Those who are versed in the ancient history of fads tell a tale that should serve as a warning to the rising generation.
It began, as fads are rather apt to do, with something in the newspaper. A young lady read the stale remark about the tendency of farmers' wives to become insane from the isolation and monotony of their lives. Now, this girl had always cheristed a vivid but secret fear of becoming insane. Though it had never before occurred to her that her life was particularly monotonous or isolated, it seemed evident now that this must be the cause of the calamity about to overtake her.
She was a college girl, and as all this happened during one summer vacation, she began immediately to construct for herself a model course of conduct to be pursued, on trial, during the next year. With the opening of her eyes, she realized that her first two years had been all on the same dead level, with small range of thought and action, and smaller range of emotion. A careful analysis of sensations convinced her that monotony of emotion was a peculiarly dangerous symptom, and here was the greatest necessity, as well as the greatest opportunity, for her to vary her life. Hers was no rash or venturesome spirit, and it did not occur to her that by leaving the routine of college altogether could she most easily evade her threatened doom. Her Puritan blood compelled her to examine the matter conscientiously; so she came to no half conclusions, and to none for which a basis of careful thought and research was not first laid. Moreover, she was prepared to put her theories to the test.
She had always tried very hard to do her work well, and only at rare intervals had the superior popwers expressed anything but approval of her. The fits of blues ensuing on the occasional exceptions to this rule had been almost the only variation in her life. It was plain to her now that she had made a mistake. It was monotonous to do one's best always, and, moreover, highly desirable that disapproval should come often enough to make life interesting, though never so often as to become commonplace. Even though the result were a fit of the blues, that would only add to the good effect. In short, she resolved to emphasize her emotions. When a mildly cheerful mood swayed her, she would accentuate it, and become exceedingly cheerful. And when she wanted to indulge in the blues, she would let them be very dark ones. But never must one mood continue too long. Constant despondency and long-continued gayety were alike perilous. Sometimes she would learn her lessons very well, and again would fail to know anything about them, with occasional days of mere mediocrity. At times she would be very social, and seek the company of her friends. Then she would live by herself as much as possible, for a while. Sometimes she would put her whole heart into the enjoyment of material things, and spend all her nickels for sodas. She would even cultivate the acquaintance of the superior powers, if ennui should threaten.
Of couse no schedule could regulate all these schemes, for her end would be defeated by a rigid system. An impulsive temperament was to be vigorously cultivated.
Her plans were well thought out, and they worked admirably for a time. She happened, fortunately enough, to be a clever and agreeable girl, and no very serious results followed either from temporary abstemiousness in the matter of studying or from spasmodic neglect of her friends. Her constitution, too, was strong, and stood the strain remarkably well. If, at times, she grew tired of irrational behavior, she considered it entirely accordant with her system to live on an ordinary level for short intervals. But her impulsiveness was every day responding to cultivation, and she found life very entertaining.
In course of time, it came to pass that this person met a young man, and they were attracted to each other. He found it pleasant to continue the acquaintance, even at some expense of time and trouble. He soon discovered that he was not happy unless he went to see her as often as possible, which was about once a week. Of course it became evident that what he had done a dozen times in succession, he was likely to do again. So the young lady, since he was very agreeable, began to look forward to his call as one of the pleasantest events of her week.
But one day it flashed across her consciousness that not only was she doing the same thing at the same time every week, but was experiencing the same emotion each time, and the matter occupied a considerable share of her thoughts. She was constantly happy, a thing most strictly to be guarded against. It was that very day that he told her that once a week was not enough to keep him contented, without the prospect of her constant company for the future.
It was not a year since her theory had been put to the test, and it had worked, until lately, to perfection. An hour before, it had become plain to her that she was to some extent transgressing her law because of this man. Now a decision must be made - which should it be? She was a Puritan maiden, remember, and could not bear to be conquered. Did it make any difference to her that the thought of him kept her constantly happy? This, in itself, was not to be allowed. She permitted herself but a moment to decide, and announced her choice. The man went away, and did not come back.
During the summer a trip to Europe made it easy for her to live out her theory. With tolerable courage, she began the next year; but senior responsibility, she thought, weighed upon her so tha tit was a little more difficult to be giddy and impulsive. By spring she found herself plunged in gloom, continuous, and therefore most dangerous. It required a mighty effort to arouse herself for the commencement festivities. And the effort was too much. On the eventful day, as she stood on the commencement stage to receive her diploma, she resolved upon her future career. She would take an indefinitely long post-graduate course, in a convent. It would perhaps be amusing to wear the remarkable costume, and perform duties which she know of only through Victor Hugo. If insanity should be the result - what of it? At least that was a sensation she had never experienced.