The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-10-19
TEMPORARY HOBBIES.
The Instinct in Human Nature Tha
Finds Expression in Fads.

The Instinct in Human Nature That
Finds Expression in Fads.
A fad is described in the dictionaries
as trivial fancy, adopted and pursued
for time with irrational zeal" There
Is always a strong desire among certain
people to take up some fad or other that
shall distinguish them from other peo-
pie. They are usually intelligent but
have more or less spice of the crank
III their temperament and disposition.
They want to be and to do something
that separates them from the great mass
of humanity. Sometimes this is accom-
plished with the aid of accident, as of
birth or of training, as of religious creed
or OF nature, when woman is hand
some or man particularly good look
ing. But these latter are minor and in
Gividual affectations. Where such per-
sonal advantages fail there is still
another mode Of keeping up discrimi-
nation from the multitude Of people. 1t
is to cultivate a fad. The mildest form
of it is exhibited among men and woln-
en- i'll cUltiyating passion for cats and
dogs.
There is harmless class who collect
old books, rare engravings, first folio
Shakespeares, coins and token pieces,
scarce sets or parts of sets Of china or
old yellow lace. These are all quiet
folks with hobbies, and we can leave
them alone, quite confident that they
are welded to their idols and will never
be disturbing force. Most Of them are
secretive and hide their weakness from
the profane crowd. Only the elect OF
the same taste are invited to look upon
them. There is another intelligent,
more numerous and noisier set who are
bitten with d. literary fad. These have
piped at social gatherings and il the
market places since the time when
France originated the Precieuses and
English danes raved over the woes of
Clarissa Harlowe and German women
shed buckets of tears over the SORROWS
of Werther. The two latest fads are of
Boston origin. There was originated
| the first Browning society, and when ga
Dolls House was translated they set
| the ball rolling toward "an Ibsen craze. "
1t is pity that the last ever became a
fad, for apart from Ibsen's social theo-
| ries, his wonan's rights notions and his
| leveling principles generally he is a
strong writer and master of romantic
| expressions. As fad, however, Ibsen
has run his course, and his followers are
| looking out for some other literary
| heroes to nurse. MaeterEnck, 1.-The Dutch
| Shakespeare" has been tried, but on &C
| count of the merely suggestive and
| CHASTITY character of his plays he ha:
| failed to materialize. His best subjects
are disagreeable-the vague terror Of
death in the midst of group Of thu
| blind, or his unseen but felt presence IL
an assembled household. The emotions
they cause are creepy" and will no
bear to be talked about in club, ani
they entirely escape the clumsy hand
of public lecturer.
| There are two literary fads remaining
but both are English and one is Il re
vival. Those who keep the stage a
present before select audiences ar
| George Meredith and George Borrow
The reign OF George Meredith is endan
| gered because he still lives and writes
and there is grave doubt whether h
will keep himself alive with othe
echoes" and "Egoists" or kill himsel
| off with a succession of Tragic Come
dams" But Borrow. fortunately fo
his admirers and his fame, is dead
Baltimore Sun.