posted 09-23-2011 03:50 PM            

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DROP THE SPOON

It Is Time the Souvenir Fad Was a Thing of the Past.

It does seem as if the time had come for an indictment against the souvenir spoon. A certain wise man, with a facility for letting his mind stray off into queer places, gave the subject much consideration not long ago, and as a result announced that, in his opinion, they were having a really demoralizing effect upon society. Formerly, he says, the afternoon call and cup of tea we're good things, affording rest to the body and possibly to the mind also; but since the spoon became twin topic to tho weather all this is changed. Perhaps twin topic isn't exactly the way to put it either, because that implies that they are equally boring, whereas the spoon is the worst, by far the worst. For in the matter of rain or shine it is possible to hazard one's own opinion, while to speak intelligently of the other requires a special education and a brand new dictionary into the bargain. Now, what man in fifty, he went on, knows whether that ridiculous little image on the handle of the Bombay scoop—for the mania appears to have girdled the planet—is a Krishna, or an Episcopal minister in his vestments. And what is more, why should he be made to know? It isn't a bit of information that appears to be worth giving mind-room to. If one stops to think of it, it is nothing more than a phase of the disease which in poorer folk leads to the collection of stamps and advertising cards and buttons. But there is no - in dallying with temptation of this kind; it is a malady more contagious than the grip, and for which no virus has been discovered whose inoculation was a preventive. Therefore, according to the testimony of honorable men, it would be a good thing if these simple observations would make people think twice before setting up a sentiment spoon fetish.

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