The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-04
En- ening Chat
One Mans Pleasure Another'S
MartyrdOm.
BY RUTH CAMERON.

Every one has heard that one mans
food may be another mans poison.
AS result we recognize that a taste
! for strawberries. damson plums or
even baked beans, may not be uni
versal.
What we do not always recognize is
| that one mans pleasure may be an
others martyrdom. 1 know of men
who will find the keenest enjoyment
I in dangling a line over the end of a
dock or the side of a boat, fishing for
| founders. I know of other men who
find fishing, at least in this A B. c..
form, insufferable boredom
One of my friends told me recently
of friend her husband brought for a
week end to the place where they are
spending the summer. I'VE took him
automobiling in the morning and in
the afternoon Bill took him out in his
power canoe. It was a lovely day and
Bill enjoyed every minute of it. Bill
has such a capacity for enjoyment. But
that friend of his seemed more dead
than alive. OF course he pretended to
be having a good time, but I could
see that it was only pretence. I told
Bill that would never invite that man
here again if 1 were he.'
1t so happened that I got that
mans side of it afterward. He had
rather looked forward to that week
end. He visioned a nice cool Sunday
spent roaming in the woods or lying in
the hammock, period of relaxation
that to him Spelt the acme of recrea-
ton.
bill meant well, of course he said.
with a laugh. "Oh, I know it's a hor-
rible thing to say, but he deserves it.
1 used an automobile all week long
myself, in connection with my bust
ness. When Bill started to crank his
machine, L announced that I was go
ing to lie in the hammock But 1
never had the chance. Bill and Mrs.
I I H.
time. To their mind tearing over the
road on a pretence of enjoying the
scenery (Which I never really saw,
Bill went so fast) was having a good
time. I don't suppose it ever occurred
to them that it wasn't mine.
1.-The afternoon in the power canoe
was even worse. I'd never have gone
near the place if I'd known Bill owned
such a thing. I've got an unreason-
ing fear of the water, because 1 was
very near being drowned. Every now
and then I wake up in the throes of
nightmare in which dream I'm
drowning. / told all this to Bill, but
he simply couldn't get my viewpoint
he insisted that canoeing was absolute
1y safe if one only knew how. 1t was
rough and every time a wave hit US
shook in my shoes and said my pray
ers while Bill shouted, Isn't this
bullyi' in my ears
This is probably an extreme case
Still 1 think there are a great many
people who are keen about some form
of pleasure, and keener still to have
other people share this with them
They simply cannot comprehend that
there are people who do not care to
ride in automobiles, or fish or play
cards or go sailing or do whatever else
looms large in their eyes, as a yielder
of pleasure.
To escape doing something you don't
want to do, when some one with the
| best intentions in the world is set on
having you do il, is difficult. Most
people will succumb, rather than act
the bore. But they do it under in
ternal protest, hoping that some day
the kindly, enthusiastic Bills and Mrs.
] Bills will see the light.