The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-07
Puritanism against Sport.

g" Dost thou think that because thou art vr,uous
there SHAH be no more cakes and aie?'-SittGS.
We have no very especial admiration for
base bail, but We like manly sports and every
'hlng that has manly appearance without
being dcbaSed or immoral. But the manly
feeling amongst a portion OF society having
taken 10 base ball, why, let the boys strike
away and exercise themselves in the open air
tu their hearts content. They Will be stronger
and more cheerful for the bit of relaxation
and exercise That ii has been carried 10 en-
cess and that it has been appropriated 10 the
base purposes of spectators and those VINO
deal in ''put-up Jobs is very true. o"en i
ever IN. case with every sport upon its intro
dur,ion for the a amusement and healthy eAer-
else of men. No wise man VIII dehouiice '''i
amusement innocent and healthful in Itself
because il may be abused. by this l"ic VIZ
should reicc, everything that is for the ENJOY
lnrut of man kind-nay, even whll Is heeess'
nv for their subsistence. There IS no vice
nor. common than gormandizlhg but sl'ii
We, therefore, shut up All the markets ana
cook shops and kitchens aud resolve 10 eat no
morc7
There is nothing scarcely that we more hp-
hor than the puritanlcal view Oh sports anu
recreation for the lahorinS-iaF, lor all
classes, The cold calculation that 'ln these
"dayS, when 4 skilled artiHan ) time Is worth
..frpn fifty cents 10 dollar IN hour IL ms Dusl-
..ucss, the devoting OF one day IN Il week, beside
.now and then u trip OF TWO weeks 10 other
cities, Just 10 knock ball Il few times ana run
after one 4 few times, i tolcrably expensive
'cuiovmcnt lis the very essence OF lnhu-
Inauity ana grauitiTc utility. Must man
never give rein TO his sportivc feelings? Must
he never quit the bench and never be separated
from that ever revolving machine which Is
without sympathy and without soul and
daily grinding out his muscle and wearing
away his life? Must he, too, become like his
companion, and simply work rs i machine
never 10 rest, never 10 renew his association
and his synpathies with the beings of whom
hr was born one? Shall he not once in a while
laugh and leap FOR JOY and display his prowess
~ II man? Even III his cradle he laughed, and
must there be Il hiatus OF humanity-a period
1llled with gloom, and labor, and cold calcul:t-
tons about nifty cents III hour, from the
cradle 10 the grave?
ltwould be Il good thing if we had anniver-
sarIcs established by law, on which all the
graGsrlnds " should be compelled TO shut
up their shops and let the Woodworking and
"cariea men III their employment 90 abroad
Tree and Ioyiully iii Ill. fields shutting the
i'cSh All OIL The country, renewing their hu.
man sshsibihtlcs and rccupcra Ting their en-.
'is"s ioE Il renewal OF those labors which
hituer the Judgment OF Heaven th.v' ,ure,
perform mercitul rrovidenc. i,nbued ,ha
human mind with the sense of delich, IN ,ha
beauties OF nature, III the aniln;,liur ex.rc;s..
81 III" BODY III sport and innocent amus.p.n,
q. means OF relaxation and relief from Tho
sever" judgment which was denounced ,nor
man and those communities or governments
winch would put restraints upon these enioy
"+'hta are neither wise nor humane prou.r
res and recreation III this way loses uothiro
70 society. Men are all The better am. -
,'"o'' ana The results of their work vii, r,,h.r
'nh"nced than diminished by it. on saw.
ION That Philanthropy which only ro.
''~SS manhood III the light Of ..ln:,nhood
suffrage"
governments are solicited in this coun,r,,
10 limit The hours OF labor to .ioh, Il, ,h.,.
have the power 10 do that, lhcy hay. m.
power 10 establish HOLIDAYS, and thew wont,