The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-04-24
The vaIue of Amusement.

The Kew. Marvin Il. vincent, ot the hrst
Presbyterian Church In Troy, has Published
four discourses upon the value Of aii,iaa.
ment as force In Christian training. which
ought to have wider circulation than they
nre likely TO Obtain in their present form
The author takes up the cailse Of cheerful
Christianity, and answers the arguments q
those who seek TO find something wicked
In many of innocent and healthy games
oi the day.
II is held to be innocent for boys to play
marbles, but sinful to play dominocs tits
sinful to play billiards, hut highly innocent
and GRACEFUL to play croquet. Mr.. Vincent
fails to soerthe ethical distinctions here ex'
pressed, he findsas sdifIicul. to distinguish
between tho .wickpaness Of balls Giron an,l
tho good ofballs OF wood bctwcci mallets
and cues. and between green bnize aud
green grass. A Christian household, must
not Sit down to game Of whist. ncconling
TO some authorities, but they can spend a
pious evening over DR.. Busby a gsn,o ip.
Fv6rvhy-n-good deal OF healthy mcntaf oasr.
ton is condemned, while the silly, profit.
less I'usby cards arc admitted. Mr.. Vim.
cent writes:
"Youth must not dance, but they may
march to music in company, and 60 through
cnlistlienic exercises involving good deal
more motion Thai, dancing. But if people
may march to music nnd be gullIcss, II is
very hard to see how skipping toy-~i,lsic
converts the exercise into sin. ID Is said
that the association makes tie difference
but the advocate OF this theory Is shut up to
proving that the associations are insepara.
bic from the amusement. Now ask IN
the name Of common sense, why not devote
little Christian care 70 separating from It's
nbu,es, and regulating in its conduct, an es.
ercisc which inprovesah boaring OF our
youth; tends to relieve. .thsir natural a~k-
wurdness in society, and give. them limo.
cent exhilaraiion When 'ouE Young Men q
Christion Association, Of Troy, furnished
their new rom, they dill % on the princi.
pie that praycr.mcetings and religious peri
odicals, though important in their place.
would not of themselves suffice 10 attrnct
young men from without They had tried
The experiment In their forloin rooms, un-
der machine shop In an out.of the.way
place. furnished as miniature chapel, and
very seedy one at that and the result
wns that about six months ago the associa.
lion was in fair way TO die and make no
sign. Young men would not go to that
dismal hole to spend an evening when more
attractive places nbouDded in the city and
I would not if had been In their rlacs.
But the association got new lcasc Of Ito.
Il engaged large, airy. pleasant 'roous, in
central position. II kept It's .prnyer meet.
ing room heslIy and appropriately furnish
ed, but Il added large social Iarior, It's
walls adorned with pictures. u fine piano
invitingly open. the best current periodicals
secular and religious, upon the tables. and
gaines ofcheckerr, chcss and doniDoes dis
trib,,ted about the roon. The younehcf,
came in crowds. They wers thrown a.
once into contact with the Christian yotfs'
OF every church in the city, with the city
pastors, with committee, specially appoints
eel by the churcIlrs to take str myers In
charge, with good music religious lltera'
ture md innocent amusement.
We Ienrn from authentic sources that tho
room Of IN, Troy nsspcistion became %
populnr that tho keepers Of places' of
amusement of a less refined character ut
tered loud complaints, and attempted 10
bring alo,t = schism in the tanks NY
spreS,ling abroad false reports ID" he
cheerful rooms or iIis young men prevailed
and gfrsr go.al Is daily scco,nl' s"e,i.
/, Mr.. vHtSsht pskcs somc atfnrahe hts
nt the kIhts,' Nh the nrgum'HNs, of 'l'c.e
who would shut 6St aIl ain'i-etnents. Tie
INV, ,l,ut some people esclairn: Think
ofPsuI dancing, or Peter playing billiards
do YOU think we shall have cl,ecker.l,oanls
in heaven - This he says is no argun"nt
1T is sheer nonsense, and most unworthy
trifling oyer 4 serious subject "Think OF
Paul dancing?' Well. think Of j. him !
Think Of Paul wearing blnc shallow,
titled eost. with brass buttons! Think OF
Peer skating, cutting figures vi eight, nnd
performing Su,er edge i'ackwnrds.. THINK
Of John ma white cnvat or o, b"nno'o
new putting up Seidli'. Po~'e"; or OF
Yamuihy running with firs engine now
would they have lookei" Would yo'i
NAV chess on your death led? Probably
noi INV friend. Neither would ] put on my
boots. or ,Io q great many innocent things,
at such time.
Tho mind must have son,c relaxation
Let q l,s furnished with respectable ssso.
c;a,ions, and then smusemenls will mt DO
sought In plsces which lead down TO ruin.
n..lfs.. H. .s,.t t,v VySSau 10