When seriousness is real, it is never intrusive and can never be overdone.  It is simply a quiet, steady obedience to recognized laws followed as a matter of course, which must lead to a clearer appreciation of such laws, and of our own freedom in obeying them.  Whereas with a sham seriousness we dwell upon the importance of our own relation to the law, and our own responsibility in forcing others to obey.  With the real, it is the law first, and then my obedience.  With the sham, it is myself first, and then the laws; and often a strained obedience to laws of my own making.

This sham seriousness, which is peculiarly a New England trait, but may also be found in many other parts of the world, is often the perversion of a strong, fine nature.  It places many stones in the way, most of them phantoms, which, once stepped over and then ignored, brings to light a nature nobly expansive, and a source of joy to all who come in contact with it.  But so long as the “seriousness “lasts, it is quite incompatible with any form of real amusement.

For the very essence of amusement is the child-spirit.  The child throws himself heartily and spontaneously into the game, or whatever it may be, and forgets that there is anything else in the world, for the time being.  Children have nothing else to remember.  We have the advantage of them there, in the pleasure of forgetting and in the renewed strength with which we can return to our work or care, in consequence.  Any one who cannot play children’s games with children, and with the same enjoyment that children have, does not know the spirit of amusement.  For this same spirit must be taken into all forms of amusement, especially those that are beyond the childish mind, to bring the delicious reaction which nature is ever ready to bestow.  This is almost a self-evident truth; and yet so confirmed is man in his sham maturity that it is quite common to see one look with contempt, and a sense of superiority which is ludicrous, upon another who is enjoying a child’s game like a child.  The trouble is that many of us are so contracted in and oppressed by our own self-consciousness that open spontaneity is out of the question and even inconceivable.  The sooner we shake it off, the better.  When the great philosopher said, “Except ye become as little children,” he must have meant it all the way through in spirit, if not in the letter.  It certainly is the common-sense view, whichever way we look at it, and proves as practical as walking upon one’s feet.

With the spontaneity grows the ability to be amused, and with that ability comes new power for better and really serious work.