Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-17
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. Ia. 1858.
PUBLIC DECORATIONS.


Whittier, the poet, at a recent temperance
meeting in the village of Amesbury, ventured
to recommend the cultivation of social and
popular amuSements, as a safeguard against in
temperance. Something of the old Puritan
asceticism fingers in the pleasant towns of old
Essex, which was not to be ignored with inn
punity. The poets temerity was made topic
of fireside rebuke, and pulpit condemnation.
The spirit that inspired the devoted Prynne to
write book, large enough to afford his worst
enemy the most serene satisfaction, on the
subject of the 81" Unloveliness of Love Locks"
led one of his Amesbury disciples to pronounce
a sweeping anathema against whole class of
genial vanities, quite as innocent, and nearly
as fascinating.
The idea is quite too prevalent that men are
born to use nothing but their hands. The
spirit of cold, grasping ayarice conspires with
the heartless zeal of asceticism, to discOunte-
nance and discourage those employments
which are pleasant though not remunerative.
The old saying of Horace, which men act up
on, whatever their theories are, ain ships or
in chariots we seek for happiness" is regarded
as a very dangerous heresy. Happiness at
tanned through the qualifications of sense is
something to be greatly lamented, and soon re-
pented of. The designs of Providence are not
subjects of rash or careless Interpretation.
But if we decide on them, as other questions
are decided it would be clear that if organs of
sense were not made to be pleased, they would
not have been made at all.
Various kinds of public recreation are COM
ing into general use. Some of them unite the
useful with the ornamental; the intellectual
with that which is merely amusing. Others
have no positive use except that which results
from whatever gratifes without injuring those
who enjoy them. Excitement is a necessity
of life. 1t is only when misdirected that it be-
comes injurious. To direct it into its proper
channels is a part of the highest wisdom and
the purest morality. The best recreatons are
finely stated by Mr.. Whittier;
II would throw open, far possible to the
young, the curious and beautiful in art science and
lteTature-the telescope revelations of astronomy
the wonders of geOlogy-the photography OF the
eternal finger on the primal formations. | would
open TO them new sources of enjoyment in the stud
les of natural history and botany, and show them
the almost magical results of experimental chemis-
try. would give them every opportunity TO listen
to lectures and discOurses from vaTiousy gifted
tors and thinkers. / would encourage reading cir
cles-healthfu sports, and exercises and excursions
amid the beauty ofnature, so well calculated
to eXalt the mind towards that which st. Augustine
speaks of as the
Eternal beauty new and old
l would promote libraries and debating clubs
whatever, in short, promises to promote enjoyment
with the culture of the mind and heart and the
healthful development of a sound mind in a sound
body"
There is a class, however, who cannot be
reached by such qualifications as these They
crave excitements of more immediate and
sensual character. There are grades ofamuse-
ment, from the innocent and beneficial to the
entirely depraved. If there are any who
have no taste for the best, absolutely, it is good
morals to give them the best under the circum-
stances. Men are moved by the instrumental
tiles which are nearest to them. There are
those who have been touched to the heart by
fictitious appeals, whom the eloquence of St.
Paul would never have awakened. In caring
for and directing this varied and universal
longing for recreation and excitement, there is
an ample field for that genial and all-embrac-
ing philanthropy under whose husbandry the
virtues may thrive and the good passions
blossom like the rose.