The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-08-17
RIDING ONES HOBBY.
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore SUM-
It would be difficult to find any earnest man of
action who has not hobby. He ought to have
one, for nothing short of hobby will develop ones
energy and enthusiasm The disparagement with
which the world speaks of who rides his hobby
applies only to those who so inconsderate as to
have no regard for the hobbies of other people.
With hobbies with almost all things else there
may be use abuse. The proper of hobby
is to it inspiration for once own Jealous
work. the abuse of it consists in persistenty regard
ing it as the only hobby worthy Of consideration,
and of therefore forcing it upon other people at all
places.
The beneficial hobbies of men as distinguished
from those of doubtful utility those which re-
suit in the organization OF charities and educational
institutions. One man through some chance asso-
Citations, Perhaps becomes interested in the lame
he assists in founding hospital for their treatment
and his interest in the subject increases the lame
absorb all his time and engage all his thoughts.
They become his hobby. AS he thinks of nothing
else they the sole subject of his conversation
His friend, perhaps, has drfted into the schools,
has sought to better them and becomes absorbed in
educational work He also rides his hobby and to
good purpose.
These men and all others like them do great
deal of good in the world. They are the mainstays
of charitable and educational Institutions they gath
er from Indifferent, if not unwilling public, with
out hobbies, the required for the maintenance
of schools, churches, hospital, homes and all the
great array of institutions that for and help
humanity without asking any reward on earth.
This would be bleak world if men did not ride
hobbies; if they did not have their zeal kindled to
do good in some one direction instead of disspatng
| their energy in thousand.
| Even the rider of a hobby who becomes bore to
his friends is entitled to consideration as being
superior to those without thought of anything but
SELF Yet there is reason why the rider of hob
by should become social nuisance. He should
ride with discretion observe the laws of the road
and recognize that there other hobby riders who
| are sometimes entitled to the right of way. 1t is
quite natural that whose thoughts are given
to only one sugject should bend everything to his
one idea; but he guard against carrying this
tendency to an extreme by becoming good listener
In society he will meet other with hobbies and
he should accustom himself to listening to Them
taking his turn at times but not insisting upon a
monopoly of the discussion. In this way, though
he may have hobby, he will not be recognized as
an Objectionable rider and will promote his own
cause much more effectively than if he should make
it offensive by becoming bore. There are some
men who would willingly forego their hobbies when
they meet others in company, but not permitted
to do so. Some one, out of poteness perhaps, in
vites them to mount by turning the subject of con-
versation in their direction but the discrete man,
though hobby rider will reject such advances and
reserve himself for important efforts.
Every man ought to have hobby and he ought
to be able to ride it, but to make his riding effective
he should avoid gaining reputation in that drec-
ton. For if he should become known as hobby
rider no one will pay much attention to what he may
say-he will be regarded as an unreliable enthusiast;
whereas if he should show consideration for Others
keeping his own hobby in tho background, he will
attract general attention the moment he mounts it.
The essential thing to make man successful as
hobby rider is that he shall recognize that there
other hobbies in the world besides his own.