Smyrna times., 1857-09-30
Popular Amusements.

: subject On Sunday evening last, in the M.
Church, strong sermon from Eccl. XI, 9v.,
: a crowded house. After speaking of the te
and the different views held by commentato
thereupon, few passing remarks upon anus
ments in general were made. lie then took
the subject Of Dancing, and dwelt upon it fl
y sometime in an able manner. We regret th
we have not place for an outline of the who
discourse,-as it is, we must confine this sketc
> 20 meagre synopsis of the portion respectin
Circuses, &c. The speaker sad And othe
popular amusements against which We ente
our solemn protest, are low concerts, theatrics
and circus performances-more emphatlcall
the latter because more fre9uent with US. w
are not strangers to the pleas which have bee
lately put forth, by even clerical names, in de
fence of a class of these amusements. "W
have appetites for amusements, instincts fo
pleasure, which must be gratiied," say thes
apOogiSts. We concede it SO. And we bav,
no wish to destroy these uppetites; we are no
seeking to smother these Instincts. We ash
only that they, with all other appetites and in.
StlnctS, be put under the control of moral and
religious principles. God, to satisfy this want
OF nature, has opened around US thousa nd
sources of rational and eevating enjoyment
These are US free and as pure as the air we
breathe. We need not for any purposes of re-
Taxation and pleasure, descend 10 the foul at.
mosphere and filthy immoralIIes of such Exhi-
bltlons. There are constantly recurring plea.
santrles, and sunny CLEANS of lively feeling to
enllven the flow of life, which neither compro
mise the dignity of our character nor violate
the sanctity of virtue. Let butioonery be given
to butfOons, it suits not our taste. In the irno-
rance OF olden times, cOurt-fool was neccs.
sary for the entertanment.o royalty, but we,
certainly, are too enlightened to seek our re
creation and enjoyment at the hands of clowns
and FOOLS
And who are we supporting when countcn-
anclng these Exhibitions! The old common
law OF Eng land designated them as "r0eurs
and UGgGJOndS." Perhaps, we may be d,s.
posed to soften these terms in some depree.
but what are they what is their moral stand.
ing What parent here would like to see n
son or daughter lead such a life !-ussociate
with such characters follow such an employ
ment! What one of you would not rather sec
your child dead in your arms!
And Whatever you might claim for few in
dIVlduals OF that class, they are at best mere.
adventures, contributing nothing to the wei
iare OF society, making no just and adequate
return for what they receive, and exertinr
positive immoral influence. The draininy of
money from tile community without a beue6.
cIal return, the loss of time and deranoemen,
ot business they occasion, are evils of no small
magnitude.
But we charge upon these Exhibitions
gross pollution Of public aud private moraIs.-
Their advent is usually hcraldrd by famine
1lacards OF extravagant and lying IroMIses.-
Then follows feVerish excitem at, dl l,lurbinu
I'll interests and relations. ldleness, dIso edi |
'nce aud lnsubordinaticn are The next fruIts-
The day OF their coming opens upon US The
ulces ofvice and immur.lty. 1t is The Hood
lde OF dePraVlty-the grand rally of vagrancy
Drunkenness and blasphemy pour in npon US in
lnwOnted and alarming measure. The Clrcu.
nus becomes the foul pool wherein are spawn.
ID the loathsome leeches Of society with tern.
lie tecundlty. BY 1t. the vicious aud the ldl.
make their appeal to their own class; they min
ster not to heulthtul spirit of innocent rnirth.
ut pander to the basest appelitcs Of the wicked
The wit of the ring is always low. aud not sci.
om Profane aud ind cent Thnly.veilcd II.
entlousness is set before the young 10 pollutc
heir minds. The modest ieurale. elscw here
uarded, sits there to hear the ,llcst rrush. and
ee displayed, with unbushins eflromlery, vuI-
arIty and indecency. By her side sIls the
lther, or friend. who, if tie same things were
aid or dene in her own house, would hurl the
hender out with Indignation. What woman,
that man, sitting in the midst of the bolster.
US hootings aud stampings Of crowd VIII.
lus show their low tastes lave been too wei.
let, does not feel ashamed that he is there -
'et US, then, in the name of common deceucy.
nd morality, and religion, set our faces against
lese crying evils.