Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-12
LOAFING GETS BETTER MEANING
In THIS ARTICLE


magazine writer, has written an
editorial on "Loafing". It would
seem that it had better be called
"Meditating". Anyway, in his ar
ticle "loafing" gets better mean
ing than commonly understood by
the word and the definition given
in the dictionary. His article
follows:
I have long wanted to write an
editorial in defense of loafing.
When I was at school 1 picked UP
extra spending money by acting as
correspondent for an afternoon news
paper.
On my very first day / telephoned
an item for which l was paid So
President Charles F. Thwing, in his
address to the students, mentioned
ten things which college was supposed
to teach.
Among these was how to loaf.
l had already had some newspaper
training, so l seized upon this state
ment, and made a good story out of it
President Thwing's idea that loaf
ing was an art which had to be
learned has always remained in the
back of my head, and 1 have fire.
quently asked myself, 'Do you know
how to loaf?"
Just few minutes ago I ran into a
quotation from an article which had
appeared in Business Chemistry: 1.-THE
scientist Helmholtz observed on his
SEVENTEEN birthday that no great idea
had ever come to him when he was
at his desk, nor when he was tired,
nor after taking glass of wine, but
usually when he was walking in the
garden musing on other things.
(which proves the scientific value
of loafing and musing; for it is when
a man loafs and muses. that his sub
conscious mind talks to him.
"The subconscious mind is ex-
tremely polite; it never cuts in on
a busy WIRE"
On the afternoon of the day this
is written I have been sitting at my
typewriter, searching my mind for
something worth writing about. I'm
til I ran into the statement in Bus
mess Chemistry 1 feared the after
noon was to be wasted, but now I
see it is going to produce an editorial.
1 don't pretend to know what loaf
ing is, but in my opinion loafing
should be distinguished from mere
idleness.
The constructive loafer uses his
mind during the act of loafing, but
he does not try to control his mind
In other words, loafing is educated
day-dreaming.
You are doing constructive loafing
if you sit and smoke and think, but
if you just sit and smoke you are
wasting your time. The occasional
waste of time is not so bad, but there
is no art in it, and this article is not
a defense of the practice. -
Everyone should do a certain
amount of loafing, but the amount
should be held within reasonable
limits.
Everyone has his favorite form of
recreation. Mine is loafing. While
others play cards, golf or go fishing,
l can enjoy myself in a comfortable
chair on a cool porch in summer, or
before a log fire in winter.
cannot boast that any wonderful
ideas have ever come to me during
these loafing hours, but I have been
able to keep myself entertained, and
I have often gone to work the next
morning with half the days work
done.
l would feel a tremendous respon-
sibility if anyone, upon reading these
thoughts, decided to loaf more. I do
not plead for more loafing. I defend
a reasonable amount of honest loafing
as tonic that is good for the body,
mind, and. spirit.