Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-09-04
lie Is dnOthel..

hc 81 dHOtNcTs
Prof. David Swing believes ia lun-not
only believes in it but knows il when he
sees it and enjoys It. The tact would not
have surprised US. doubtless, did we
know him in any capacity save as c. ose
student, an earnest preacher. and a busy
editor. But we enjoyed the following
editorial letter to the Alliance all the bet
ter because OF the revelation il made OF
the man:
IL is evident that man. in his best
estate, is iun-loving creature. The
lower order OF animals play only in
youth. No sooner does the kitten be-
come n cat, or the colt grave roadster.
or the pig an adult porker, than each of
these creatures puts aside play ylulpess and
looks only at the solemn side OF things.
When a train is passing along by large
pasture field all The younger individuals
OF the stock in that field will keep time TO
to the rattle of the cars. They will wheel
around, balance partners and promenade
all but the older parties in the ten-acre
lot will solemnly eat grass, and will thus
say by his gravity of bearing that they
mean business and have no respect tor
the antics OF calf or pig. As opposed TO
such dignity man appears on the scene
and is the only animal that will play as
long as he lives. Up to the last days OF
his pilgrimage he is a Joker and a laugher
and inn- loving animal. The defnilion
that man Is a religious being. that he
! only thinks OF God aud future life, is
not adequate TO distinguish man from the
life around him. He differs from his
brute companionsnot only in the fact that
he can formulate theology, but also in
his lifelong disposition 10 play croquet or
billiards. or invent pms, or 60 a-iishing.
At that age at which an elephant or q
giraffe has settled down into dignity OF
department. man is sill looking around
Tor some hali-ccntury friend TO pitch
quuits with him or 10 Join him over
chess hoard or card-tablc. Man indeed
is lofty being. lie is a statesman, a
! philosopher, q theolOgian, an elder,
deacon; bat, notwithstanding this outer
show OF immenseness, an owl or a we'll
led A'derney cow can surpass him for
well. sustained solemnily.
The Puritan age made vigorous effort
10 eliminate the humorous element from
the human race. II invented thousand
ways and means tor the culture Of grav-
ity. IL went to each young man and
young woman and begged OF them not
to laugh. nor dance. nor speak triillng
word, Tor they might die that very night.
1t built mp Sunday in which the old and
young started to church by sunrise and
came home in the twilight, having heard
dolelul rounds of sermon and prayer and
hymn for twelve hours; and yet human
fun could not be killed, but it broke out
at all corners and points. and the Puritan
age, organized for the suppression oil
smiles, died amid laughter. That age
betrayed Pope into the sentiment that a
loud laugh betrays an empty brain"-a
sentiment which Pope himself would re-
call could he come back and see things
over again. 1t is the loud laugh at
small matter that suggests the intel
lectual vacuum. but over the huge. grand
Joke a philosopher may laugh till the
tears come.
Man being such natura!-born amuse'
ment seeker, could not btit feel panied
recently when came upon some lads
who had hidden themselves away 10 the
bigh grass that they might play game
of cards. The pain came not from the
Puritan view of the case, but from the
fear, and indeed knowledge, that those
lads came from homes which had no
games in them better than "button" or
thumbs up" and wherc "cards" or "bil
lisrds" were thought to be shapes as
sumed by the devil. Should the two
homes whence these four boys came set
up a card-table at home. and should the
father invite in the companions OF his
sons and then and there be one OF the
party, and should the said father or
fathers laugh heartily over the sudden
deaouements Of the "whist," these pa
rental guardians would not be called
s'gouernor" nor the sold man" any more
bat would be loved as companions in
happiness and be called "father." Each
home should have its own games as reg
ul arly as its food or sleep.
La his fun-seeking. man is creature
OF infinite variations. On the road, to-