The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-01-31
CULTlVATING A HOBBY.

AS a sovereign remedy to keep
wholesome in body and mind and
cheate the years of their toll, it is
always we'll to have some little side
many folks mistake idleness for rest
and recreation. 1t is difficult to mag.
inc the mind completely inactive even
when the body sleeps. Change of at
tention is both it's rest and recreation
Recognizing this untiring energy with
velopment, the conservative man nat
urally seeks out good, healthy, tract
able hobby, rating it as mighty
serviceable asset, 4 positive life saver
if he be solitary man.
Let us come to an understanding at
once about what is meant when we
speak of hobbies, says the Echo
There are naturally good ones and
bad ones. The little nags that we
have in mind are all thoroughbreds
and to be treated as such-benefcient
endowments of Providence intended
for the employment and delectation
of good people seeking recreation
from a constant and dull routine de-
manded of them in their station of
life. In other instances they serve
to work off superfiuous energies, to
develop latent talents that could not
veil be disposed of or cared for in a
position of limited opportunities
More often they are nothing more
than some little specialization to help
satisfy that innate craving of the
to find pleasure in some attainment
or perfection The calling upon which
a man depends for his livelihood, that
claims his best efforts, the working
hours of the day, this is commonly
spoken of as his vocation That there
be such condition is not by choice
rather of stern necessity and duty
since the common lot of man is labor
But born to labor is not sentence
always to be slave to labor. The
interests one voluntarily turns to il
the after hours with an enthusiasm
and initiative of his own, to indulge
a liking either for relaxation or per
5onal improvement, that is what we
style hobby. There is absolutely
nothing contradictory in choosing for
a hobby what another claims as his
profession. 1t were we'll indeed and
a sure guarantee of success if ou1
calling could always be pleasant and
all engrossing. But even at that it
would not be quite correct to speak
of it as hobby for this pet of ours
always held as reserve must never
be associated with the common work
horse, however entrancingly the old
plug ambles, hoewver noble and
praiseworthy his qualities. Children
have no right to a hobby. They must
first come to their definite status in
life before permitted to lay off on a
side line.
A mans private hobby, properly
licensed and kept in due restraint
very often comes 10 be his best friend
IN all the world 1t tends to keep him
busy and so out of mischief, in a
good humor, good health, sure proof
against staleness and dry rot. Very
often it is the sole embodiment OF
his hope for some little distinction
and celebrity among his friends.
Let us then have it understood that
a hobby in time, place and occasion
is entirely within the bounds of rea.
son and beneficial both to the indi
vidual who INDUCES one and the com
munity at large that claims his mem
bership.
There are infinitely more people
who get into trouble from idleneSs
after hours than those who make
fools of themselves with riding hob
by. Remember the old adages, "All
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy" "An idle mind is the Devils
work shop" Between these two, steer
a safe course. Choose a hobby tc
your own taste and learn to ride him
in your own back yard. After you
are 'saddle-brcke," parade him only
before the friends you may trust, who
manifest an interest and are sincere
in their criticisms. Do not let the
of those who are conceited discourage
you in your recreation. If your pref
erence served you in no other steat
it would still be well worth the while
in separating you from a class of use
less companionship.