Fair play., 1875-12-02
How to Spend Winter Evenings.

Although every one regrets the de-
parNre of summer and breads the ap-
Proaeh of winter, with its cold its snow,
its hail, its rain, its damp, and its frost,
there are comparatively few in this land
OF bright, extravagant fires and cheer
full homes who do not rejoice at the
thought of the long winter evenings,
1t is frankly admitted on all hands that
winter days are miserable; that the
necessary walks through wet, muddy
streets are detestable, but the evenings
are considered to compensate for every
thing.
Is there any work which has been
neglected during the day?-the winter
evenings are coming. Is there any
study which should be prosecuted?-
the winter evenings are coming. Are
there any books which we want to read,
and have not yet found the required
time for doing so?-the winter evenings
are coming. Arc there any friends
whose companiOnship has not been en-
j0yed IS it might have been?-thc win
ter evenings are coming. Indeed, to
hear some people talk, it would seem rs
If the omissions of months were to be
made up for by the industry and energy
which should be displayed during the
fourteen or sixteen weeks of winter.
If you do not possess it already, why
not set to work and acquire a knowledge
of French, or German, or Latin, or
shorthand, or drawing, or mathematics,
whichever yOu think will be most use
full to you? Only be sure of this, what
ever knowledge of this kind you gain
will not he thrown away. In the course
of my life 1 have heard scores of people
say they wished they knew French, but
I never heard one say he was sorry he
had learnt it. Ten to one when you
have gained the knowledge something
will turn up which show that it was just
the thing you wanted, and it will prove
of the greatest assistance to you. Even
if it should be no help to you in posi-
ton, you will find the mental discipline
has been most valuable. The men who
have made their mark in the world are
those who have possessed the power of
conqucring their own inclinati0ns to
idleness, and of working steadily and
perseveringly to accomplish their ends.
There are SO many facilities for pri-
vate study for adults nowadays that it
seems quite needless for any one to be
deficient. And yet there is so much
superficial knowledge. So many people
have got a smattering of language or
science which they acquired at school
or began to study afterwards, and did
not persevere. This is of no practical
use to them, indeed it is rather a draw
back than otherwise, because it makes
them feel contcnted when they have no
right to be so. One winters hard work
would, in all probability, perfect them
in this, and the knowledge thus gained
would not quickly be forgotten.
I once had q friend who got through
an amazing amount of work, and was
on this account wonder to every one
who knew him. 1 asked him on one
occasion what his secret was, as l felt
sure he had ono, and after q number of
modest disclaimers he told me that,
finding he was of an idle disposition, he
had made . firm resolve, and to q great
extent carried it out, 'snever to be do
ing nothing" He confessed that the re-
suit astonished even himself. Any one
who will follow his example may do
great things. II Il tho minutes and half
hours which are frittered and dawdled
away that are wasted. Time spent in
taking needful rest and recreation is
weIl spent time spent in standing about
and sslazing" is usually entirely lost.
We have al heard of the great man
who owed his knowledge of three Ian
gaages to the fact that he employed in
studying them the minutes which he was
kept waiting whilst his wife but her bon
net on. For my part, I Ishould have ad-
contented himself with two languages,
and devoted the remainder of the time
to looking up his "good lady," and
making hor mend her ways.
The pleasure of winter evenings is
mostly connected with friendly gather
ings, and the delightful interchange of
interest and sympathy. In summer it
Is difficult for circle of friends to meet
uahroken-some one is sure to be ab-
sent; bat in winter there are fewer OBJ
stscles of this kind, and evenings may
beagreeably spent which will be pleas
antly remembered for many day.
It Is astonishing how much may be
done in this way with very little trouble
and expense. Let q dozen Or more
friends arrange that they will meet on
. particular night once . week at each
others houses; that they will make it
rule that ordinary dress only is to be
worn; that the refreshments provided
are to be limited to sandwiches and
cake, with . glass of wine, or some
thing Of that sort, and that the meetings
arc to break up at . certain hour, and I
dare answer for it that, having met for
one winter, they will wish to repeat the
experiment:
The restrictions are recommended rs
. safety-valve. My experience is that
when friends meet together At regular
y . 4 .