Evening star., 1932-07-25

overwhelming desire Of so many motor
lists to boast of their road record after
they get home. No doubt many sight
seer fails to see as much as he other
wise might, because he Is more inter-
ested in his recording gauge than he is
in the scenery.
The pedestrian has no such trouble.
If he gives himself plenty Of time for
his daily journey, he will be able to pay
himself big dividends in interest, pro-
vided, of course, that he has the inter-
ested mind.
Not every one has it.
1t might seem that every human be-
ing would be truly interested in all that
goes on around him, but such thesis
could easily be disproved.
One has but to talk few minutes
with what is called an average" man
to discover that his mind Is amazingly
closed on certain subjects.
He resents any variations, and such
are not at all interesting to him.
No matter how brilliant the deviation
or how colorful, or how filled with ex-
citement, this average man fails to see
any of 1t, because he Is too busy argu-
ing in support of what he knows, likes
and believes in.
Loyalty thus becomes q sort of mental
brake on the human powers of appre-
citation. Conservatism prevents the
mind from comprehending good quail
ties in something or other, even the
eyes from seeing plain attractions
1t is here that a dash of cynicism is
useful ingredient in human character.
Not only will it not sour man on the
world. in any real sense. but it most
certainly will, on the other hand, cause
him to keep an open mind for opposites.
differences, strange and "outlandish"
things.
4 This attitude will make certain that
such q man does not miss much, In
the general sense of that term; it will
make sure that when something excit-
| ing is happening, either in local, ma
tional or international affairs. he will
be on the cheering line, popeyed with
interest, because he has enough ordi-
nary gumption to realize that, in a
world which is built on incessart
change, nothing can really be station
ary; that excitement Is the prelude to
change, and that change is but natu-
raj movement, one way or the other.
Brought down to the everyday life,
| this attitude means that the home
conner will select new route now and
then, In order to get a new slant on
life.
A street which he has not walked
down In his own neighborhood or city
| is Just as new to him as would be a
similar street in a foreign city.
It all depends upon whether he has,
| in his mental makeup, the ability to
see interest where many of his associ-
ates would see only more matter for
boredom.
| Why there are streets in Washing
| ton which few people have ever been
on except those who live there. and
they are just as interesting streets as
any others. Especially in some of the
older sections of the city the way
farer will find old wrought-iron bal
comics and the like worth going miles
| to see.
Ironwork Of that sort is not made
any more 1t will be only matter of
few years until such things are mu-
scum pieces.
One might as well see them now,
and hundred more interesting side
lights on life and living as it has been
but probably will not be much longer
In addition to this one angle of the
new route, there are all the unsus-
pected beauty spots, such as gardens
which one may see along the way.
| There is every reason for varying the
route from time to time, but the great
est, no doubt, is this, that 1t helps
one see the familiar, too, in a new
| light. Old lights are good, but new
lights also shine.