The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-09-16
FOR THE HERALD.
Croquet.

Croquet.
How far can religious people indulge
in such galncs rs croqlet, checks, cards
and other amusement of like type, and
maintain the integrity Of Christian
morals, is Il question Of no little impor
tancc at the present time.
There are many who thOughtlcSSlv
fall into the current of public opinion
and practice, without questioning the
propriety or improWirty, the picty or
impiety, of one on the other, and live 4
lifetime in initiating others without IN
independent Judgment Of their own.
"prove MI things" is the Scriptnral in
junction, that is, test the questionable
practice according to the delicate stand
ard Of Christian morals, and if it stand
the test, hold it fast, because it is right
in Your own Judgment rs far us You
have obtained information, but if it
cannot stand the test, cast it from
You, and at the peril of Your soul in
aulge not, however popular the prac-
ticc.
The prejudice of education, the force
of public opinion. our former committal
to such practice, and the power Of asso-
citation are great impediments to q cor
rect Judgment. Let Us try and disen-
tanele ourSclf from these and in an
impartial spirit seek the truth.
It is generally argued that recreation
which rclaxcs the tention of the mind
amid severe mental labor is necessary
to produce proper mental vigor, .nd
give the intellect that tone and power
necessary to its highest achievements.
This we chccrfully admit.
1t is further argued that ''the excite
mcnt produced by gaming is the best
relaxation the mind can have" This
we seriously doubt. To be successful
in gaming it is necessary to fasten the
attention and keep it closely fixed, and
the excrtion is too severe. TO relax
the mind, it Should be free from exer-
ton and the physical exercise should be
guarded by reason and not taxed by
tile severe excitement connected with
gaming. These are the only arguments
which we have heard in defence Of
games as Il means of relaxing the mind,
and these in our humble judgment do
not meet the case.
Let lis come to the consideration Of
the other side Of this question. The close
student needs tile cXercise-the mind
must be relaxed. Are there not better
means of arriving 1T the desired result
than that proposed? VIII not walking.
gardening, or chopping answer a better
purpose? Either nf these will meet the
demand and lc free from the objections
Of a serious character urged against the
othcl.
1t may be answered that it is not 4
| uncstion Of choice between different
modes of exercise. but the character Of
Il certain mode Well. let US furnish OBJ
icctions to any game rs Il mode Of re-
laxing the mind.
/. 1t wastes too much precious time.
Relaxation of the mind should aim at
being productive. 1t should be some
useful employment, but gaming fails in
this important respect, even supposing
the games to be of the simplest and
most innocent kind. Notlling can pal
lia;e this waste OF time. Who can af-
ford it? Life is too short and its respon-
sihiltirS too great to be thus sqnandor
ed. Our whole time should be pro-
dUctivc.
.. 1t inspires dangerous propensity
for gaming. The simple game Of Cro-
qllct stands in the same relation to gam
bling that wine drinking does to drunk
enness. Wine drinking is not drunk
enness, but leads to it by inspiring 4
taste and wlIctting the appetite. So it
is with the simple games, such us Gro
quet. 1t is not gambling, but it is Il
preparation for it. 1t is Il process OF
mental and moral education which af-
ter a while may demand something
stronger. All who drink wine do not
become drunkar,lS. and all who indulge
in these simple games do not become
gamblers: but the taste inspired, like a
careless spark. may lead to a dreadful
conflagration.
This is gambling age. The tenden-
cv of the times is in this direction, and
those who are influential arc response
bic in large measure for public morals,
and should not be careless in directing
public taste and practice.
3. The example Of gaming is perni-
cious. If age and piety encourage idle
pursuits, thoughtless youth will follow
without the same discretion, and the
taste once engendered is easily trans
ferred from one class Of games to ano-
thcr. The noxious seed carelessly
sown, will. without cultivation, produce
Il fearful harvest.
I. Religious students place them
selves in false attitude when they in
dulge in games for relaxation, for it is
q significant fact that but few close stu
dents engage in them. The great mass
of players are persons who do not apply
their minds to books, and who play to
kill time and prevent e1anui. These
games are much better adapted to idlers
than students, and these take refuge
under the wings Of few religious per
sons who study hard and relax their