The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-09-04
Have You a Hobby?
By EMORY >. HAYNES.

Every man and woman should have hobby. It
matters little what it is But favorite intimately
personal avocaion is the one most nearly perfect
creation. Generally speaking. it is better If the
choice private occupancy of leisure is constructive
To make something, to put something together, to
achieve boped-for result ....
II you are using a saw and hammer, nails and
screws on pieces of wood you are entertained by
your plan. 1t is going to be desk, and you are in
no hurry to get it done. The doing is the amuse-
ment. You are not working for pay You do not
care whether other people like the desk or not.
Though you will show the thing to the family and
expect TO be compimented.
The best of hobby earpentering cabinet-making
is that you are never quite satisfied with the result
yourself. Hence you knock it all apart any
number of times and begin all again. There
fore the task is endless 1t stands by like eternal
friend. man with real hobby is never lonely.
He is always able to find something about it to do
or undo The plans one make, the dreams one ems
tertains, the experiment one tries Their name is
legion. 1t is possible totally to forget world of
big troubles when a tiny trouble of the hobby en-
crosses one.
There have been truly great hobbies. The tele-
which he plays with the stars The violin, the flute
the piano, indeed every kind of musical instrument
have been the playthings of kings and generals The
further removed the hobby in contrast like anti
pode, with ones daily toll, the more satisfactory the
favorite spark really is.
| have been much interested in the inquiry re-
Gently among my acquaintance discover that prob
ably only small percentage of men and women en-
ploy this most rational avocaton. Hence, ask the
reader if he or she has a hobby
Fatigue at the close of the day suggests only
loungng, such occupation is usually without
plan or purpose. Perhaps the exactions of modern
life too severe, for any aferwork activities
Lassitude and emptiness fill up the off hours. Which
is quite mistake, for the that hobby would
really recreate the mind.
The mind is the source of power and feels, in
reality, the drain of the days employment. A pet
and fond task vitazes that life center, the mind If
the mind is active with some favorite labor it
will rarely rest, but falls again into worry and
review of the days care 1t is the hobby that then
rescues the mind from its carking activities
Something pleasing to think about, something
pleasing to do, and only pleasing. and chosen be-
cause it is pleasing, and pleasing strictly to ones
self, that is rest
Eliminate wholly the element of usefulness Be
sure there is no secret halconsciousness that you
will get some profit out OF your hobby. Do not
pursue it for the purposes of health
Your hobby being your garden beware OF the
smallest suggestion that you to get strong by
early rising and playing with your flowers The
rankest treason is the nsolent halfthought that YOU
can sell some of your flowers and make money
None OF these utilitarian aims has any rights in
your play work You play for plays own sake. You
hoe out the weeds and brush the dews OF the carly
morning simply and solely because you enjoy doing
these things.
You release yourself of all harness You are not
obliged to take of the garden If it please you
none could ask you why you let the whole garden
perish. You are not bound keep it up to a certain
excellence to meet an overseers eye To-day you work
in the flowers tomorrow you need not if you so wish
But, for this very of perfect personal lib
erty, you will doubtless be found every sunlt day
break stirring the fragrant earth among your favorite
flowers Perhaps the very secret of the hobby charm
is that OF perfect personal freedom