Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-07-03
NUMBER 26.
Labor and Recreation.

There is familiar old saying, that all work
and no piay makes Jack dull boy" If there
is any truth in such adage, it will as we'll ap-
ply to those of mature years as to little Jack
Nature teaches us that the animal economy re-
quires rest from TOLL and the decalogue asserts
it in the command TO labor for six days and rest
on. the seventh. What is intended to be under
stood by the word crest we need not only to
study the operations of the animal economy to
understand. Diversion Of the mind or body
from any continued toll or intellectual strain
into some other channel. gives immediate Eslieft
and the rest that the exhausted powers require
will in itself become toll if too long continued.
Play to the enmicd votaries of Fashion is q wear
iSome lassitude that does not invigorate the in
dolent equally with some occupation that would
exercise every muscle of the body and divert the
mind into some pleasing channel of thought.
Hence, paradoxicaly speaking, TO the strong and
healthy, rest consists not entirely in repose from
fatigue but change in the employment of the
powers of the mind and body. The belle of the
ball room may have lolled all day on pillows of
elder down, with vague, longing, unsatisfed de-
sires for some species Of employment that would
thrill new life INFO her veins, and mayhap finds
it in dancing the night through to the sound of
voluptuous music. when alas, the very idea of
labor would have been terrible infliction. The
son of toll on the contrary, works all the week
through, and looks forward 10 each evening and
the approaching Sabbath lis time of rest and
cessation from labor yet in each instance the
two recruit their exhausted vital forces in a con-
trary manner. Looking at the matter in an eth
cal point of view, what do the scriptures mean
by the word rest? Is it the old puritanical idea
OF total cessation from all exercise of the mind
on the seventh day? Does rest from labor on
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, require COM
plete abstinence from mental or physical occu-
patton and an inmanty Of mind and quescence
of the animal powers? If nay, then in what
manner may the command Of the decalogue be
obeyed without transgressing it? Innocent
pleasures and pastimes may not be considered
rest to the misanthrope or the puritanical divine
yet to those who enjoy them with pleasure they
recruit the exhausted system, and bring greater
power to labor than single and absolute repose
of the body would have done. With the mental
activity, TO divert the channels of thought, into
some new branch that shall bring different organs
of the mind into play, the required rest is OBJ
tanned 1t is not intended to be argued that
sleep is not necessary but only one-third of our
time should thus be occupied, which leaves
balance OF two-thirds 10 give to labor and pleas
ure rest. Innocent enjoyment is necessary
to preserve healthy mind in healthy body
yet it does not follow that such n thorough re-
Taxation of the mind and body shall be required
AS 10 give them no employment the modern
Sunday. If there be no other time to enjoy in
nocent and harmless amusements and pastmes
| than the Sabbath, why should it be considered
sinful to occupy this day in manner that vital
ises the blood and recupera tes the toil-wcrn now
ers Of the system. In continental Europe, Sum
day is not looked upon in gloomy ascetic light,
on which the body should be mortified, but as q
day of joy and gladness, wherein all shall show
a thankful acknowledgement of Divine mercies
by enjoying the exuberant life and spirits that
God gave them in such an innocent and harmless
manner as seems best to them. Their love of
| the Creator is better exemplined by enjoying the
harmless sports and pastimes Of the day, than
if they purtanically shut themselves up from all
thoughts of the worlds pleasures, and dwelt
upon ideas Of the great God whose works of
labor and love have never ceased since time be-
gan. If man is not permitted 10 relax his mind
and body at such times as opportunity allows,
Nature herself will relax them by sending him
to an early grave, where no toll is known, no
Sabbath day of rest is required.-V Vallejo Chron.