The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-09

~-~r@f ~~~ftf ~'-~s - $780, - -~-~+-t 49,
Pianner Of Houses and the Theatre
Monomaniac.
The sanitary value Of having hobby
is generally recognized No one who
sticks too close % his last IL likely 10
BE sound IN body Or an agreeable CONF
panion. But certain hobbies, innocent
In themselves, make their riders seem
extremely foolish, and add to the bur
IA what may be called the gastronomic
bobby There II perhaps no more osten
|tations form Of pride than that Of the
gentleman cook. Food prepared in a
chafinu dish IL occasionally palatable.
but there are men who look upon and
talk about such cooking as ii it were a
religious ceremony. Almost everybody
has been obliged at one time or another,
to eat some horrid mess in order To-
please friend who believes that am
alcohol lamp and suffering pan have
some mysterious virtue. There are those
who think thai no cook on butler can
dress ii salad, and one can see them DIV
they grid themselves Tor the uniertak
ing. A superior smile plays about their
lips as they flourish the bottle oil oil and
wooden spoon 4 peculiarly annoying
species are the camp cooks 10 n who
have roasted fsi and game In the woods.
The open-air life gave them an appetite,
and they pretend that their cooking Is
good. But when they tell about it at
the restaurant Or club we know that
the Lord hath put a lying spirit in their
mouths. and that the trout ami birds
were burnt without and underdone with
in.
Equally unpleasant is the man with
the hygienic hobby. He is not to be mis-
taken for the valeiudinarian- He is far
from being alarmed about his health.
On tire contrary, he has discovered the
secret of physical well being. He has
original IDEAL about Undertaking and
fovereoats- isis battling, eating, drinking
iand manner III sleeping are all accord
ing to inhexibIe rules He gives you a
history Of his day, of lis draughts Of
minera water, his gyinnastic method.
II he does not recommend to YOU some
Obscure physician who has done won
dersn for him be will at least tell you
about his own favorite nostrums 1.-The
saccharine which Sc carries in his waist
coat pocket tor he eats no sugar., the
( little pill taken after meals to promote
digestion or the tonic which did his wife
80 much good
AN wise men dread the approach Of
the friend who wishes TO show them the
plans OF his new house. They have us
ually been drawn By his wife AMI him
self; tile architect has simply put them
into shape AS the structure rises, the
owner entertains his friends with ac-
builders dlIpIicity. He carries about
with him schemes Of decoration. sam
pies Of tapestry, designs Of sideboards
and bookcases, all OF which he displays
upon the slightest provocation. He will
lead the unwary into the half-iinished
place. will entice him mp ladders and
down into damp cellars. They emerge
looking al If they has been in -four
mill. He grows eloquent as he explains
the work OF the bricklayer and carpen-
ter. Not content with this, when the
house is finished, lie must needs show il
TO his friends, from garrett 10 basement.
Who has not been obliged 10 follow the
proud householder through his new pos
sessions. and to hear his discourse upon
plumbing, electric lighting, and uphol
stervT
The amount Of pleasure afforded by
the automobile Is appreciably counter
balanced by the conversation Of those
who have made That useful machine a
hobby. For il is surprising how much
valuable time is consumed by -automo-
bile owners in lecturing their less for
f.tx -. ant
that every man has the very best car
that can lie bought. This should be suf-
fcient; and in return the amateur ehauf-
feur should spare Us his long diseourses
about sparks and gear, lamps and tires,
the abuses OF the garage, and the tedi-
Gus experiences OF the road. OF course
there i certain novelty in hearing
stories Of village constables who have
hailed him into court, and OF the untime
ly fate OF dogs and chickens upon the
highway: but for excitement, we prefer
the Newgate Calendar.
We are also disposed to shun the man
who. being neither playwright nor an
actor, makes the theatre his hobby. Talk
about the play is no doubt a valuable
social asset, especially in the case of
those who do not read books or see much
OF real life; and criticism of the drama
has its importance. Not so the stereo-
typed eatecaism which begins with the
question: 'Hate you seen Mrs. Dash at
the Blank Iheatresy For sooner or later
the man with the theatrical hobby will
try to tell you the plot of a play which
Won have not seen. If the piece is comic
he will hugh at his own narrative SO
that you viii not understand word of
what he is saving. If the plot is intri-
cate, yon viii almost pity him as he
tries vainly TO gather up the threads OF
the story and bring you to the end. The
person with q monomania for concerts
belongs to the same class. When he
huns the motive OF some symphonic
poem it Is difficult for the courteous
listener TO know how to signify his ap.
probation and yet conceal his dismay.
/ These objections are doubtless marks
of cross grained and surly disposition,
and we may be reminded that these hob
bies relieve haril-worled men and wo-
men from the wear and tear OF life, It.
is indeed to be hoped that snch is the
ease. There ought 10 be some comrer-
sation for the wear and tear OF those
who have To- endure The man with
hobby.-New York Evening Post.
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Stained Floors.
Stained borders of floors will re-
1ure doing over once n wear II worn