The New York herald., 1869-02-12
RATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS.

RATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS.
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Lecture by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher-
The Evil Influences OF Extremes-What
Care Does-FashiOnabIe Hops Denounced
The Theatres q Failurc-HO! For the We
locipedc-Games of all Kinds and Happy
Homes.
Last evening the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher deliv-
cred racy lecture in the Cooper Institute, the sub
ject being Irrational Amusements." There was
large attendance and much satisfaction was evi-
denced for the manner in which the discourse was
treated.
The Rev. Mr.. Beecher first diated upon the evil
influences which extremes invariably spread around.
To-day gayety is In the ascendant. Fashion in bril-
liant rags is delghtng society. SO tomorrow comes
the religious rebound and Immediately jewellers will
be brought to the confessional. Now he proposed to
wed mirth and morality, and who would forbid the
bans. Amusement was the production Of law
ful pleasure and was the prer0gative OF the
man whose business was not amusement.
There was moral good in it, for pleasure
was wholesome, necessary and obligatory. There
were some whose manual or professional occupa-
tions were suficient to cause excitement. But men
need something that will interlace business. Now,
he did not count iders among men, for they were
like the honeysuckle-their better was q worm.
Amusement was an element OF happiness which was
as necessary for the mind as food was for the
body. The lecturer next alluded to the evil in
nuences OF care. The want Of happiness ended
In the want OF usefulness. Health, buoyancy
Of spirits and cheerfulness we're very necessary.
Although the health OF the body required stimulant
1t did not need the use OF opium, tobacco or alco-
holic spirits. Men must keep up excitement, but 1t
must be sustained by lawful means. Now. where
true pleasure was popular vulgar dissipation was
not be economized or augmented without whole
some enjoyment. Again, wholesome aud exhtarat-
lng amusement economies time, prudgefy
beetle, not with an axe. When the
brain is the controlling innuence: 1t may be
is as good as the whole. He dilated upon the folly
OF those who were necessarily working their BRAIN
work without some amusement. they are soon
found looking afLer their dyspeptc stomachs, nib
bling n aa s9%e nns Se q
they would not have been so soft afterwards.
(Iaughter.) The fact was that they kicked against
continual raspng OF business was detrimental; and
those men who broke themselves down BY business
committed suicide. NOW ne PLEADED ed Tor amusement
or life. Excessive care turns man into pin
blunt at the head. slender In the stem and sharp at
the point. woman Of care Is IKE needfe-all eye
and oil sharpness. Applause and laughter.) Who
ever slays care kills death. .(Applause) The power
zation OF the world. The day Is coming when the
globe Is 10 be one vast various university. It TO be
made 80 by the well considered labor Of good men;
the right organization OF human affairs upon pure
principles. Intelligence promoted by education
upon commerce. justice and the proper administra-
greatness upon the capacity now displayed by men
Il was not the briliancy Of the lighthouse lamp that
was useful, but the power II cast around. ZAP
pause.) How was 1t In Eur0pes The Joyous amuse-
ment OF the people there had kept alive the national
spirit under wrongs without which they would have
been driven TO desperation or animalism. We have
this lesson to learn We are learningt. We shall yet
rival them In jOy0usness. He c0ntemned the man
that sought nothing but amusement; FOR laugh
who could endure It. The gayetes OF society were
excessive in their stimulants They were unnatural
rational amusement but from PRIDE They keep in
decent hours and spread unwhoesomeness. Those
rum before they enter It. Nature Is changed One
who would not allow even the touch OF q
finger change their whole nature, tor there
for hours. He entirely discountenanced night
routes and fashionable parties, contending that
they sacrificed the end which amusement sought.
the indelicacies and extravagances OF those fash
ionabe dissipattons which found men happy and
left them wretched, which found them pure and left
them vitiated, filed the mind with downright dis
gust. In seeking amusement one shonld not tax
those faculties which have already been at work.
II would naturally be asked, what were the amuse-
ments best calculated to promote wholesome enjoy
ment. Referring TO the theatre he asked, was II m
any sense an an Inst INSTRUCTOR edpestSr %s taste
to attack the theatre In moral respects. Now, as
suming 1t not TO be very bad and the profession
respectable, he would inquire whether II served any
purpose OF amusement or pleasurable instruction
In their nature they reached but O small class OF
society. Theatres at best were but the occasional
there. They could not be provided for the people.
They were too enormously expensive IL required
an income 10 sustain theatre that would support
twenty clubs or societies Besides this they furnish
only q limited amusement and were, for the most
part OF the lowest order The STAGE as It now was,
did not serve Its purposes for one could form
better conception OF Shakspeare's plays by
sensed s as they now now were the au moral and ana
mirthful dramas or farces were. he thought,
the theatres strong point. the theory Of theatres
The drama In its pure form could not be supported
now and SO the theatres were obliged to resort to
other attractions IN order 10 secure their profits In
pars even sSe theatres could not be sustaIned nIes
men that II The matter were taken In hand and good
dramas encouraged and bad ones frowned upon the
theatres might be redeemed. He, however, would
have no amusement that must nrst 60 into qusran-
tine. t.aughterI On the whole he considered the
theatre failure. The lecturer then 0dverted TO
outdoor amusements, which he said were moro
OF tho velocipede billardst--hough he warned
young men OF saloons-yachtlng, rowing, foot
bali, base ball. cricket aud gymnastics
Though extremely fond Of horses he was opposed 70
OF fast horses but because OF the gambling attached
10 It, It's life was gambling, for the bet was the
marrow OF the race, and all reformation In that re-
syect was useless The reverend gentleman con-
cluded by earnestly commencing home amusementS
III young men had no home let them not 60 where
they could not bring an honest companion with
them II parents could not give diversion TO tnelr
children and must needs 20 out, bring them, too
Let no household be divilcd, so that home should
only DC den to secp "a. Men must make happiness
IN iheir homes Lei them strain point 70 noaa ~
thetr h0usehold togather and the result wOuie ~
advantaseous m sne extreme fhe lecturer termi.
mated his dtscov'lse amid loud applause.