Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-11-15
HONOLULU, I'll. L. NOVEMBER 49, 1856
Qbe l)olnnesian.
om the Westminster Review, for July.l
Popular Amusemeni-.

rom the w westminster Review, for Juy.l
Popular Amnsemenis.
In the absence of any leading authority upon a
question of no ordinary Importance we propose to
nterrogate the past briefly and to ascertain as far
as our means of information and our limits allow
what have been the expressions among different
nations OF their emotions earnest or mirthfu and
what, socially ethicaly have been the results of
popular amusements as delineated in the pages of
history. We neither attempt nor presume to offer
anything beyond the most general of surveys and
our object will be completely answered, if we sue
ceed in drawing the attention Of others to the rec
Ords or the results of the spontaneous pastimes
that often embody national character more COM
pletely than chronicles statepaperS, or even works
of fiction. =
If an answer to these queries be sought in the
statute-books, or theological and ethical treatises
during the last two centuries, it will not be favora
bic to the humanity of Legislators or the wisdom
Of divines. LEX surda ct inexorabilis est says
the historian of Rome, and yet the Roman law was
by no means regardless of the recreations of the
people. And law is neither more deaf nor more
neXOrable than divinity. Dvines, not content with
describing this world world of probation, rep
resent 1t as one Of durance also. To be happy, or
to seem so, Is to tread the primrose path of sin ;
philosophy taught that health of mind was connect
ed with, if not dependent upon health of body :;
but theology, at least such Is eXpOunded from the
pulpit in books, seldom if ever teaches anything
of the sort health and cleanliness are sublunary
considerations saVUrng of the earth, and as fOI
Icheerfulness, it Is not so much to be named in
the congregation. Clearly, then, as regards popu-
lar amuscments, no hope Is to be looked for from
the pulpit. Brave old Latimer, indeed, was of a
different way of thinking, and delighted in turning
his hearers attention to subjects connected with
their daily lives and recreatiOns. But preachers of
his stamp rare as able-bodied and able mind
ed bishops and so far from desiring TO send home
his hearers with renewed interest i'll their daily life
the shepherd dIsmissess his flock with the assur-
anCe that this is the worst possible of worlds, and
that the best use make Of it is to be as un-
genial and uncomfortable in it as we can. Nor is
the flock generally whit behind the shepherd in
its relish for discomfort The more vinegar and
gall there is in sermon the better it is relished
cheerful view Of religion montlons to cater for
body's health as well as souls health, would empty
half the churches in the United Kingdom.
In whatever light we regard the state, whether
as parent regulating his children's actions, and
exacting from them implicit obedience, or as
body of trustees appointed by the governed for
their good, it has direct interest in the we'll
being of its members. 1t is not enough for them
to be negatively benefited, as Blackstone insists,
by the vigilance and wisdom of their rulers. Man
is not formed to live by law alone, any more than
he is by bread alone. His animal and intellectual
faculties alike demand nurture and relaxation, and
the Government which shuts its eyes to The amuse-
mens of the people, and considers that if life and
goods be protected, all its duties are performed,
beholds only half Of its proper functions, and per-
forms imperectly even that moIety.
For, if work and its fair recompense be pre-
vcntive against crime, occasional leisure and re-
creation are not less good prophylactics in their
way. The unbent mind Is, at times, In as much
peril from temptation as the unemployed. Even
of mental or bodily activity for another; and the
ale-house is filled as much by those who are wea-
rlcd with doing nothing, as by the habitualy intem
perate. If proof of this assertion be required let
the reader accompany us for a moment, in ina GIN
alton to village wake, or even to the larger as
sembly of a town-fair. He will see there an as
semblage of people in better than their ordinary
attire, and bearing the traces Of a recent apphca-
ton of soap and water The smiths sooty yisage
looks scarified by his ablution, and the miller and
mason are no longer TO be detected by their pro-
fessional hue If 1t be Whitsuntide or May-day,
there is some approach TO a feast of Tabernaces,
for the booths and skittle-groundS are decked with
boughs-thc nearest approach now to pastoral SEN
timcnt in England. The whole affair." indeed, has
a very busness-lke aspect. Listen to the cOnver-
sation of the groups of holday-makers, and it is
mostly of a serious cast-of markets and prices
among the men, of family casualties and scandal
among the women. Now and then, the children
appear little eXhilarated by the appariton of Mr.
Merryman, or the conversation of Mr. Punch. As
the afternoon wears on, 1t may be expected that
the mirth will become fast and furious. The con-
trary is generally the The men are besotted:
the women weary and anxious to return home; and
probably, in low life well in high life, days
pleasure is one of the most truly wearlsome in the
year.
IT is from the inventive and practical sons of
Hellas that we must seek for the true theory and
example of popular amusements. The Greeks
were the first to announce the law of educatlOn-
that it should consist in nearly equal proportion of
the arts which elevate the mind and the exercises
which strengthen the body. The combination of
the musical with the gy1ndStc was first displayed
in the public games OF Greece, and was repeated in
the daily life of every Grecan commonwealth. |
So salient a feature was this of Hellenic manners,
that we find Paul of Tarsus drawing from the
one of his llveiest and most expressive
illustrations, and Plato preludng many of his
with references to the Pal9stra, the sta
dium and the sports that accompanied the festivals
of Pallas, Apollo, and Ceres. "All pastlmes,
says Roger Ascham, " generally, which be Joyned
with labor and nOpen place, and on the day-llghte,
be not only comee and decent but verie necessarie
for cOurtly gentleman ;; and the Greeks, although
they admitted a certain coarseness of speech and
action, which the greater decency the better reg
ulated hypocrisy of modern life prohibits, were, III
comparison with other contemporary nations, race
of - courtly gentlemen" 1t was deemed discred-
liable for anv one above the condition of slave or
a barbarian, to be unable to express himself IN So
ciety in public with freedom and ease upon any
topic of discussion he was deemed awkward and
iltraned who could not add to the conyiviality of
the table by song recitation; and 1t needed all
the fame and ingenuity of Themistocles to excuse
himself for his inability TO play on the flute. II
was considered unbeseemlng citizen to be mex