But the best of hobbies are intellectual ones. Thus men of active
mind retire from their daily business to find recreation in other
pursuits--some in science, some in art, and the greater number in
literature. Such recreations are among the best preservatives
against selfishness and vulgar worldliness. We believe it was
Lord Brougham who said, "Blessed is the man that hath a hobby!"
and in the abundant versatility of his nature, he himself had
many, ranging from literature to optics, from history and
biography to social science. Lord Brougham is even said to have
written a novel; and the remarkable story of the 'Man in the
Bell,' which appeared many years ago in 'Blackwood,' is reputed to
have been from his pen. Intellectual hobbies, however, must not
be ridden too hard--else, instead of recreating, refreshing,
and invigorating a man's nature, they may only have the
effect of sending him back to his business exhausted,
enervated, and depressed.
Many laborious statesmen besides Lord Brougham have occupied their
leisure, or consoled themselves in retirement from office, by the
composition of works which have become part of the standard
literature of the world. Thus 'Caesar's Commentaries' still
survive as a classic; the perspicuous and forcible style in which
they are written placing him in the same rank with Xenophon, who
also successfully combined the pursuit of letters with the
business of active life.
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