The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-24
CoLEJRTBT-A--
Monday Morning, July "a, 1855.
French Propriery.

.
= proper system of pablo amusements
creates for the proprieties in general. The
.moralist not unfrequently selects France
as an example, in illustration of this truth,
for the benefit Of other nations Germany
may be instauced also, and though the
two peoples differ, in very decided respects,
in national characteristics there sevms to
be very marked resemblance between
them, in regard to their uses of amuse.
ments and the effect of popular spert:
upon their morals and depo,sment AS
concerns the French, there can De no doubt
of the wholesome effect of amusements,
duly legitimated, in oberiz'ng the passions
and restraining them in excess; and the
great point seems to be to recognize, Il rst,
the necessity Of amusements for the health
tul exercise generally Of mind and body;
and next the choice of these amusemeuts
and the time to be accorded to them. The
amusements should be such as will exhila
rate the mind and duly exercise the body,
without stimulating the passions to excess.
Mere gaines cf chance should be avoided,
and all betting upon the results discou!
ragged Games which exercise thought and
memory and suggest combinatlou-sports
which require agility and deX,eri,y, and
develope the muscular powers of chest and
arms, in rtlcular-these are especially
preferable. Fencing, wrestling, boxing,
the cricket and ball plays are all admra-
ble, and so are billiards, especially for
young women-contrihuting equally to
grace of movement and vigor o! frame.
Were the public authorities to license all
these sports, on condition that 20 ardent
spirits should be kept for sale within one
mile of the establishment, and that the
refreshments should consist only Of such
beverages as ale cider, the light. wines,
lemonades, tea, coffee, chocolate and ice
cream. according;o the scaSou-lhe licenS,
being ~. lifted CO 4 eiolation of these con
dtions-we should BE- comparatively safe
from the e::evsses> $" corrupting and 81
common i'll most places dedica,el to poru~
lar amusclncnts. The condition of the
game, at such places, ia usual y drink,
and SO thc habit is formed Tie ap,ett..
is not native. 1t has. to be acquired at
some pains and.perseveranc and is only,
acquired because it is the tacit or pre-
scrbed condition Of the game or of So
ciety.
: But we d!gress. Let rs return to wha.
we had to say touching the proprictes of
the French people. These seem to be
naturally endowed for amusement 1t is
perhaps the character Of all those ardent
and elastic families, SO imphsivc and buoy
ant, which belong to the Celtic and Gallic
stocks. The simple, elastic and aaire
spirit of these people conduces to amuse-
ment and society, and these in turn,
maintain the congenial characteristics Of
the people 1t makes the type of mind
for them, and gives the familiar aspect to
their literature. They can sport-alon the
surface as the swallow skins the lake
while the coarser and less elastic Saxon
plunges headlon~ into the walHow, and is
never satisfied he riots, s,.hcg fashion, in
his. slough.
AN English writer, in the London Times,
remarks. in taste excessively British, and
with sneeg, upon the familiar suscept.
bility of the Freach for enjoying every
thing. Having no keen sense of hunor
he is confounded at the shallow sources Of
their merriment. He can see no enjoy
ment ip amusements which cover no Ltri
cacy, or stories without mystery-forset.
ting enlrely !he.moral illustration which
441sop employed to defend himself against
the heinous charge Of indrlgbg in pue-
rie amusement. This class of people has
IL j