Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-20
For the Standard.
Albany, Feb. 10, 1857.

For the Standard. /
Mr.. EDITOR Much has been said
and written upon the subject of recrea-
ton for the young, yet the half has not
been told. One says dance, and, on the
slight fantastic toe, trip down the jour
ney of life, robbing care of its burden,
sorrow of its poignancy, and life of its
reality. Another has quite different
specific for the tedium of monotonoqs la
Dor. Fashionable entertainment must be
had, says third.
I readily grant that the young must
have some means for employing the su-
perabundant energy and spirit with which
they are blessed.
Few or none before the age of 20 are
able to mark out course of intellectual
labor and pursue that course with untir-
ing zeal. 1t is equally difficult to find
young men fixing upon any one of the
great branches of industry, and bending
all their energies to the achievement of
something worthy, as citizens and men.
Not that the young men are unwilling
Ito labor, but they are not willing to stop,
and seek every means of enlightenment,
that they may labor intelligently, having
minds well stored. The mass are not in
clined to employ the little leisure they
have, in such way as to be benefited
The interim Of manual labor is spent in
the light and senseless foolery of fashion
able social gatherings, where everything
may be found but intellect and real hon
esty of heart, or in more questionable
society, and too. often. in -dissination.-
, Their leisure IS time which they must kill
some way.
Now, are the young alone in fault? Is
, it their fault that they are SO full of life.
+ or that they seek the only means of en-
tertainment congeniaI to their taste and
i in keeping with their education
The reader may say there is no blame
4 attaching to any one, that all the silly
g foolery of winter evening parties, The
q senseless waste of time at the whist table
the stately parade of the ballroom will
9 all its attendant vices, are innocent diver
sion, and part of education. We ex
h pect just that answer, and no more, from
+ some. 1t is easier to preach to suit prac
: tice than practice after right preaching
n We have right to ask and expect NOR
! from another class. Those who hay
1T lived to such an age and to such a pur
: pose as to feel that " life is real" yet tax
ID no pains to elevate the taste of the yodn
ii and lead them to spend their leisure eli
eft Their in public lyceums, or supportin
1s weekly lectures, or meetings for readin
10 and discussion, are verify guilty of neg
I lect.
t There are some exempt from TIL
m charge in part, for they are pains-takin
70 in the education of their own family, Y,
II their little selfish souls reach no furthe
10 than their own doors. Ask such to SUI
III tain, by their presence, a course of fire
re lectures or any entertainment of an ell
Of waited and elevating character and yc
ut meet with such indifference as to NAL
Iv you seriously doubt whether they ha1
H. any thing at all to tIv with humanity
no the aggregate. Ask them for a me
Int " widows mite to sustain such ente
re prizes and you will readily learn he
1t large their hearts are. Such men me
oh sure heaven by shillings and pence, al
d. the souls of men (unconsciously incl
os- ding their OWN by coppers.
'on I am glad that there are a few in who
it, hearts there are better sentiments.
the There are some ripe for the grave who
ce, hearts are full of the "milk of hums
ers kindness" who are ready TO labor, a
err give their money to forward any ent,
on prize tending to give society a higf
ce? tone, to awake the young to the mol
1t? purpose of becoming all that mind c
hat become. Some young men are alrea
ect, moved by such purpose, despising il
ist- pleasures and vain amusements, who !:
airy seeking in history an acquaintance W
ma the past, and striving by labor and stu
.nts to make their mark in this life, to app
ma ciate all that is written for their instr
and ton and enter upon greater and more
are evated employments hereafter.
the The reader may ask what is to be do
10 what can be done would say let ev
ncy village sustain public lyceum, and s