How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.
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to his goal of legal murder. He measures life with an inflexible rule which excludes anything constructive. His passion in life is to destroy life, and his style of life is a direct assault on life itself. The paradox in this case lies in the fact that John C. claims that he is a happy man. If this is true, his life refutes the entire thesis of this book, that a man can be happy only when he is living the good life, when he is contributing to the world’s welfare, when he is joining in the world’s work. At the age of forty, John C. may still think that he is a happy and successful man, but we know that he has paid a terrific price for his security. Insomnia and vague fits of despondency and “ blues ” are the first symptoms of nature’s retribution. Mr. C. dates his insomnia very definitely to a certain Sunday when his favourite hunting dog was accidentally shot. This dog was the only living thing with which he had anything approximating to a human relation. Perhaps the death of this animal brought his own profound loneliness to his attention. Perhaps it gave him a new perspective of death, brought death close to him for the first time. Perhaps Mr. C. has come to the realization for the first time in his life that he, too, might not only die, but die before his grandiose schemes for general destruction were completed. Because of his isolation John C. has never developed a sense of humour, and the prospect of final defeat in his life-plan is not a matter that is conducive to good sleep and jaunty spirits under these circumstances. The spectre of a lonely old age has made even greater men quail. Despondency and insomnia are nature’s storm signals : “ Take care ! Change your pattern before it is too late ! ” Perhaps only those readers who have experienced the horror of night after night of sleep¬ lessness can appreciate the fact that John C. is neither as successful nor as happy as he claims. It is not my purpose at this time to consider the therapeutic approach to this case. I have given this history to illustrate the relation that personality, character,