Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-07
A Mlniatsr' a views Of Terpins, y

Rev Mr. simmons Of Xenia was recently
presented with the rules Of q "Tenpin AL
ley, in that CITY, and complimented with an
invitation to attend The propfietors are
darkeys, and the Rev gentleman iufers they
are laboring under the impression that they
are Introducing. a plan for the elevation Of
the white race After "reading them q
proper rating for their presumption in send
ing him an invitation to visit their GALLEY"
he declines, giving the following among 9th
or reasons
let, believe that God has given me no
more time than is necessary % attend 10 my
duties, which owe to him, my neighbor
and myself, and none to kill in this way.
ID. Because you allow gaming until eleven
o'clock at night, when every honest man
should be in bed and fast asleep
3D. II should attend in the daytime my
example might stimulate others to attend at
night until the latest hour
4th. | believe that to saw and split wood
and hoe in the garden, is better exercise for
health than rolling the ball
9th. believe that those who have femi-
lies had better spend their leisure hours in
the bOs0ms OF their families aiding and com.
iorting the wife, and taking care Of aud in
structing the children, than to be at the ale
ley, and young men snd boys had better be
improving their minds, or waiting on and
comforting their parents, than to be at your
school
5th. Because believe there are very few
who attend your alley, but what will, under
the excitement Of the occasion, become so
much exhausted that they must go down
stairs aud stimulate
tn | believe that no man of sense ,or pi.
ETY., would have any confidence in my relig-
ion, and no sinner would have any conf
dencc in me, as minister Of the gospel,
should attend. Finally wish to save my
own soul and not be a stumbling block to
sinners 70 fall over me into perdition, hence
cannot attend your gaming. place Yours,
&c. WILLIAM SIMMONS
Nenia, March 81, 1859.
i. Sin we'll regulated cities there arc
laws against playing at nine pins. Why not
have laws against ten pins Both are games
or is the one pin added to whip the devil
round the stump?
"Tenpins' as pastime or as exercise, is
much better than to pass the time in Il grog
shop or other place of bad repute. II i,
not now as it was when Bro Simmons was
young man. The apprentices, clerks, ,profes
sional men, and single men, generally, have
not the chance of cutting and splitting wood
working in the garden, and the hundred
"little chores are not to be done now, al
they used to be customs have changed, la
bor saving machines have made sad hayo,
with old time arrangements Exercise mus
be taken. Gymnastie exercise of proper
character, il demanded for the young of thil
generation, and it should be encouraged -
In well regulated Associations, gambling il
not permitted and where tn sse are institu
ted they are public benefit We are op.
posed as much as any one to the public "ball
alleys as they are called-sueh ones
doubtless, as the Niger concern Mr.. $. re-
fers to-Nnd believe them to be nurseries o
vice aud crime; but we do not join in t.,
cry that all exercise which is not actual work
and not productive of pecuniary profit, il
wrong or sinful The kind Of exercise which
we recommend is demanded by the exigen.
cies of he times, and is necessary to tn
physical development and health Of the ris
ing generation, who are deprived of activ
labor. Those who labor do not require tn
exercise gymnastics gives. yet we see NJ i'm
propriety in their devoting leisure hou
TO the pleasure which it impnrts pleasur
not in the least inimical to the requirement
Of tbs straitest morality. We have an in
stiiutiOn in Dayton which will, we believe
afford little if any cause for the ceusur
which Bro. Simmons seems to deal on al
oxa ~ aaich does not promise pecuniar,
reward