The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-22
From the Boston Transcript
Popular Amusements.

| We are pleased to observe that the attention
of men who have the moral welfare of the
community at heart, more than the success of
/ any pet hobby of reform, is now directed to
the subject Of popular amusements. The
theme is one worthy the consideration of NOR
alists and religionists. Puritanism, it is now
generally admitted, we believe has not suffi-
GENTLY recognized the necessity of amuse-
ments for the young. The reaction of as
cetcism upon individuals leads, to the same
moral result as the unnaturalized restraints
imposed by the Cromwell party in England,
produced in that country under Charles the
Second. The want. of innocent recreation, in
the large towns and cities of New England,
leads to much of the rowdyism, intemperance
and vice which there prevail. In some places
the only debating societies are held in the en-
gine houses; the only popular place of resort
where money is changed for admission, is a
Istrolling circus, or company of Ethiopian
Iminstrals; the idea of hospitality to a friend
or stranger is connected with visit to an oys-
ter saloon; an annual muster affords topic of
conversation for a month; and the visit of an
engine company or military corps, is regarded
as the great evident of session. To the res
ident of these places much of the delight ex-
perienced in visiting Boston consists in attend
HS Tie NIuSeuI, gong W ILe tnStCIci anu obll-
er places of amusement.
One of the best articles on this general sub
Iiect that we have see for some time, is in the
New York Christian Inquirer of the present
week We find SO much in it that expresses
our own views, that we are tempted to quote
some of its sentences, without reference to the
exact order in which they appear. How true
this is: "Want of innocent reception is one
of the most common causes of intemperance.
Drunkenness is the vice of a people who are
listless, heavy, and phlegmatic, and who be-
take themselves for excitement to the bottle in
the lack of other modes of relaxation. The
nations that cultivate music, dancing and other
/ like amusements even through the character
lof the people is somewhat like that of the
English and Americans, are comparatively
SOBER"
| This is rather hard on ''the American peo-
pie" but who can deny that it hits the nail
on the head? Were some blaze lover of pleas
ure, initiating its ancient prototype, to offer a
large prize for new pleasure Brother JON
athan's inventive powers in this direction. would
hardly go beyond the furnishing of some new
drink, perhaps some new combination with
other liquors Of mint Or sherry; or else the
giving of some pleasant compound already un-
known in American bar-rooms."
| but our limited space warns Us tnab we must
be content with very few extracts from this
Timely article. We commend the subject to
(which it relates to tie earnest attention o.
those who are anxious to do something prac-
teal towards the elevation and improvement O
society. The Christian Inquirer well says:
A high authority has said, Every friend o
the Maine Law should be total abstince man.
Equally true is it, that he should be pledged
Ito favor all instrlmentaEties which may in
Icre&se the facilities for innocent amusements
No legislation make joyless people temper
ate. If they cannot have innocent amusement
t they will crave coarse excitement; and if they
cannot get alcahol, they will make opium and
kindred stimulants take it's place. The open
ling of reading rooms and pleasant apartments
in our cities for social gatherings for the pool
e and exposed classes, would do more to further
d the aims of the Main Liquor Law than woule
lscores of convictions under it every week,