Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

nature Of the world. from an appreciation in
nature art and architecture
There is q great passion In people for self
Improvement Even under present conditions
of life. when the working day drains most OF
the energy from the average man, large Sec
tions of the population dabble in philosophy.
follow the new knowledge turning up In various
sciences make their own telescopes and study
the stars play with inventions, grow plants
and flowers and engage in their meager spare
time in every creative activity which mas peen
discovered by man.
"If this Is what happens under the handi-
caps Of the present system, what energies VIII
be released into these exciting hobbies when
the workday goes down to four or nve nouns
four or i've days week2
SIT is obvious there will be an amazing de-
velopment of amateur status In every art, every
science every craft. Men will paint. sculpture,
sing write and play music. manipulate micro
scopes and telescopes on scale and with q
specialists skill TO q degree which seems M
creditable today.
Even now occasionally there creeps into the
newspapers stories Of accomplished amateurs
as for instance, the British hat manufacturer
whose microscopes have added TO the knowledge
of cancer; the railroad president who wx4tes
music: Josef Holman, the pianist. who u said
to hold 200 patents and who Ii practical
inventor. 4
These men are merely forerunners q tina
armies OF amateurs who wall do great things
for themselves and for the world when making
living Is easy and life is spent In really living.
But IL Is possible now for many more men
to get something real and deep out OF life.
One Of the tests Of the effective adjustment 70
life Of mental health is the way In which the
individual employs his leisure time. II he IL
utterly dependent upon the movies, the radio.
on jazz and excitement, there is q demonstrated
deficiency in his personality development
This deficiency Is not confined to people
who have few opportunities, but 1t Is also true
of the Weather classes When was working
my way through college I used to operate
motorboat MuSkoka Lake during the
Canadian Summer.
"One year took out q party of Is American
miIlionaires and I got interested In studying
them, since 1t was the first time had seen 50
many highly successful men together and ha9
an opportunity of being so chose to them.
"After several days they became restless.
nervous. anxious to get back 20 business. They
found 1t impossible to relax, to uncon the ten
sion under which they had been working steadily
throughout the year. They craved the treadmin
like squirrels in cage. This was slavery IN M
trueSt sense.
only one of the fifteen knew how to relax.
was able to enjoy life away from the industrial
machines which they were driving and which
were also driving them.
.'only one of these fifteen men knew how
10 have q great time just being alive IN the
woods His brain and his body were renovated
by the peaceful rhythms Of the outdoors"
A CCORDNG TO DR.. Hincks. our lack Of
n ability to enjoy spare time begins with @
deficiency in education and improper training
In the home. And comparatively few persons
escape from the mistakes OF this early training
and learn to live life balanced between work.
and play.
He says the schools have been preparing
youth for work. for achieving success In Q
trade. q business or q profession, but have
largely neglected to offset this type of training
with encouragement Of interests and hobbies
which win persist through life.
"A great change In education Is ON the way
which win give children better start" he de-
CoRttnaed on Eighteenth Page n