How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

is the greatest of all the sexual side-shows, and the most characteristic of our times. Romantic infantilism, the cult of the “ perfect lover ”, the “ right ” man and the “ right ” woman, are further sexual side-shows. So far as work is concerned, side-shows are perhaps less common than in the other fields, because of the inexorable tyranny of hunger. The slacker who denies the validity of work, the criminal who works only at the expense of society, the man who cannot hold a job more than a month, the rich idler, the bridge “ fiend ” are to be found in the side-shows round the occupational arena. In a sense, every neurotic may be said to be in a side-show of the work arena. Every neurosis is a serious profession. It demands a maximum of time and effort, and much explanation and excuse. Neurotics are always the hardest workers in the world—but their work is sterile and pays no dividends in happiness. All side-show activities are marked by certain common indices. If a man is to be found exclusively in the side¬ shows of life you may be sure that he has been very discouraged early in life, and is putting up a brave front to keep himself and the rest of the world from guessing how badly he feels about it. Sometimes he succeeds in deceiving himself, but he seldom succeeds in deceiving all his neighbours—-all the time. Yet if you find yourself in a side-show, you are perfectly justified in a sense. The problems of the main rings appear too difficult. You do not understand how anyone else can possibly muster the courage to go through the ordinary tasks of daily life. If you find yourself in this situation, take heart, and make a fresh start. If you see another in the same boat, and understand his situation, encourage him and instruct him. We are all responsible for our neurotic neighbours. The normal man is the one who radiates an aura of friendly encouragement and helpful criticism. Scepticism, reserved judgment, and above all divine discontent with things as they are, imagination, and a critical faculty with a constructive turn—these are not