Evening star., 1932-07-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

in the miracle of wires and electricity
which combine in what we call a radio
receiving set, in the sight of squirrel
biting off with sharp teeth small
branches Of locust leaves to build a nest,
In roaring flashes of motor cars down a
white avenue, in thousands of people
in bathing at popular resort, in Curl
Gus combinations of colors on canvas to
represent the same scene, in political
conventions, in a great roaring organ
to which people sing Happy Days Are
Here Again" in these and a thousand,
Thousand more.
One Of the great primary sorrows of
man is that he. as an individual, has
only enough time to sample life; and
here are the many thoughtless, who in
sist On cutting themselves of from
interesting things on no real grounds
at all!
The solution Of this apparent silly
performance must run back to where
the real basic interest of a man lies,
whether solely in himself or both in
and outside himself. Although this is
by no means the whole Of it, it may
explain the difference between human
beings to some extent, at least; 1t may
give us a clue in a study which has
been going on since man became con-
scious of himself, and will go on for as
long as he inhabits this stupendous
globe.
There is one group Of human beings
the members Of which find 1t about all
they can do to take care OF themselves,
and who find that care SO enthralling
that nothing which does not in some
way contribute to it, in some easily
seen way, has any standing with them
/ ic mh
bers are outwardly no different from
these others. but who. nevertheless, find
that consciousness, to them, means not
only awareness OF themselves, but con-
sciousness Of everything else in the
world. to the best of limited means and
abilities.
Mostly these folk are nature lovers
so called. who are able to derive as
much amusement from watching pup
| pies at play on a hearth rug as many
another person would from seeing the
! most expensive production which Nero
ever put on in the circus at Rome.
| From puppies they 60 ON to kittens
! from kittens to fish, from fish to crystals
from crystals to views along the banks
Of Rock Creek. from Rock Creek to
photographs taken CT the same, from
one thing to another, as lack of dis
likes leads them.
Perhaps it is not too much to say
that these abiding interests arise from
! lack of serious diSlikes as much as any,
thing e,se.
! 1t is impossib to be interested in
| thing if one actively dislikes it. unless
! that thing be of such an annoying and
persistent form that it thrusts itself
upon its victim. This Is forced in
crest, and not the best kind.
| The interests for which we hold a
brief are those which have points Of
| beauty. utility, or whatnot, which en-
/ able them to attract human beings
/ pleasantly. if said human beings will
/ but give them the opportunity.
| 1t must be understood that the list
Of these will vary largely, according to
! the human being interested. 1t will not
be the same for all men. Some one,
with the best will in the world, can
not be interested in snakes, for in
| stance. He will be willing to recognize
the interest OF another in them. how
ever. and will be able to agree that.
theoretically. they are intere< ting and
even beautiful creatures. For him.
however. there is nothing beautiful
about them.
Thus it may be seen that common
sense must rule here. as elsewhere.
Hold fast to honest diclikes, if you
want to. and If you feel that they really
are genuine diSlikes. But do not cut
yourself of from possible sources OF
interest In q world so amazing as this.
so filled With possibilities for intriguing
the mind and heart There are too
many ways to be unhappy to create
them needlessly, and especially to
create them out OF the whole cloth
where only interest lies, if given a
chance to show itself