The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-11-22

each other, hardly knowing why or
when or how-and both may be to
blame.
Monotony means surrender to an
environment, not conquest of it. Man
is the only animal that can consciously
change from within, change manners,
thoughts, impulses, desires, dreams,
ideals. Man is the only animal that
can consciously modify his environ
ment, by deliberate choice move to an
entirely different one, transform an old
or create a new environment.
The blight of monotony is not sole
ly one of wealth or of poverty. The
less the income and the more restricted
the life the less is required to do some
thing that will break the spell of mo-
notony, that will bring a change, a new
impulse new impetus, new inspira-
ton. A dinner away from home, an
evening at the theater, a long ride or
sail, day at the beach, a walk in the
country. a visit or guest, some new
books, may be the trifle that may break
the deadly dizziness of uniformity.
Business men realize the effect of
cleanliness, comfort, convenience and
change in making store more attrac-
tive to customers. They vary the dis
| play in the shop windows, they deco
rate In harmony with the seasons, they
rearrange departments, they continu-
ously seek to Danish monotony. This
| nh nf hon fnnk
introduced In many homes where the
same articles of furniture stand In tho
same places for years as If they were
built into the walls. Rearranging the
furnishings, changing the position Of
the pictures, packing out of sight the
surplus of ornaments and bric-a-brac
that make rooms look like museums and
bringing them out later and retiring
the old ones, may freshen and bright.
en- a home and give a new life and in
spiration.
There is tendency on the part OF
many married people to surrender to
their moods, not TO bother about max
ing themselves agreeable to each 9TH
er. There are times when guest comes
to the home and the husband may be
surprised to see how entertaining his
wife can be; he hears her tell stories
and incidents that are new to him, that
amuse and brighten the atmosphere.
He may narrate entertaining episodes
of his business life, talk Interestingly
Of new inventions, new discoveries,
city improvements. national men and
measures, facts and fancies from his
reading. observation and experience
and she may look across the table In
pleased wonder and try to keep back
the expression of her rebellious pro-
test that with her alone he usually sur
passes the oyster In silence except on
the old subjects now talked to tatters.
Monotony comes from many causes !;
It can be held at bay in many ways.
The courtship method helps by keeping
the two from settling down into mat
ter-of-fact, humdrum existence, by
hallowing trifles. by banishing a sense
of duty and putting the spontaneity Of
love in its stead. Comradeship helps
too; ii puts both on q basis of conse-
Grated friendship, willing to talk I'M
| complainingly together the rough or
the smooth, the lights or the shadows,
the deeps or the shadows Of living, just
| as equals, with no awe, no oppressive
| dignity, no fear, but with freedom,
frankness, full respect and confidence
that smiles away sorrow and suspicion.
Humor helps: II livens trifies, takes
the sting out of little troubles and mis-
cries. When the servant leaves at
| four minutes notice, there need not
be grumbllng, and protest, and fret
| ting. What If the meals are not up to
| par or the house not manicured and
given heavy polish, for day or two?
There is no need for worry, the world
is not vet come to an end. IF taken in
the right spirit 1t may be a picnic time
for both. Children have the advantage
of us older folks; they know how to
pretend and TO play things are different
from what they are
A little of this spirit, sometimes,
keeps us young; 1t brings imagination
to the rescue; 1t crowds out the OPP
pressiveness of the serious side of
things when tears may be just trem-
bling near the edge of the eyelids, like
actors in the wings waiting their cue.
An honest laugh is worth hundred
signs in any market. 1t does not real
ly make much difference If the humor
seems a bit homemade and show signs
of wear, If 1t please the two, who en-
JOY without criticizing, and carry a
bubbling laugh from their lips to their
| living.
Reading aloud, music in the home,
the romping play of the children, the
welcome guest-all help to keep mo-
notony at bay. Looking out for the
Joy notes in the commonplace, find
Ing happiness like a four-leaf clover
because we know just where to look
for It, seeing reason for thankfulness
in what we have rather than regret in
what we have not, singing and smil-
ing at ones work. make monotony fade