The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-03

.
Frenchman who visited our shores
last fall, carried away some not very
flattering Impressions Of our people
and country-says we do not know
how to laugh, or at least must pc
made" to laugh. With the French
laughter is the expression Of gay
heart, while with the American humor
is appealed to through the intelligence
Even in our sports we are serious,
says M. Poiret. "Those who take part
in them do it as soberly and as IN
tensely as if it were an act of busi
ness And the spectators! They
might be watching a man being tried
for his life. They could hardly look
more concerned If they were"
Many people give US the impression
that the famed Damocletian sword OF
pain, suspended by thread, hangs
over them constantly, ready to fall
and pierce them at any, moment, even
in their joys and pleasures. They
never seem to enjoy anything without
alloy. They give you the impression
that they are conscious Of the skele'
toms presence at every feast. 10
The American people as a rule take
life much too seriously. They do not
have half enough fun. Europeans look
on our care-worn, solemn-faced people
as on pieces Of machinery run &at
forced speed and which squeak for
lack of oil. - y, ), !E s..fa
81 question If care and doubt ever
wrote their names so legibly on the
faces of any other population" says
Emerson. "Old age begins in the
nursery" .ih ). |.
Why take life SO seriously, anyway
"A lot Of play will not only improve
your health, but increase your Ell ON
cheney wonderfully. y ,s.% n
TIA man Is living in perfectly nor,
NAL way he ought not to have, as SO
many have, q haunted, bounded look,
as though he. suspected either a police
man or detective we're on his track.
He ought not to be worried and
anxious every minute He ought not
to take his vocation SO very seriously,
and should not give the impression
that the whole universe is hanging
upon the result Of his task. Z - !, at Ak
A great many men fail because they
are too serious; because they develop
unsocial, morose; cold qualities. which
repel and which make them poor mix
ers. It is the sunshiny, happy nature
which attracts friends and trade. The
too serious people seem to say. Keep
away from me. life Is too serious
matter to be spent on trivial things.
They are dry and rutty because there
is not enough play in their lives to
furnish the necessary fabrication, va
riety, or change. +
Not long ago heard young clerr.
gyman preach a sermon which was so
very serious, and 80 very gloomy, that
1t made everybody in the congregation
feel melancholy and depressed. Thers
was no uphft, no encouragement, notn
ing to stimulate one to greatest en-
deayor. People did not go out OF the
church.. as they should have gone, re-
solved to tr, little harder than ever
before, to do something WORTH while:
but the whole congregation went away
with q gloomy look on their faces
There had been nothing inspiring IN
the clergyman's appearance: His face
was so serious and his whole manner
so depressing that it was really pain
full to listen to him. =
People have burdens enough Of their
own to bear, and do not want anybody
to inject dark, doleful pictures in heir
minds. They go to church for uplift,
announcement. They want to rid
themselves Of the enemies of their
happiness aad prosperity. Thousands
of people who now remain away from
church would gladly 60 If they could
come away feeling uplifted, encour-
aged, and with Increased hopefulness.
'He that cannot laugh and be gay
should look to himself" wrote Henry
Ward Beecher. "He should fast and
pray until Ills face breaks forth into
light" .,...
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