Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-13
For the Litchfield Enquirer. An Experiment Worth Trying.

more or less numerous, who. especially
 during the winter months, have much lei
 sure time, and who, in the absence of rec
 reations, pleasant places of work, and oth.
 CT proper resources to fill up the unoccu-
 pied hours. are prone to drift into habits of idleness and profigacy. Those who compose this class are, for the most part,
 young men, or boys. though middle-aged
 and older men are also embraced in it's circle. Without knowing, nor intending it, these idlers degenerate into loafers and bummers; and men and boys whose birth, education and connection devolve upon them the obligation of being, or becoming useful citizens, taking hand in all the municipal. social, charitable and religious affairs of the day, grow to be burden in- stead, wasting their own lives and proving demoralizing element in society.
 For this they are not always entirely to be blamed. They may often reject op- portunitles for improvement, but too off, ten these opportunities are not afforded them. Through sheer want of something to do, and of some place to go (mankind is proverbially social annimaD they herd together in bar-rooms, lounge at street corners and other public places, resort to wretched shifts for ''fun, ;" indulge ill va- ried vices, large and small, and lead low and debased lives. This too. in many in- stances, without their having evil designs at heart. Many have no homes. such as fill the pleasant town of Litchfeld, and DO family circle to enfold them in it's kind embrace. They have never been put in the path of a better way. They are drift ing. ,.s -. ..
 The problem, how to reach them so as to improve and elevate them is an old one, but there is no solution yet found of uni versal application. The means to be em- ployed are those materials and opportu- mites which exist in each community, va- rying in application with the, varying needs and facilities of such community. But whatever the solution may be that each community gives to the problem for itself, there ever exists the downright ob- hgation-not to be averted nor compro- missed with-to give, or attempt to give, some solution. No civilized society has the right to allow any part of itself 10 drift back into barbarism.
 Everybody who reads these lines knows the class referred to. It exists in every city, village and hamlet. Of course it is to be found in Litchfeld. And it is for the purpose of calling the attention of the !. people of Litchfeld to the duty of solving the problem for themselves and of pro- viding for their own, that this is written. Perhaps the suggestion will be made that this work is for the church not using the term in any denominational sense, but in the broader meaning which includes all sects calling themselves christian church. es. It is aside from our object to discuss here the question, whether or not such work legitimately falls within the scope of the organized church. It is sufficient for the present purpose that the church does not do the work, that the work is not done, and that it needs to be done.
 Remember that these unreformed do not care to be reformed though they are unwashed they do not banker for the bath. The soap and water must be car ried to them, and even then it will require some coaxing before they can be prevailed upon to use 1t. For them the church doors have no attraction and they shun any scheme which bears the label of re- hgion or christianity, as the cultivated nostrii does an infected district.
 Without stopping to investigate the matter closely it may be said that it is not intended hereby to discharge the church of Christ of all responsibility in the matter. It may be partly at fault. At any rate, the rose-water type of christianity, as popular in this day, does not seem to meet the case. Perhaps it has too little rose to be attractive and too much water to be eficacious. It is quite possible, too, that the work can be better done by indi- vidual, voluntary effort than by organized church work.
 Some of the methods to be adopted for accomplishing our object will readily sug- gest themselves to all intelligent people who are interested in the matter. The necessity will be seen of somehow attract ing these idlers from the vicious atmos- phere and base surroundings of their lounging places, into purer air, better company and more elevating influences. Vice loosens its grasp the instant that the breath of virtue is breathed upon it
 Warmth. light, company and games are the attractions of vicious resorts-they can be employed to attract men from as we'll as to evil. Hot coffee is good sub stitute and often an entirely efficacious one-for alcoholic liquids, and we'll select cd books. magazines, newspapers and and pictures are more attractive and often better to begin with, than direct didactic,
 moral, and religious effort. The latter seldom accomplishes much at the start
 with the class of people of whom we are speaking. Good company. associates from the better class, is essential. If, for instance. rooms should be opened for the resort of these idlers, let them be visited. and that. too, constantly, by the best men and women in Litchfeld-by the women especially, they are quiet civilizers. There is power for refinement and elevation in a good woman, aside from any education al accomplishment she may possess. Per. 1 haps this work. if done at all, is to be
 done by woman's effort. It certainly
 ought to be done. An experiment at least
 ought to be made in this direocon-it is
 we'll worth trying. II Coshen.-Mo. 2l6.