Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-29

All men of action. whether educated or
not. require foilot some kind to their hours
of blank toll they need a totally different
condition of the nervous system which shall
he a relaxation from that which exists during
the strain of prolonged labor. In approach
ing this class we must rccollect that their
sources of relaxation are very few. They
have only now and then chance Of meeting
a light and brilliant ray across their path to
chcqucr agrecabiy the hard lot of monoton-
ou~ toll. Most of Us have several sources of
pleasure are Sh5t up 70 sensual en-
ioyment. because 10y want of education they
have no power Of approaching better things.
IL Is useless for you To say, give up your Ii
guor. ii YOU have nothing better 10 put in its
place You and can do it, We have paint
ing and music. our resources are manifold
the art Of fiction the studies of history.
philosophy. literature, the appreciation of
natural beauty. and studies of travel. We
have games of skill and thousand things
not possible 10 the uneiucatel These are
the bright beams which diversity our labor,
and fit Us for it, The workinc-man has none
of them. DO You wonder, then. that he
seeks that elevation of spirit. that bGoyancy
of heart, which be can buy for 50 many
pence, but which, rs the habit grows, GER
tainly results in injury to the body, ani in
Gebasement 10 h- mental and moral nature
You may give these men your tracts in which
you show that the habit i bad for thi, world
and worse for another; hut all this i pow
erleS>. and vii! be- 81 with the majority. lou
must provide for them other recreation You
must create and cultivate the taste by which
they viii appreciate other forms OF recreation
before YOU will do them any widespread
good. You must mix with these men. not in
your obviously professional character. which
they more or les, discredit or suspect. but
You must personally devise and superintend
plans for making them comfortable. such A.
clubs and recreation rooms. eatlnE-houSes
ike those in Glasgow. with amusing re-
sources in games and free Libraries, Of course,
lou must approach them on their only day
of rest with that aim. We open but two
houses in this country for these people on
that dav. the house of prayer and the house
where liquor l. sold. All others are closed.
The evil viii not be cured by shutting that
latter house Nou must open other doors,
and you must enter those other doors with
them and exert Your influence there. But
what doors Doors which admit 10 simple
and wholesome reirc~hment of the body and
of the mind Christianity i not confined to
the pulpit, and the only possibilities of a
Christian country for these men should not
he confined to the taproom and the pulpit on
their only day of rest. The pulpit has de-
manded the closing of other doors than its
own. Egregious mistake Here Sir Henry
paid hearty tribute Of admiration to the
rector Of Bethnal-grcen, who had headed his
pariShionerS in demanding that the museum
there should be open on Sunday afternoons.
He continued Christianity rightly under
stood has in view the healthy development Of
all the intellectual and emotional faculties.
Thus We should on all days. especially on
Sundays, at least in the afternoon and even
ing, see that our coiiee-houses reading rooms
libraries, museums and picture galleries are
are open for the working man Much as |
want my own Sundays rest, occupied as |
am, would gladly devote part OF it to ac-
companying party of working-men round |
our national gallery, to cultivate their tastes |
there to an extent to which | might be able. |
| can say this, because accepted like du-
ty some years ago or Saturday afternoon,
and this Is work in which hold that YOU
might be well and righteOuSly employed
and thi sis what you must do if YOU would |
really win the working-man from drink. If |
you Wish to save him from brutal habits. |
you must give him culture and lead him
yourselves amongst the refreshments of liter |
lture and art, first providing comfortable re-
sources iorall his common and natural wants |