The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-04-24
THE PLEASURE IN WASTE.

Some people take pleasure in
waste. 1t gives them momentary
but distinct sense of happiness to
waste something, and the delight of
wasting figures largely in youthful
dreams of prosperity. Enough
money is thrown away The phrase
expresses literally many men notion
of desirable riches. 1t is very un-
reasonable, if one thinks of it, to wish
for more money that we desire to use,
give or leave but human nature is un-
reasonable, and boarding and wasting
both seem instructive in many natures.
Some children show love of destruc-
tion for which it is impossible to &C.
count, and others keenness in add
ing to any form of collection, though
of the least attractive objects, which
is equally incomprehensible. We do
not, of course, consider that man
takes pleasure in wasting who delib-
erately calculates that certain ecouo-
mics, though desirable in themselves,
are not worth the expenditure of time
and thought necessary to carry them
out. The majority of Englishmen,
each in his separate sphere, have come
to this conclusion. A man may set
a very false value upon his own time,
and grudge thought to his expendi-
ture which might better be given to
it.; but neither of these mistakes
proves that he is capable of the strange
sense Of enjoyment which we are dis
cussing-a sensation common among
the low minded, and not unknown
among very high-minded people, says
the London Spectator.
We have been told that it is not
uncommon for casual paupers in the
various work houses to insist upon
having the last crumb of bread al
lowed by the law, though they cannot
eat it. 1t gives them positive pleas
ure that the food should be wasted.
Perhaps clever casual might re-
ply to this accusation that he is mere
ly guarding the rights of future pau
pers with larger appetites than his
own. 1t is, however, more than un-
likely that such esprit de corps ex-
plains the frequency of the offense,
for this is not the only instance in
which the tramping class display their
love of waste. They will beg impor-
tunately of cottagers who they know
cannot afford to give them money, but
who often do not like to refuse food,
and then when they have got what
perhaps the giver can i'll spare they
throw it away. Whether it gives
them a momentary sense of af1uence
to feel they have got more than they
want, or whether the wasteful act is
but an expression of that lawlessness
which finds further and even more
repulsive expression in abstinence
from the good custom of ablution, it
is impossible to say. Wherever os-
tentation comes in the pleasure deriv.
able from waste Is in part explained
but even then 1t is not altogether
comprehensive. That man should
be proud of his wealth we can all un-
derstand, and that he should seize
upon the readiest method of display
ing it is natural enough; but how
can we account for the fact that his
dependents like to watch him doing it !
One could readily believe that the
sight of waste should produce bitter
ness in persons of small means whose
work in life obliged them watch it, but
it seems incredible that it should pro.
duce admiration.
1t is undeniable, however, that
great many domestic servants think
more of their employers because they
waste, and people who would not
steal pin take a pleasure in syste-
matte improvidence. Perhaps it is
possible In a roundabout manner to
connect this feeling with a good quail
ty. Servants identity themselves
with their employers in an admirably
loyal manner, and are pleased when
the glory of the householder glorifes
the household, and the sad thing is
that their conception of what reflects
honor Should be so mistaken. Love
of power and admiration for power
In the abstract are inevitable. Money
gives power and vulgar people enjoy
and admire it as displayed in waste,
just as wicked people do in cruelty.
Possibly, also, the bringing up of SER
wants too often leads them to connect
economy with poverty, and poverty
with squalor. Sometimes in their de
light at being rid of the last they
thoughtlessly Danish the first. En-
ployers not seldom descant upon the
difficulty of pursuading servants to
care for their masters goods as they
would care for their own, but it has
to be remembered that in the eyes Of
a wasteful servant there is something
ideal about the ability to waste. He
treats his employers goods as he
thinks he would treat his own if he
were as rich as he takes that employer
to be.
There may be excuses for all the
enjoyment of waste which we have
been considering, but, take it as a
whole, it is low feeling, condemned
by the best individuals OF every class.
Good servants and good workmen in.
tend at least to make the most of every
thing, and many of them are genuine
ly scandalized by wanton wasteful-
ness. Not long ago the present writer
observed a respectable working wo-
man having tea in a confectioner's s
shop. Before pouring out her tea
she began to stir the pot, which was
halffull of tea leaves. "Why, there's
enough for six p she exclaimed in
genuine dismay. "How sinful -
But the really interesting thing
about the love of waste is that there
are high minded people who cannot
deny that they understand it-that
they can conceive the pleasure,
because they have felt it. AS a
rule, however, the agreeable sensa-
tion of which they are conscious only
follows upon the wasting of money.
To put a loaf of bread upon the 1re
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