Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-06
RIV.FEII,AxATIONs or GREAT MEN.

! RELAXATIONS OF GREAT MEN.
- Men of the strongest minds need relaxation The
bow can not always be kept bent otherwise its elias
ticity is irretrievaby injured. Like it, the human
mind must be relaxed from time to time, to allow it
to recover its strength and tone This lesson is well
taught in the tradtonary story related of the Apos
tie John. A hunter one day passing, appeared much
surprised at seeing him caressing little bird with
all the delight of a child. The well-beloved disciple
observing his astonishment said to the hunter, why
do not you keep your bow always bent!" because
it would soon lose its strength if it were always
strung" "Welli" replied the old man, it would
be the same with my mind; if gave it relaxation
it would, in like manner, lose its force"
It is interesting note the amusementS of learned
and great men of present and pasttimes Their pre-
elections their private tastes, their amusements
their domestic habits, their relaxations-in word
all that satisfies them, annoys them, amuses them
are capable of furnishing useful lessons to race
for mans manners and habits help us to a knowl-
edge of him, and are the best evidence of his real
character.
Many great men have delighted in passing their
hours of relaxation in the company of children. This
betokens pure and loving nature. Richter says,
the is to be Stunned who does not love the so
ciety of children Henry ~ was passionately fond
of them, and delighted in their gambos and little
caprices. One day, when crawling round bis room
al-fours, on his hands and knees, with the Dau
phin his back, and the other children about him
urging the king to gallop in imitation of horse
ambassador suddenly entered and surprised the royal
family in the midst of their fun. Henry, without
Embassador?" eyes, sire' " In that case pro-
coed with the sport" replied the king.
The Duke of Wellington was, in like manner, ex-
tremey fond of children and was general favorite
with them. He enjoyed their gambols, took part in
them, and was constantly presenting them with little
keepsakes and presents. The opera was his chief
amusement; and he a regular frequenter of both
houses we'll of the Ancient and other frstcass
concerts.
Leibnitz used to pass months together in his study
engaged with his laborious Investigations. AT such
times his only relaxation consisted in collecting about
him in his study children of both sexes, whom he
watched and sometimes he took part in their frocs.
Seated in his easy chair he delighted to observe their
lively movements to listen to their conversation and
to observe their several dispositions and when his
soul had sufficiently enjoyed the innocent spectacle,
he would dismiss the children with sweetmeats, and
return to his studies with renewed energy.
Louis Racine say of his father, that he took part
in all the chdren's sports. e l remember process
sion we once had, says he in his memoirs in which
my sisters played the part of the clergy was the
curate and the author of AthaIie singing in chorus
with us, carried the cross"
Napoleon like Wellington, was fond of children
He used to take the infant king of Rome in his arms
and standing in front of mirror with him, there
made the oldest grimaces in the glass At breakfast
he would take the child upon his knee dip his ing
in the sauce, and daub his face with it: the chds
governess scolded, the emperor laughed, and the
child almost always pleased, appeared to delight in
the rough caresses of his father. Those who on
such occasions, had favor to solicit from the
peror, were almost always sure of being faVorably
received.
Napoleon also took great delight in the sound of
bells. Bourrienne relates that when walking with
him in the avenue at Malmaison, the village bell
would interrupt him in his conversation about the
gravest matters. He would stop suddenly, and Is
ten, as if not to lose note; and he seemed to be
annoyed at those who did not experience the same
delight in bells that he himself did Once he OBJ
served, with emotion, "That sound recalls to my
mind the first years passed at Brienne: was hap
Ply then !"
Louis XIV.'s brother, the duke of Orleans, was
also passonately fond of BELLS and cared for other
at the times when the bells were set a-rnging, as,
for instance, the day when the vigil of the dead
is rung. He used to declare that the ringing gave
him delight quite beyond expression.
Who would have imagined that the grave, the
phosophic Socrates during his hours of leisure took
pleasure in dancingp Yet it was so! By dancing,
leaping and other exercises of the body he preserv
ed his bodily health; and at other times, when not
in the humor for physical exercises he amused him
self by playing upon the lyrc which tuned and tenn
pered his mind. These old Greeks took much more
rational methods of educating and developing the
whole nature of man than we moderns do. They
regarded physical education the groundwork of
mental; and sought to train the bodily powers and
develop the muscular energies at the same time that
they cultivated the mind by discipline and study.
" A sound mind in sound body" was one of their
most current maxims
Many other wise men, besides Socrates, have taken
great delight in music. Epaminondas, famous Gre
clan general used to take pleasure in singing at the
village festivals. The cruel Nero "fiddled while Rome
burning least he played the harp, for there
were not, as yet fiddles in those days Luther de-
lighted in playing the flute, and thus used to soothe
his excited feelings. Frederick H. of Prussia allay
ed the most violent agonies of mind with the same
instrument. An hours playing generally suffced to
reduce him to perfect tranquility. Milton delighted
in playing the organ; and composed ,veral fine psalm
tunes which are, to this day, sung in our churches
Bentham passionately fond of music, and played
the there q house
without piano. He took pleasure in running
his fingers over the keys Gainsborough the painter
was capital performer on the violin
Byron's great delight was flowers; and while in
Italy, he purchased fresh bouquet every day. He
had flowers in every room; and he said to Lady
Blessington that they filed him with sweet melan-
chaly and inspired him with serious thoughts. By
ron was also fond of animals. In his youth he made
friend of boar, and later in life, he formed attach
ments to dogs-the epitaph one of which he |
caused to be graved on its tombstone
More lovers of children! Cato, the censor, no
matter howsoever urgent the business of the repub
lie, would leave his home in the morning with
out first having seen his wife wash and dress the
baby! Cicero, after having put the finishing hand
to his orations called in the children and had JOY
Gus romp with theml great diversion of the en- |
peror Augustus was to play at games with little !
children who brought from all parts for the !
purpose-Moorish and Syrian children being his |
chief favorites. There little fellow, of the
name of Nucius, who stood only two feet high, and |
weighed only seventeen pounds but who, neverthe- |
less, had prodigious voice. he especial fav-
orte. Rousseau said that nothing gave him greater
pleasure than to see little children making fun and
oGk1-1 h.