Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-16
N1NJ. W. W T HIITHt N.fU
Sergt. F.. S. HAWKES., Secretary.
For u, EN.lNl,.

-" "' "
Aes.rs. Editors-Will yon allow me Il small
space in your columns to reply 10 the article
which has lately appeared in yHnt journal,
denouncing those who hare contributed ~ I'll!
Ell 3yinonI q; Oh: visitors and citizens.
Desiring MT TO speak har6hly Of any who
| have cond sn,ned ua, I shall ccntine mTsclf
strictly to the d~.tensis:, even at the risk Of
1nS!u- 4 weaker argument.
In the first place. / maintain tn: innocent
recreation ~ one OF the duties OF life: that
there ere persons wacln Providence has placed
in q POSITION to dispans. that recreation ard
amusement which society neels-aul IL. 10
lima more than the present, when cares and
anxieti,s render the llrcs Of many IN almost
insupportable burdco. The young require
recreation; and if xc do no. wish them to fail
into sin, we should make All effort 70 provide
them Mt rroper times with i~naocent PLEASURES.
Il is their privilege and right TO be happy,
and unless Providence. in sanc srecial man
ncr, wills it otherwise, ona'J early life should
be az unclouied as those arouId them can
make it. Nor is pleasure intended for youth
alone: all should parta,o 9: il. though nat il
the same degree.
The husband and wife should unite ia
theirs, an! "a the inTme- neeJsa respite from
the cR-cs Of business, 81 the latter sometimes
requires other s5ciAtY than the rurecTy.
charming as | knew il 70 DC, for | am myself
q rno.her. To DO thrown occasionally into
sauna social gathering. where the intellectual,
as vel! us the young and gay arc congrega-
ted. should not be pronounced sinful aud un-
prohtahle. Experience has taught mo the
contrary. ard haze often remarked that in
Jhose communities 2tc%a an,s:ments ;lrs
Condensed, thace cxis. more rel evils. more
''bearins false Witness" b:g0try, narrow,
mlDd@laesS and c~onceit, thaa IUaurg any.o,a'
er class. IA rhis respect, the generous hosPi-
tally Of the S2uth has been long contrasttd
with thu ssraight-!aced, Pnarasaical Puritan
ism Of New Euciend.
II people attend 70 THAR daily duties, and
make IN CRrrt to aet . good example, and
commit no san. even in gay and Joyous scenes,
they are pleasing to our blessed Lord, who
ccr:ainly does not call al to the ~cIoister.
cannot allow sha. We are "tiahling whilst
Rome IS burning" will not agree that our
crest Confe'nracy j. in any such danger, nor
shall ! give the snemY occasion 10 think so "
mourning, when we have reason to b. grateful
that We haze resisted .aeir juS8sioa VIII. such
heroic suraass.
Those who hare bail the means and power
OF contributing to tho 81 .iorment Of the neo-
pls should be admired inaDeGd Cf abused
None who inquire can deny that they have
been among tho foremost in he liberal dnna-
tions made TO MI charitable purposes, especi-
aUy TO the suffering Er5lY. Il the general
hospitality extended to guests, ihiny Of whom
have not hai 3 satisfactory meal for months,
had caused deprivation in any form 20 the sol.
der Or the needy, | should not he its advH-
| would net advise recreation where
it iatericrcs in the least II ones religious
domestic duties. ETea in times Of peace
there We're daar ones in dim lst every family,
aai at Z distance from the iireside,
dangers anf ccN.h threatening them, aud yet
Was nor expected vi tho household to retire
from soe ETY. and mourn over what mi1M hsr- /;
pen 10 the absent.
This brief season Of social pleasure has
been selected at "A time whsn a great number
q our noble soldiers haze come amongst ns
FOR q little rest from their ~tailso,ne and self
duties. That they have prsaominatea
1t the ''sunptuons 7spests," j. has given u.
TO observe: for truly they have a right
% the best We have to Offer, cad the time for
attending hospitalitiss to them could not have
,een better selected. To he cure, cren during
his military lull, some encounters have de
us Of a. few of our braTe men, whose
oss we deeply dsplore, especially as one or
Of our immediate friends have been
brown into affection. But. this might have