The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-08-19
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Ineonsiderst.

Tastes differ one mans meat is another mans
poison. One persons whipped cream is anOthers
shavnglaher Yet despite the fact that there is
accounting for tastes and preferences, If is about
such unsccountable things that much of the worlds
conversation is developed
One lad, bright with enthusiasm. says, Il Iiks
that" He is wonder" This is noble perform
ance" Another answers. II can't stand that" He
is an utter incompetent This is nauseating
addition" And the world iogs on
Jimmy Boswell drying to please Doctor John
who did not like country life) said to farmer
THE things that entertain you are, Il think, ex-
hausted in half an hour" The farmer disagreed,
mentioning many matters that interested and pleas
ed him. And We counting the things that engage
interest and furnish pleasure could doubt
less set out notable list But the things that dis
please =. alas, where shall find enough paper
to set them down?
Mr. Lester MacJunk obviously employed in
what people call social relations, took off an hour
OF his time, and took UP hour Of own, to tell
of the things which he utterly dslikes And
in turn take five minutes of Your time to tell of
what Lester loathes
Gadgetres that i5tfess lester are these: dead
clocks, dry cigarette lighters; dried up fountain
pens; spent electric bulbs still pretending 10 be
in service; empty electric sockets that stare vacany
absence of extra fuses from fuse e-boxes unconnect
ed floor lamps outof-order radios and TV sets.
Let no one say that all these things are trifles
too inconsiderabe for comment. They are rritants
and comment springs instantly TO the lips at the
very thought Of them Who has not wondered to
see an old clock tickless for years, adorning the
nanelpiece of friend or neighbor? TO the owner
that silent tmepiece may have sentimental charm
butt does not improve the sentiments of caller
who has unwisely relied it to help him catch a
bus.
There is deep disappointment in The experience
of trying 10 strike flame with the aid Of beautiful
and expensive contraption which has been without
fuel for half year. And who has not known the
chagrin of attempting to do some quick and neces
Sary writing with the aid of fine pen sci invit-
ingly before him, only 10 find II saplesS the dead
cedars of Lebanon? There is a jolt even when
nonirresisble force hits an immoVable object
A thing that puts rusty iron into the soul of
Lester MacJunk is a newspaper. Not indeed
newspaper as such bat a newspaper strewn wildly
around otherwise orderly and attractive room
One Sunday paper manhandled by the average
family, can bring more apparent disorder into
household than n hurricane bring to town
Why is this? We have here subject for research
Asplrants for the Ph.D. might consider it.
Another item of distress is the business of track
ing down stamp in the American home. Stamps
are purchased frequently, Cute little books with
waxed-paper inserts and here and there random
stamp are all over the place. But LEI person write
an important letter, and then look for a stamp
What does he find? Endless little books with waxed
paper in them and not thing else. What in heav-
ems name, consumes all the stamps? Where do the
things goat the very instant apparently, before
they are urgently needed? There is mystery here,
81.
the toroise-shelled monstrosities which turn many
an intelligent and attractive countensnce into the
face Of a bewildered and half,wited sheep. There
has manifeStiy been throw. back in this business
of eyeglasses Rather p million times the tiny
steeIrimmed lenses that grandpa used the deli
cate pincenez fine gold chain that served
greataunt Letita, than the enormous globe-sights
awesomely trimmed in dark she'll or cellulod, which
make the wearer, look like bumbling rival of Dave
Garroway Robert @ Lewis.
Let us not forget the dark lenses in white pIas,
tic frames tstrctly for feminine trade) which have
corners on them TO make the wearer resemble
startled cat. Lester MacIunk has particular dis
like Of these; he Immediately eraSes from the tab
lets of his consideration any person he finds wear
ing them.
Broken rosary. beads are an item of distress in
the Catholic home, Unbreakable chains do break
now and then under pressure of devotion or other
agency But why are repairs never made? Why
are broken rosaries invariably laid aside for later
attention? And why does that late attention never
spring to life? Why does it instantly become mat
tention. so that the occasion for using pliers and
wire never arises?
Well ii We could emove or rectify all the little
irritants, do YOU suppose We should do SOP Not at
all Consider the unanswered letter, Mind YOU 1t
rs = letter that might answer in three minutes
II only could the energy to take pen in
hand But no. there lies the letter, constant both.
er, like a nail in shoe, and continue to do
nothing about il. Or consider the neatly folded
blanket turned over the foot of the bed for
il the night should turn cold. Well. the night does
turn cold. The sleeper comes halfawake maybe
threequarters; he feels the chill; he wishes he had
The blanket upon him Does he reach for il? You
know the answer 10 that
With Lester Maslnnk social. relations man
Ne l'.s 10 grouse about many things But would NC
- ai the trouble Of turning hand to make them
In