Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-14

| Everybody knows them, and perhaps
most Of US are them, to some extent 81
least. For there are degrees in fanati-
cisn1, as in all other things. Some are
| able to carry their load Of enthusiasm
| better than others, that 10 all. The
loudest mouth no more proclaims the
lover than the largest tennis racket
Not always Is ne VINO taiEs the most
| about dogs the fondest Of them, nor he
who shouts the loudest at the ball game
the best sport thereat.
/ Talk Is cheap, II has been said, and
bears little relation TO the underlying
virtues which any vocation or avoca-
! ton, any hobby, any sport, any serious
| endeavor, may hold for its devotees.
Too ardent conversation about ones
hobby, especially before others, who for
any one Of q number Of perfectly good
reasons, may not be 30 interested, a
likely TO do what any ardent proselytine
runs the danger Of doing.
It may bore.
we believe that every honest enthusi-
ast-God bless himl-ought to consider
| the matter from this angle.
The more interested he Is himself, the
| more he should consider his hobby, and
for its sake, II not for his own, avoid
| running the risk Of boring others with It.
For, II bored, they viii never become
| 1anS IN tnelr turn.
That is the real danger the true
enthusiast runs, and one which, one
may well believe, no true rider Of hob
bies would subject his precious en-
thusiasm to II once he stopped to think
about it In that light.
r + y
It is the enthusiasm, the hobby, which
must be considered first Of all.
A hobby Is like a flne-blooded race
horse. The jockey on its back, while q
highly important gentleman, must ever
be second to the thoroughbred.
The hobby is precious and, like all
| precious things, should be handled care
| fully, not only for its own sake, but
especially in order that It may be
handed on to others unimpaired.
There is no foreeasting the distaste
which the non-enthusiast may receive
for any given subject, thing, hobby,
once he has had 1t flung at him in q
perfectly ruthless manner by an ardent
but mistaken man.
Enthusiasm itself Is far too fine o
thing to risk being withered at the
source. The world needs all its most
beautiful stories OF enthusiasm not only
in matters religious, but also in every
single activity that fayorably affects
human beings.
It will be found that the greatest
enthusiasts are often the most reticent
about them. Yonder small gentleman,
who possesses millions and who never
says word in public, Is yet one Of the
most enthusiastic amateur musicians In
the United States.
You never hear him say music. I"
As far as the word and he are con-
cerned, they do not appear together In
any of his utterances. He speaks Of
other things. But those who know him
best realize that nothing is dearer to
his heart. He Is an enthusiast, but he
respects his enthusiasm and uses tenn
perance In regard to It.
Perhaps the greatest enthusiasts are
they who keep their enthusiasts I'M
spotted from the world. happy In a
knowledge which they refuse to push
upon others, mainly because they want
others to come to them unspoiled-and
unbored-as they themselves came to
them.
This happy moderation in riding a
hobby offendS no man and makes the
greatest number of converts in the end,
for the scoffers, seeing the happiness
which lies in such face, come to won
der what causes 1t. and, seeking the rea-
son. become enamored themselves. Have
q hobby, enjoy IT, but don't talk about
1t all the time.