The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-07
WHOLE NO. 1856.
Recreation.

l 1ASSCHSStAOhs
Next to food and sleep for the BODY an
mind, physiolosically considered, is recreation
! use that word for want Of better one.
90 not mean inaction, do not mean what De,
pie suffer when they talk of killing time. h,
cause | think it shameful for any man, VIZ
man or child to be in such frame Of mind @
body as to render murder Of that kind allow
able.
Recreation, as understand it., means in
terestlng change from common employmen,
and there should be such variety in that chang
as will not only afford relaxation to the ipte]
lect, but enjoyment to the affections an,
strength to the muscles.
Taking the word in that sense, it NAV easil
oe seen that to possess normal frames of bod,
and mind, men and women must take whole
some tood. and sound sleep, with plenty o
recreation This is but the needful prepara
tion for we'll directed effort of muscles. nerve.
and brain. While all are clamorous for thei,
just dues, the demands of each are modest
but the penalty Of protractcd neglect is sure
| and serious. -
True, it may not be felt Immediately. Still
Nature Is an imperious mistress; dcfinud her
and sooner or later she will be avenged.
hat kind of recreation and how much
each person must determine for himself, jus,
how w and s When he VIII seepa a he mDdsaat 1 nRR
er has well said, "The intellect that plays par
of every day, WORKS more powerfully and tc
better results for the waste of the time; the
heart that is gay for an honr, is more seriou.
for the other hours of the day; the will that
rests is more vigorous than the one tha. is
strained.'
No one undertakes to disprove this theory,
yet in active life nearly all Americans ignore
it-defy it, indeed. individually and collective.
ly, Notwithstanding their devotion to theorotic
democracy.
If clergyman was to take off his coat and
play at nine pins. or ball, or still further, seek
the forest with his dog and gun, it would be
understood at once that he was not safe
not be secure. sit would never do
Ii q business man were to do the same, ten
to one he would be reported to some CONNER.
cial agency as q doubtful character, uncertain
sovency, &c.
As people we pride ourselves on our 90.
ahead-ativeness, the rush and speed-fi,st din
ners, fast horses, fast talking, expensive and
tedious parties, brown fronts, stupendous ware
houses and money consuming watering places.
For such service in business and pleasure,
we are rewarded with consumption, dyspepsia,
and suicide; with domestic broils, soulless
gossip, and malicious scandal.
Now, in all sobe'ness, let it be asked, wo'd
not Il modicum OF recreation, taken like food,
daily, have 'pald" better than this?
The man who gives way, occasionally, to
good, hearty laugh, is seldom dysceptic
Only few days since, conver>inc with a
gentleman Of acknowledged celebrity, with
regard to a certain Biblical scholar, he said,
'There is not stronger intellect naturally,
or better educated man, but he looks SO ca
daverous and misanthropc, it is enough to
make one cross the street when he sees him
coming"
Such Il remark, and from a Christian, car.
ries its own weight. When will the student of
theology, or OF any other department of art Or
science. learn that he must converse freque ntly Y
with nature before he can ascend to any emf.
nence IN the particular branch in which he is
delving.
The common excuse for the abuse of mus
Gle and brain is "want Of time A miserable
sham!
Fanatacism is accountable for it. Fanata.
clsm in speculation, pride and power in fnan-
cal success; luxury in dress, drink, cigars
While with the feminine part of creation, the
swami oftime" is necessarily carried up.
There is want Of time when anything is to
be done that does not accord with the feelings
OF the individual. the taste, or the iuclinition
1t is nothing for our neighbors over the wa.
ter to walk a dozen miles before breakfast,
ride down the deer, or take bird on the wing
You might perhaps find such a Gne among the
pioneers OF the West, or the senoritas OF the
South, but there's an excuse for them, so far
from civilization.
Ruskn says. "Wise men keep one side of
their life for play, and another for work and
can be brilliant, and chatting, and transparent,
when they are at ease-and yet take deep
counsel on the other side, and when they set
themselves to their main purpose"
While we would urge the necessity of re.
creation, we would not ignore the idea Of dill.
gence in the varied occupation that belongs to
US as people. A merry heart taketh not
from any mans business or profession; blessed
as we are with q government conducive to
happiness, it is not only meee and proper to
give thanks in December but let our hearts
go out continually in mrth in gladuess, snap.
ping our fingers in the face of dyspepsia, and
enjoying, as the Creator intended we should
enjoy, the good, the true, and the beautiful
He has so laviishingy throw around US.
Recreation strengthens, never enervates;
neither does it tend to ignorance or poverty.
On the other hand, it leads to correct taste;
fair forms; glad hearts; sound lungs and cool
brains. These are national wants, as well as
individual necessities, physical, moral, and in.
tellectual.