New Britain herald., 1918-01-15
OFF WITH THE CREPE
No Use Taking All the Joy Out of life
 Because We Arc At War.
(Waterburv Republican)

(Waterbury Republican,
 The philosophy that the cartoonist. Briggs, presents in his picture of the unfortunate individual who goes along his way continually discovering that somebody is always taking the joy out of life'' needs to be absorbed by some people who have been allowing the war to get on their nerves Econ- omizing has become such an obsession with them that the suggestion that they go to a theater Is received with shocked horror at the idea of spending money for so unnecessary a thing, or with gloomy discoura cement of thus finding pleasure while the nation is at war. Tying crepe around your hat, pulling a long face and talking in de- spairing tones of all the woe that is abroad in the world will not help to win the war. The war does call for redoubIed energy in our work, for 8 careful conservation of food, coal and other materials essential to our allies, to our soldiers and our people at home who are working to supply the na- tons war needs. It does not call for an ascetic self denial that rules all recreation, amusement and pleasure out of our lives. St. Simeon Stylites passed a suffering existence on the top of 8 pole, and some of his confreres agonized in camels' hair shirts, but none of them did himself or the rest of the world any good.
 Cheerfulness will help win this war. If you've worked hard all day at a task that directly or indirectly is sup plying our country with strength for the war, go to a theater, if your inclin- ation runs that way. You can do it with a clear conscience. You'll do a better days work on the day following because you've laughed heartily at the comedian or because you've enjoyed lively music, a dramatic sketch or good moving picture.
 Getting into rut is bad for man, physically, mentally and morally. The old-time sailor who spent two months or more on trip showed the effect of the eadening monoto11y when he reached a city on short leave and let out his pent up inclinations in one wild roar. A man or woman needs re- creation, amusement, to relieve the hum drum of life. The theaters serve a. good purpose in furnishing this in a harmless form
 To the men and women who have
 
 must come moments of depression when gloomy thoughts will overcome them It is ridiculous to argue that economy demands that they shut up in a closet and brood upon the sadness of the times. Let them come out and mfngle with their They owe 1t to themselves to sit for a while in the cheerful sur roundings of theater or other places of entertainne and get rid of the idea that life has nothing of brightness in it.
 If we believed that economy ot the amusement killing sort was called for because of the national emer- gencv. we would economfze on news paper space by doing away with "Petcv Dink'', the Briggs cartoons iokes. verse and everything that IS not of a serious nature. We are So- ing to keep all these things because they help to serve that excellent pur- pose that the theaters serve They help to keep the people cheerful and cheerfulness makes for better nor ale of a nation as 1t does for the sol-