived by
outsiders as the essentials, and it is
not uncommon for New Iorkers and
| Westerners to manifest not little lrri-
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 Iracti-
cal and manageable imaginatins OF
any folk in this round earth. They
come of a race which has turned It's
Imagination to theological uses until
it has become. so to say, house bloken.
1t will fetch and carry, play one hun
bred harmless tricks and devote itself
to the amusement of its master with
ali the docility and far more thar. the
ingenuity of the cleverist spaniel or
terrier of them all And the educated
Bostonian is quite clever ennsei-Sp
perceive the possibilities OF theenter-
tainment in this quality of his imagina-
ton, and Boston fads are simply the
outward circumstances Of what is real
ly a game of mental amusement
Obviously one of the first qualities
of any successful use of the imagina-
ton is seriousness; and the Bostonian
takes his fads with 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-lilze voice and
heart-tormenting manner, the faddist
to coin a 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 a 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
teIectual 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 men,
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 a superior
manner at all outside attacks, and go
serenely on in undisturbed amusetMsnt
of his favorite fads.-Boston Courier.