The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-10-10
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
Written for the Democratic Advocate,
BY MEMO.


(These Thoughts by a layman reach
a quarter of a million homes, scattered in
every state of the Union. In this county
they can be found in the columns of this
paper only, as we have made arrangements
with the author for their exclusive publica-
ton
Mark it down that amateurs efforts score
few hits nowadays. A geologist is Of
more. gain to party of prOspectors than
fifty picks and shovels. An analytical
chemist sees further than the sharpest eyes
in detecting values. The scientific farmer
with his microscope and test-tubes has i'm
mense advantage over the man who knows
nothing of the actual foods and constitu-
ents of plants. Be thorough or be moth
ing, but to this latter you will need no
commencing if you neglect the former. 1t
is not for us to repine because the compe-
tition along the lines Of every successful
life is growing so intense. We are here,
here now, and we have to accept that fact
with the best possible grace. To me it
seems that life is just as full of opportu-
nifty as it ever has been, for those of us
who will comply with the conditions. In
fact, our age appears to exceed all others
in the chances it offers. Since the branches
that call for exact information now are pos
sibly as 100 to l when compared with the
avenues open before the young man of a
century ago, and, furthermore, keeping
pace with the need for complete special
knowledge, is an increasing ease in mas
tering the branch that we may select. 1t
is possible to acquire in few days what
Newton strained lifetime to discover.
The tortuous ways blazed through the for
ests of ignorance by the pioneers are now
smooth, straight highways whereon the
wayfarer need not err in his search for the
tree of knowledge Let me draw an illus
tration from the bicycle. A few years
ago mile done in three minutes was con-
sidered wonderful riding. Now the min
ute line is being rapidly approached, not
because human legs are stouter than for
merly, but because the vehicle is more
perfectly constructed. So the pace in
every line of life is faster than it used to
be, but the friction is less.
But if you are specialist and nothing
else; 80 wrapped up in your one ism that
you have neither heart nor mind for the
many diverse interests of your neighbors,
you are in fair way to becoming wear
isome, bumptious nuisance. If you are
known as one who talks shop in the
home and on the street you are liable ulti-
mately to be avoided as bore, and thus,
from your own fault, lose the advantage to
your mind that comes from mental friction.
Your descent thereafter to narrow minded
ness will be rapid indeed. My advice is
that you drop your speciality absolutely
when your business hours come to an end
and fill your leisure hours (mos Of us have
at least SIX with conversation, or reading,
or writing of an improving character.
This bars out good deal of the 'bumble-
bee buzzing' in the front parlor; that is
the angel-cake food of the mind, never
good as a steady diet. 1t also bars out
the perusal of trashy, exciting novels.
Fiction is excellent in its way but an indul-
gence in it should be confined to the mas
tiers, in order that your language, your
moral ideals and your reading taste may
remain high. 1t just occurs to me, how
ever, that the inventor of the steam en-
gine, james Watt, in his old age sat down
with his wife to read voraciously all the
mawkish and fabby love stories that he
could lay his hands on. But this proves
nothing in opposition to the advice of the
preceding sentence. In the first place you
are not in your dotage, and in the second
the world will gladly let you follow your
reading tastes, no matter how puerile,
when you have accomplished one-half that
Watt did against obstacles of the most
heart breaking character.
For mental health | would strongly
recommend the taking up Of one or two
hobbies. They give definite purpose to
leisure and usually grow so absorbing as to
drive business completely out of the mind.
Rest assured that your brain cannot retain
its strength for long if you deny it these
changes of activity. When business cares
stretch their nervous fingers out over your
hours of recreation and rest, modern life
will soon prove too exhausting for you.
A hobby comes in as a mental tonic It
is impossible for me to suggest what it
should be- The lines Of useful inyestiga-
ton outside your own one business are as
many and as diversified as are the indiyid-
uals who read these words The writer's
own hobbies are so varied that every day
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