The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-04
tor dmnrnen.

Dickinson in the Newark Evening
News" that no two girls are alike
Therefore. that which makes a good time
for one may max quite ahother sort of
a time for another sort Of girl. There
are plenty Of young women who find the
essentials of a good time to be perfect
harmony in ones environment. To give
. luncheon, for example, and not have
every appointment of table and service
\ perfect, o to have as many flowers or
exactly the dainty menu that one would
like, would remove all possibility of a
good time. Plenty of other girls there
are who could accept much less in the
environment. yet would find their good
time at the luncheon utterly spoiled If
the people present were il-assorted to
each other and uncongenial to herself.
With both these conditions met, the
average girl can make out of a luncheon
party and many another party a very
good time indeed; but she only is sure of
a good time who can get it or can make
dt quite independent of both the above
conditions.
But there are no such girls" 1 hear you
answer. On the contrary there are
plenty of them, only you do not happen
to be acquainted with them.
But they must be girls who do not APP
preciate delicate and refined surround
ings or the Importance of congenial and
delightful c~onpanaonship."
Not at all. They are of h sort who
appreciate both most keeniy and would
secure both whenever possible, and would
accept both wherever they found them
as an added delight and charm; but they
also possess the innate capacity for Gre
ating the good time. II the atmosphere
isn't that which they would most desire
there is something about the personality
thai makes the atmosphere of sunny and
hospital cheer that is easier to be happy
In than the air that marks the more
correct and formal affair.
The secret of a good time Is in oneself.
1t hes in tact. In the facility for taking
just the elements that one finds and
transmitting them into enjoyment and de-
light The girl who can do that holds
in her hand the secret OF social pleasure.
Fortunately in our modern life the diff
Guilty is not that pleasures are inaccessi-
BILE, that pleasant things do not come to
the young. Life is full OF them of one
sort and another. though. alas, the lives
of too many girls are 50 filled with oc-
equations that they cannot take what
comes; but If one only keeps alive the
power to appropriate and to enjoy, the
opportunity cannot always be delayed.
Sometimes serious writer's warn the
young against an over-desire for the ex-
element of pleasure. and there is some
need of such a warning. Yet, strange as
it may SEEM the love of pleasure, the
capacity for enjoyment, is a thing that
has to be cultivated in a multitude of
girls. There exists a spirit of indifference
and ennui that doesn't care very much
except for a passive kim of enjoyment.
such as 1t requires no exertion to secure.
That spirit is In the young when we
would naturally look for 1t only among
the middle-aged and those who are al
ready weary and have lost the Illusions
of youth. There are far too many young
people who care, in an indolent way, for
pleasant things, yet nothing seems quite
pleasant enough to tempt them to make
an effort to secure it. To young people
who affect this attitude of the aged,
acting as II life were hardly worth the
trouble of living, a genuinely good time
is impossible And the reason is that
we get out of everything exactly what
we carry into it. If, therefore,, into the |
pleasures of life we carry enthusiasm and |
interest and vitality, these bring a sure
and swift return Of satisfaction.
The one important essential to good
times, which really are the heritage of
the young and ought to be theirs in
largest measure. Is that the young them
selves shall have, first, the wit to know
a good time when it comes to them, or
the capacity to know how to create a
good time if they have to make it for
themselves. and the power to enjoy in
a simple, heart-whole and genuinely
good-natured whatever comes in
the way of amusement or entertainment.
II sounds like a very simple recipe. At
first thought 1t doesn't seem to cover any
of the Vital elements of good times. but
the secret of a world of pleasure is In
just that one fact, that she only enjoys
who takes into things her own power to
appropriate delight. 1t is here as else
where ITO him that hath shall be given
If you doub the wisdom OF this little
prescription, test 1t. The next entertain
nlent or opportunity to enjoy yourself,
whether at the party, at the concert, at
the luncheon, do not give one thought be-
fore you go to the question of whether 1t
is or is not going to be SO arranged as
" sui JouF eSpecidl taSleS OF desires.
Think of it as something planned for the
pleasure of many, like a garden of flow
ers, in which you may walk with others,
gathering that which you find suited to
yourself. Drop all criticism out of your
anticipation. Never consider for a mo-
ment whether you are going to like It or
are not going to like It; but If you go
at all, take a perfectly fresh, open mind
and heart.
If the rooms are lovely, If there are
charming bits of art revealed, here in a
landscape, there in a statue; If the music
is sweet, if the flowers are fragrant. let
a one of these do for you its little work
of pleasant ministry. Think of the for
tunes spent on flowers that nobody looks
at! Think at how many entertainments
! delightful music is furnished to which no.
body listens! Look for once; listen for
ono and really absorb and enjoy. Then,
when you turn to the people, take every
charming thing from a few minutes COM
partnership with e cry charming person
you meet as a special pleasure prepared
for you Be glad when other people say
bright things. Be happy when other girls
are admired. and Join your hearty com.
mendation to whatever Is commended.
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