COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY SAMUEL MCCHORD CROTHERS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. CONTENTS 952 C THE LEISURABLE HOURS OF JOHN WESLEY SOME ALLEVIATIONS OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES SUGGESTIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A THE CHEERFUL GIVER "THE Lord loveth a cheerful giver"; and so do we all. Especially is this true of those who give us their opinions. Perhaps one might say that it is only when these unsolicited donations are made in a cheerful manner that they are tolerated. When a person offers us a piece of his mind, we suspect him of hostile intent. The history of the word "gratuitous" is enlightening. Its primary definition is, "freely bestowed or obtained; costing nothing." Its secondary meaning is, "unnecessary, uncalled for; as, a gratuitous insult." In a certain sense all expression of opinion is gratuitous. It is uncalled for. Especially is this true if the opinion offered conflicts with one which is already held. People usually prefer their own opinions to those that are recommended by outsiders. They may not be of the most advanced kind, but they are more comfortable to live with. The insistence on cheerfulness does not apply to professional advisers like lawyers, doctors, architects, engineers, and the like. These experts do not give us their advice: they allow us to buy it from them. We do not expect them to be in high spirits when we go to them in office hours. Even though they be "sad-hearted men much overgone with care," we accept their opinions meekly. We will allow a psychoanalyst with austere countenance to tell us the most devastating truths about ourselves. But let no candid friend offer us the same information gratuitously. Let all idealists, reformers, philanthropists, friendly visitors, people with causes they wish to promote, and all who would give good advice without charging a fee, remember this. There is a temperamental quality needed to make their gifts acceptable. Chaucer's Clerke of Oxenforde in spite of his solemn ways, had learned the secret: "gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche." Even the Wife of Bath would tolerate his didacticism when she saw how much pleasure he got out of it. This is not to say that we should give a hearing only to those who insist on looking always on the bright side of things. The dark side must be faced also, but we do not care for the mind that |