Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-31

vi Il
'harles Darwin, the Great Scientist. Whose
Discoveries Concerning Mans Evolution
Resulted from Satisfaction of the Play
Impulse.
Probably the most generally desirable single
method OF play or relaxation is reading. This
Is particularly true because the character of line
reading may be readily adapted to the particu.
lar likes or needs of the individual. know a
great mathematician. one of the greatest that
this country has produced, whose chief relaxa.
ton, now that physical infrmities have cut off
his customary physical pleasures, is the read
ing OF detective stories. Another man, whose
excursions have barely led him beyond the
borders of New York, has made himself, by
reading during his few hours of relaxation, an
authority on polar exploration. His name has
become frequent one in the geography of both
the Far North and of the Far South and he has
been one Of the greatest sources of>encourage
ment to many intrepid men who have actually
carried out the field work of these armchair
excursions. No matter what line of work a
man may do, reading, once the habit has been
formed, adds to his efficiency and work, and
at the same time in itself affords for him at
least a certain measure of relaxation and an
Increased interest in both his vocation and in
his avocation.
Nature studies are possible for nearly every
man who has even few hours weekly to
spend out-of-doors. An acquaintance of mine
business man, who commuted for domestic
reasons, adopted the study OF the bird life of
the bay on his trips to and from Staten Island
He has derived much pleasure and benefit
from his study, and IL has proven so interesting
that his Sundays and holidays are spent in a
similar manner, all without the loss of an hour
from his business. Another friend, whose busl.
ness connections prevented his taking a vaca.
tion far from the city. similarly occupied him
self with the bird life about his suburban
home. When, during the Winter season. he
moved to the city, he found the birds of Cen.
trail Park quite sufficient to pleasantly occupy
his spare time Shortly his descriptions and
his photographs of this apparently narrow and
circumscribed subject became so important
that the lesser matter of business has come
to be replaced by his play, which has contrib
uted much to the pleasure of all of us and to
real science.
So we might go on indefinitely Nearly all
the great geographical discoveries have been
made by men who first in their regular life
took up geography as a relaxation or side line
of study. An Indifferent theologcal student
has become vladimir Steffansen. Robert Peary
deserted engineering problems for the dscoy.
cry of the North Pole and for his invaluable
contributions to the geography of the Far
North.
To be a play of staying powers, one which
lasts, the game must possess something more
than mere entertaining qualities. One soon
tires OF such sport, and the relaxation which
really lasts and endures uplifts almost without
exception. Such is music, and more than infre.
auently this relaxation has become a contribu.
uon of great men to mankind for all time
The love of the open and of nature has given
the world Darwin and Huxley, who might per-
Lars have otherwise been barkeepers or clerks
IN ladies' furnishing store. Boys who would
rather roam the woods and ply the seven seas
than contne themselves in the office or school.
room have produced men like Hornaday and
Daniel Beard. The love Of the beautiful has
gwen us raphael, Titan, Rembrandt and Rodln,
1t made q soldier of Florence Michael Angelo
The restless energy and love of the rougber
side OF nature in Lieutenant Pike gave America
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, and the
hn NhKtlI - aA.v
Clarke and Fremont gave us the Great West
In fact, there can be but little question that
the choice OF an avocation leads not in
tiIequenIy 70 happy and most useful voca-
tlon The following of pleasurable benz or
diversion on the part of a normal individual is
tendency toward progress IN the world and
the natural following out Of such an lnstlrct
rarely leads TO anything other than good things
happiness not only for the individual but for
man. Happiness Is perhaps correctly defined
as mental health and without II mere physical
health Is incomplete and unsatisfactory
For most OF us. however it is not 10 follow our
aVocations as callings, but as methods to an
end and not. as in some of the cases which
nave mentioned, the great objective itself The
Nalue OF any drug or person or method in this
age OF ernciency must be measured by the re.
suits produced. Let US recall then some OF the
direct results Of diversions in everyday life
Whether we will or not we must have dtver
sions and If these be deliberately chosen snd
wen cultivated they become as friends and
ooedient servants whereas II we allow than,
70 ehoose us or TO direct us. they become our
masters and often detriment to true happI
ness and progress, as exemplifed in alcoboIlsm
in the craze for gambling, in the eronic groncb
the muckraker or bilious reformer
The benefits OF relaxation are by no nasn,
limited by what II gives to us In itself evaT I
pleasure. health and uplift After the nlsH
comes return to work with renewed ,ainS
and refreshed body. Relaxation and plsv maU
oe Wen looked upon as preparation for work
and they are TO be cassed I'm the sama Iiobt IN
sleep and food. None OF our old sayines nt ass ss
more true or pertinent than that "AIi woSS sns
no play makes Jack dull boy" PLAY is NOT
sity' and as such its selection is indeed snt,1as
TO quite as much serious thought ana careSs'i
education as In the choice and preparatton ,oi ~.
ife's most serious work oNon tor