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Literary
July 11, 1881
Cheyenne Transporter
Darlington, Canadian County, Oklahoma
What is this article about?
Helen Hunt's essay 'Fretting' argues that fretting is an underestimated sin, ubiquitous in daily interactions through complaints about minor discomforts, and advocates shifting focus to positives like the blue sky beyond troubles.
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Fretting
Helen Hunt,
There is one sin which seems to me is everywhere and by everybody underestimated, and quite too much overlooked in valuations of character. It is the sin of fretting. It is as common as air, as speech; so common that unless it rises above its usual monotone we do not even observe it. Watch an ordinary coming together of people and see how many minutes it will be before somebody frets—that is, making a more or less complaining statement of somebody or other, which, most probably, every one in the room, or the stage, or the street-car, or the street-corner, as it may be, knew before, and which, most probably, nobody can help. Why say anything about it? It is cold, it is wet, it is dry; somebody has broken an appointment, ill-cooked a meal; stupidity or bad faith somewhere has resulted in discomfort. There are always plenty of things to fret about. It is simply astonishing how annoyance and discomfort may be found in the course of every day's living, even at the simplest if one only keeps a sharp eye out on that side of things. But even to the sparks flying upward, in the blackest of smoke, there is a blue sky above, and the less time they waste on the road the sooner they will reach it.
Helen Hunt,
There is one sin which seems to me is everywhere and by everybody underestimated, and quite too much overlooked in valuations of character. It is the sin of fretting. It is as common as air, as speech; so common that unless it rises above its usual monotone we do not even observe it. Watch an ordinary coming together of people and see how many minutes it will be before somebody frets—that is, making a more or less complaining statement of somebody or other, which, most probably, every one in the room, or the stage, or the street-car, or the street-corner, as it may be, knew before, and which, most probably, nobody can help. Why say anything about it? It is cold, it is wet, it is dry; somebody has broken an appointment, ill-cooked a meal; stupidity or bad faith somewhere has resulted in discomfort. There are always plenty of things to fret about. It is simply astonishing how annoyance and discomfort may be found in the course of every day's living, even at the simplest if one only keeps a sharp eye out on that side of things. But even to the sparks flying upward, in the blackest of smoke, there is a blue sky above, and the less time they waste on the road the sooner they will reach it.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Temperance
What keywords are associated?
Fretting
Sin
Complaining
Annoyance
Discomfort
Moral
Self Control
What entities or persons were involved?
Helen Hunt
Literary Details
Title
Fretting
Author
Helen Hunt
Key Lines
There Is One Sin Which Seems To Me Is Everywhere And By Everybody Underestimated, And Quite Too Much Overlooked In Valuations Of Character. It Is The Sin Of Fretting.
It Is As Common As Air, As Speech; So Common That Unless It Rises Above Its Usual Monotone We Do Not Even Observe It.
Why Say Anything About It? It Is Cold, It Is Wet, It Is Dry; Somebody Has Broken An Appointment, Ill Cooked A Meal; Stupidity Or Bad Faith Somewhere Has Resulted In Discomfort.
There Are Always Plenty Of Things To Fret About.
But Even To The Sparks Flying Upward, In The Blackest Of Smoke, There Is A Blue Sky Above, And The Less Time They Waste On The Road The Sooner They Will Reach It.