The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-10-05
The Necessity OF Sprecins.

I Whether it he the baby in it- nurses arms
the schoolgirl or boy, the "young" peopl
OF society, or the maturer members Of tn,
home, every one included in the wide rang,
OF humanity needs an occasional spree.
This term has been usually ASSOCIATED
with. and applied to rude frolios and unrul,
dissipation. l would desire to rescue. i
from this unwclcome degradation, ane
count 1t with those innocent and useful re
| creations whose excitement IS ut one.
healthtul and Indispensable. When Charles
Lamb went out on what nc was pleased Il
term "gaudy," lie went plainly on
"spree." - s& 5
When, in our best bibs and fuckers, We
start family party for a trip on th,
:" Pentz," we, with "malice aforethought,
contemplate spree.
When packing our picnic basket, ant
cloaking the "baby," We take our repub
lican vehicle the city cars) for Druid Hill
Park. "spree" is denoted in our unwontel
gaieties, our joyous abandon. Nothing Sc
transhgures common every day life with
the precious pals of excitement, as the an
ticipaion Of "spree."
a spree is the natural outlet Of that SUI.
perhuous animation which, if repressed
will undoubtedly react in moody depres-
sion and lack of energy. Americans need
the "spree" as the boiler Of steamboat
needs the safety-valye. In short, sprees Of
q proper sort exist in the sunshine Of life
| the .'time to be merry" which Solomon
smiles upon; the invigorafing recess in
which we put aside the dull lessons Of life,
and sport with childhood's carelessness.
The necessity of spreeing should be more
| widely recognized than it is. The call
work and no play" system makes many a
dull boy, perhaps many bad one.
Happiness is healthful: our souls need
sunshine as our bodies or as our geraniums
and fuchias do; nothing thrives without it.
To allow the inclination for this refresh
| ing enlivenment to overcome sober realities
Of dutyis to expose ones self to danger, as
one who travels uncovered during a mid
summer sun. The element intended to
inspirit and encourage may, If used immod-
erately, depress and overcome.
And yet, moderate indulgence is the very
best safeguard against sinful excess =
The child must have its daily " airing, =
the nurses arms, or the perambulator -"
for the baby "spree," in which it crows
and leaps, laughs and basks in the sunlt
air; for the growing lad or girl there exists
the "Saturday To them Saturday is a
I
synonym for that desired spree which gilds
all the school days with its golden reflec-
tions. society's gatherings respond to the
spirits cry for "sprees in youths blithe-
some years; the song, the dance, the drive,
the skating, base ball, croquet or other
games, all range themselves under that in
elusive term. Old age itself grows older
in that proportion in which 1t withdraws
itself from the inspiring sprees Of good fel.
lowship and sociability.
What is Christmas week but holidays of
gaily succeeding sprees? This closing
jubilee Of the year should ever be distin-
guished by all Christian folks, and be for
those who lack all others the one blessed
season of cheerfulness and rejoicing. All
ages hold it Us their own.
As race we adopt the fashion Of whole
some sprees too slowly, and may well take
many beneficial lesson from the German,
as reqasts and " %nsm
sauerkraut, frogs or maccaroni.