The Portland daily press., 1867-12-06

| To the Editor Of the Press:
| The fact that the pursuit of happiness was
one of the three principles for which our fore
fathers fought seven years, should furnish am
pie defence to any one who undertakes the
promotion of harmless and healthful recrea-
ton. ..
This principle, however, is either misunder-
stood or sadly perverted by large class of
Americans who seem to regard it as something
to be pursued in hostile manner, as we have
pursued the Indians, to drive them from our
sight and society. That evidently was not the
meaning of Thomas Jefferson. But my pres
ent purpose being simply to awaken an inter
est in skating, l am disinclined to make use of
SO tormidable weapon as the Declaration of
Independence, lest the size OF the shot might
be considered rather large for so small game
The subject OF proper recreation and amuse-
ment is now attracting good deal of atten-
ton, and the social science society has recent
ly discussed the question with much warmth;
some of the speakers, in their enthusiasm, 60
ing so far as to claim that part, or all of the
Sabbath should be devoted to this end, But
when we come to look at this matter in the
right light,I think we shall e nd that the Crea-
tor has so fixed things, that our true happiness
lies in obeying and not in oiolating his laws
We have our Boat and Ball clubs in SUPER
abundance, but these afford exercise to the few
while the crowd merely look on What we
need is a kind of sporting exercise in which
the whole population las far as physically able)
can join, and to this end skating seems per-
manently adapted because the cheaEest pleas
ATTEST and most beneficial. Notice some of its
advantages. 1t possesses all the excitement Of
game while being free from its defects. Ey-
cry one is at liberty to consult his ease and
comfort. The happiness of one does not de-
pend upon the good performance of another
on the contrary, the blunders of one often add
immensely to the fun of all the rest 1t is
also perfectly democratic institution. mas
much as all are literally ON a level The liza
bility to accident in skating is much exaggera-
ted. Human skulls are not so fragile as most
people suppose. 1 have seen great deal of
ice broken during my experience by the sud
den collision of the two but never head.
We should by means have Skating Park.
The results desired cannot be attained with
out it, and here another consideration presents
itself Artificial ice can be used at the skaters
ness of the Basin sometimes calls off almost
the entire young population from their studies |
or employment, for fear that the skating nav |
not last. A Skating Park should also he. and |
generally is, located over shallow water. where |
there is no danger of drowning, thus relieving |
anxious parents from one of their animal !
troubles. |
OF business men would ask the question.
how much money that would otherwise he |
carried off by show companies and gift enter
prises might be saved to our city by an insti-
tuition like this
After the close OF the summer months, when
we have engaged in outdoor diversions of ey-
cry kind, it seems little hard to shut our
selves up the whole winter, and find our only
diversion in shovelling snow Those who la
ment the designations of the young, should re-
member that it is the result of leaving them
TO provide their own amusements IF thew
would see better result, let them substitute
those amusements that are designed to accom-
plish it, SIP