The Washington times., 1914-11-20

There is nothing like a daily canter
upon the back of an interesting hoppy
for the tired business or professional
man. Neither is the hobby as an edu-
cational aid to be despised. AS basis
from which a useful avocation may be
developed, 1t is an important institution,
and parents should encourage their chill
dren in the pursuit of some particular
field Of interest.
So says Allan Davis, principal Of the
Business High School and champion CT
the long-derided hobby. In it he sees
possibilities not only of recreation and
relaxation for the brain-fag victim, but
a source from which may flow an in
creased individuality for those who
follow its lure, and in the cause Of
young children. an emphasis upon the
necessity Of specializing through life.
Mr.. Davis does not prescribe any par
ticular hobbies as Being more bene-
ficiai than others. He himself chances.
outside of school hours. to be abso-
lutely absorbed in processes of color
printing and photogravure, a develop
ment, he declares, Of yotithfnl love
for photography. So, whether the
hobby in question be the small boy 8
collection Of postage stamps, birds
eggs. or butterflies, or an adult prede-
LECTION for the acquisition Of auto
graphs, old prints, period china, or any
of the million and one articles which
can and have been made the subject OF
hobbies, he finds them all good.
Detects Others Hobbies.
Aside from his interest in photo
lithograp phing processes, Principal Da-
Wis chief hobby is detecting hobbies in
other folks.
In this way he has come to the con-
clusion that at least half Of the men
he knows are addicted to hobby rid
ing: and in almost every case he says
the pet ideas of these men might
with very little trouble be turned to
useful as well as merely Informative
avocations.
In discussing the prevalence and
value of hobbies, Mr.. Davis says:
A hobby is fundamentally speci-
atty. And when a man specializes
he is simply continuing his educa-
ton. He should, of course, select
something different from the daily
tasks by which he earns his fvell-
hood. in order to obtain the benefits
of diversion and make his hobby
more of a recreation than task.
cannot begin to estimate the
pleasure I have gotten out Of the
study of notwithstanding and
color printing processes. Perhaps
/ may never put the Information |
possess to practical use. Perhaps,
again. / may. But whether / do or
not, 1t has been an interest entire
" apart from my daily routine, and
through pursuing il, ! have acquir-
ed a great deal of knowledge.
Hobbies in children present little
different aspect. A mans fads may
be transformed into useful avoca-
tions A boys or a girls may be
come useful vocations.
few years ago one of the yoUnr--
ers boys OF the Business High School
became interested in printing. His
parents gave him small press At
first he printed cards. One year
later he was publishing a small,
, single sheet neighborhood newspa-
per. Today-he graduated not long
ago-he has established himself in
this city as a commercial printer.
Find Hidden Talent.
The greatest thing in modern edu-
cation is the development of the in
dividual. Less attention should be
paid to courses which treat children
as though they all were exactly
alike to the last detail and more