Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-09-11
ADJUSTMENTS.

Young persons often gain the impres-
sion that because they are young, they
must spend much of their time in amuse-
recreation are necessary not only for the
young, but for all classes, ages, sexes and
conditions. It is essential to health Of
body and mind that there be relaxation
from efforts. The inquiry necessarily
arises, therefore, what kind of amuse-
ments shall we have? What shall be
their quality and what their quantity?
Also, when, where, how are they essen
tial? Many parents and guardians err,
in giving the impression that all play and
amusement is superhuous and even wick
ed. They labor strenuously to make the
young sober and sedate, and would thus
change the appearance Of youth to that
OF mature age.
Now it is surely contrary to nature and,
therefore, against Gods ordaining, for a
kitten to act like a cat, for colt to as
sumo the gait Of a team horse, or for the
lamb to be deprived of his sporting and
gambols. Youth is full Of gaiety and
animal spirits. and these must have some
proper channel as an outlet; not to sup
press and destroy the natural inclination
for recreation, but to safely guide and
properly direct it is, therefore, the lcgi-
innate work Of those who have the care
OF the young. again, tAo nano 10 1o5ion
Of those who commit total error IN an
opposite direction. Youths are told by
them again and again, that now while
young, they must take all the comfort
they can, tor Just as soon as they become
little older and assume the responsible
| ties of life, all enjoyment will cease and
| life be comparatively devoid OF interest
1t is implied and believed by the mex
perienced, that all young persons are mis-
cradle without knowledge OF games and
| dancing; that to deprive them OF the
amusement of the ballroom Is to deprive
them of the very highest sources of graf
| ifieation incident to social life. No idea
or sentiment is wider from the truth. As
rule, those who have no knowledge OF
| dancing or gaming are much, very much,
! happier than those who are acquaintei j
with and practice them 1t is argued
by many we'll meaning individuals that
dancing is entirely innocent and health-
full, no more vicious or pollutlng IN its
tendency than jumping the rope; or 9TH
er ordinary exercise. From an expert
ence of a large number of years as a
! teacher, [ have been forced to the delib-
crate conclusion that dancing most SER
iously interferes with the progress OF all
pupils who habitually engage In it, and
that nejghborhood dancing parties, or
social balls, are alike ruinous to the intel
| lectual and moral we'll being of the young
who participate in them. AS genera
rule a good dancer is seldom fine sehol-
ar and he who bestows large culture upon
| his heels, has little time or leisure for the
cultivation OF his head Dancing schools
are, at best, only school for "Heels," and
| if the mind is too much occupied with
them, it Of course will not aspire to more
elevated subjects. After an experience
| of many years as a minister of the gospel,
[ am prepared to afim that there is Moth
| ing in the range of my acquaintance SO
dissipating to all seriousness, and SO div
erting from all good Impressions, as dane
ing. By an experience as the chaplain
of penltentiary, fully prepared to say
that the ballroom is an unsafe place tor
the innocent; and while | am anxious for
the welfare of the young, as their friend
and instructor, must ever lift my warming
voice against it's ,delusive pleasures.
Young persons will have their own amuse-
ments and recreations; this is proper and
no sane mind Of any intelligence will
seek to prevent it; but there are pleasures
of higher order than those Of the dance,
and an abundance of amusements which
are not degrading in their tendency, and
to these the young should be directed.
None need be told that they require
amusement; their natures Will soon en-.
ough dictate this, but many do need to
understand more fully that recreation
should only be sought as a relaxation
from labor, and not to be made the end
| OF being With far too many, pleasure,
fun, a good time is made the end of life.
God never designed it thus.