The Washington herald., 1915-03-27
GETTING A START.
AN OUTSIDE INTEREST.
BY NATHANIEL G. FOWLER. .

Men OF mark. In business and in the
professions. and practically everybody
who amounts to anything. are inter-
ested In something which does not d.
rectly contribute toward their liyeli-
hood. and is not a part of the routine
of their daily life. which does not re-
quire an expenditure Of mental or
physical energy.
These men have some form of play
or diversion, something which assists
them to relax and to forget the cares
and responsibilities of their work. 1t
may be baseball. tennis, yachting, or
any other sport or they may enjoy a
game of whist or of checkers Per
haps they are inveterate walkers. and
spend few hours week In the
woods away from tho noise and from
business. Unless they have some form
OF diversion, whether or not Il be
physical exercise. they are not well
equipped to handle the responsibilities
of life.
1t makes little difference what thi.
form OF recreation is, provided II is
helpful and does not strain the mind
or the body. II is, however. essential
that one enjoy his play hours.
II one has no interest In anything
outside Of his business. or beyond his
regular duties. his work pals upon
make him morose and irritable
1t is true that few men appear to
be able successfully to devote their en-
tire time to their work and to think Of
nothing else, but these men are excep-
lions, and not one OF them accomplishes
as much during his working time as
he would IL he systematically took up
some form of play.
1t has been said that the most intel
I-,& 81
financial workers. can and do let down
the bars and play and gamboi like boys
more than can the mediocre men. who.
perhaps. look upon diversion as unnec-
essary and unmanly. 1t would open the
eyes OF many of my readers II they could
see our great educators. our Leading
bankers. and our business giants At
picnic. Many OF them, In their play,
double discount the younSster. They get
down to earth. and actually scratch
gravel. They Joke with one another
without license. They have more fun.
real good fun. to the square inch than
nen of less capacity get to the squars
FOOT. When they play. they play all
over. They enjoy It, They enter the
field with the enthusiasm OF youth. no
matter what their age may be. They
forget business forget the care Of life
and play n game Of scrub ball as though
their ives depended upon priceless
victory.
Thousands Of men are now making
their lunch hour period of relaxation.
They get together. and positively refuse
10 talk or think business. They Joke and
laugh at non-essentials. banter one an
other. and even fight IN fun.
When diversion and play are carried
beyond reasonable bounds. one becomes
a faddist or a fan. and loses interest in
his work
Like all other good things. diversion
can iajurc as Well as assist.
Play. To be good for anything, while
Il may br sOmewhat strenuous. should
not be taken seriously. II should allow
the mind to relax. II Il does not. IL Is
not play. II II IS too strenuous physi-
caIly. like football. or too deep intel
lcctually. like chess. it is not likely to
b" beneficial. To get good out Of d.
version. to enjoy thoroughly any form
Of play. one must let himself loose, for
get for the time the whirl Of the world.
and put himself into the attitude of the
child who plays with dolls and blocks.
Let me speak word Of warning:
Thousands Of men combine dissipation.
usually drinking. with their recreation.
and sh-reby lose all the good of their
pIayS MANY of them never get outdoors.
but play indoors. Well and good. at
times: but outdoor exercise is worth
twice as much as indoor action.
Most business is done indoors. Most
play should he outdoors.
(CUIyriEht, 1851