The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-24
Winter Evenings.

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"assets. /" But tho mercantile acceptatiOn
Of the word does not include many things,
the value Of which is all the greater; be-
cause they cannot be seized for debt; nor
can they be counted among the effects Of
men who are unhappily forced into the
declaration of bankruptcy. These "assets"
available TO the debtor after he has sur
rendered everything else, and available to
the solvent man as well, include sundry
valuables not quoted In the market--such
us health, industry, temperance, and many
more which need not be specified. The
theme Of this article is one which seldom
has its due value accorded TO it.. II
is the s0ealth Of leisure in the long winter
evenings.
Few occupations take up the whole of
the long hours from sunset to bedtime.
And there are few hours which can be
turned to better account than evening
hours, socially, morally, and intellectually.
The utilization and the improvement at
home, of what has been learned in schoo
or elsewhere, finds special opportunity in
the winter evenings. The summer day at
its close leaves US generally weary in body,
inert in mind, and indisposed to any exer-
tiOn, mental or bodily. But both body
and mind are quite ready for new exertion
at the end Of the short days Of this season,
and the hours Of evening are usually at
the command of the greater number Of the
people.
From this leisure winter has come to be
regarded as the season for amusement and
for the pursuit Of the recreations Of society.
These relaxatiOns are perfectly proper, and
even useful in their due proportion and
place. But it is waste Of most reprehen-
sible kind to throw away all our leisure in
mere amusement. 1t is more than waste
Of time, because amusement involves ex-
pense, and we may be defrauding ourselves
of necessaries by extravaganza in super
duities. The great desideratum is what
ever combines rational enjoyment, improve
ment and economy.
The number Of books, for all tastes, is
legion. Even the newspapers, which cost
a mere trihe, and which are the very best
investment for "loose change" or "pocket
money" will, without books, go a great
way toward utilizing the winter evenings.
Besides the dailies, which furnish informa-
tion and food for conversation on current
topics, there are weekly and monthly
periodicals, which, rs at present published,
furnish libraries in themselves. Some Of
these certainly are not Of very high
order, but anything short of vicious
literature Is better than lounging in the
streets or wasting time in places Of dissipa-
tion. One Of the highest advantages Of q
taste for reading is the independence and
self-reliance of the person who has il.
The society of others need neither be
waited for nor sought for the more purpose
of passing the time. And yet the we'll
read man or woman both gives enjoyment
in society and receives pleasure. The
well-informed person appreciates conversa-
tion, and is glad of the opportunity to
exchange thoughts and experiences The
ill-informed and giddy minded are as
disconsolate as Robinson Crusoe on his
desert island, where nobody is at hand to
gossip with.
It must not be forgotten, however, that
there are well-informed people who have
not had the opportunities for education
which are now in the reach of everybody.
Among these are many who have SO i'm
proved their small opportunities, and SO
used their powers Of observation, that they
are really more selfreliant than some who
are supposed to be fairly educated. We
say supposed to be-" for education only
begins where many people fancy it closes
What we learn is not education, unless the
things learned draw out our powers,
strengthen our capacities, and make our
leisure fruitful.
Winter evenings ought to be, to much
greater extent than at present, devoted to
hearth and home. The house we live in
ought to be much more to everybody than
mere place to find food and lodging
And the members Of the household, who
prepare the food and keep the house in
order, are entitled to their share Of the
society Of those whose work lies out Of
doors, but whose enjoyment ought to be
found in giving and receiving pleasure by
the mutual Offices and intercourse of
Home. As moral influence, reforma-
tory to those who have wandered, and
preventive against i'll to those whose
character is yet to form, there is nothing
like the home circle, and the winter
evenings are its great opportunity Pail
adelphia Ledger.