Evening star., 1925-09-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

4 am glad TO see that you have
discovered horticulture, and put the
seal OF your approval on it, said a
sarcastic friend.
AS a matter of fact. life is merely
succession of such personal discov-
cries. begun when the baby reaches
for the moon and ended when the old
man finds Death
1t is not until one personally ex.
periences anything. whether it be
love. war or gardens, that he becomes
enthusiastic about it. And enthusiasm
oftends some people.
Such to-be-pitied folk heartily resent
any one else enjoying Life. s mani
rested in enthusiasm either in talk,
writing or conduct.
How dare you discover f1owers?"
seems TO be their attitude. Flowers
have been in existence for millions of
years, and you have been on this globe
for some time yourself, and never a
cheep out or you about the glory of
growing things.
Now all of a sudden you pop up
with praise of the Gladiolus, as If no
one ever saw a Gladiolus before. Your
enthusiasm for moving and watering
the lawn comes a bit late, after |
have been cutting grass and boring
myself with the hose for more years
than l care to admit"
Where the above visionary critic
would be wrong would be in his gen
eral misconception of another's per
sonal enthusiasm as depending on his
own knowledge, likes and dislikes.
He would be all at sea, in the sec
ond place, because of his opinion that
the enthusiast spoke or wrote with
any idea whatever that any one else
had never seen a Gladiolus. He writes
from just the opposite standpoint.
that every one has seen Glads. and
thus will rejoice with him in their
beautv.
No an enthusiasm for anything. al.
though IL may displease one here and
there. pleases hundreds. because shar-
ing enthusiasms is one of the real joys
of life
The personal discovery OF any sub
Ject, any fact, is the beginning of all
enthusiasm. Not until a person gets
interested in a subject does that sub
ject become real to him.
Life, as stated, is largely a series of
such personal interests. They begin
at the earliest mop1 ants the child is
able to know anything. Take the baby
in the cradle
The infant looks up at it's mother.
lifelong enthusiasm OF the man for
the mother. 70 whorr countless great
men have paid tribute since civiliZa-
tion began.
This is one of the earliest enthusi-
asms. Perhaps a later discovery is
that of animal friends. The baby sees
q cat walk by. New" says the child.
reaching out his hands toward the
soft coat of the house cat.
Years later that infant, grown into
a child, and then a man. will find him.
self irresistibly impelled TO stop and
stroke all cats, stray and otherwise
that come into his way.
He may scarcely realize that the be-
ginning OF this feline enthusia SIN was
it, but it will date. nevertheless. 10
that hour when the beautiful crea ature
ambled its 1.-the form past his car
riage.
Perhaps more of our manly enbhusi-
their beginnings in our cradles. and
have spread thence through all our
grown-up years.
The boy has personal experience
after personal experience. thus max
ing discoveries on his own part that
parents cannot make for him.
1t is no use. 10 lecture Johnny
about the benefits of outdoor exer-
else If John is of studious. indoor
nature. Let the little fellow get a
taste Of running and jumping in
stead and the chances are that he