The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-12-27
Hunlbug VS.. Intellect.

The following article from the Sc
attic Dispatch, is doubtless applicable
to nearly every town in the Territory
1t is very pertinent, and we hope all
parents will take time to read it:
A California exchange calls atten-
ton to the fact that the most worthy
and interesting lecturers-persons of
refinement and literary culture, may
visit that place and announce literary
entertainments, such as lectures,
which would prove of benefit in stor-
ing the mind of the hearer, only to be
faced by empty benches. Such is too
apt to be the case in all our interior
towns, and larger cities. On the 9TH
er hand, let some clap-trap monkey
show announce itself, and crowded
house will most assuredly be the re-
suit. Intellect has no show to com
pete with humbug. The people long
for the latter. They are uneasy un-
til they obtain fresh supply. They
know enough about scientific and lit
erary matters. They have nothing
to learn. They want something to
tickle the ear, and that smacks strong
ly of the ridiculous.
These remarks apply with equal
force to the community of Seattle.
An association in this city, with much
public spirit and great pains, have ar
ranged for course of public lectures,
and secured the unrequited services
of the ablest lecturers to be procured
in the country, the proceeds to be
applied to the worthy object of build
ing hall and maintaining a library
for public use, than which nothing
could be of greater public benefit;
and yet, strange as 1t may appear,
this grand public object for intellect
ual and moral improvement has thus
far failed to command as general in
terest and support as the lowest grade
of monkeyshow, the proceeds of
which are drast st.0pon the resources
of community without any compcn-
sating advantages.
We are by no means opposed to
popular amusements; but ON the con-
trary regard recreation, relaxation
from labor or study, rs natural al
ternation, and a necessity to a healthy
mental ana physical condition. Play
is an animal instinct which no intel
lcctual culture can overcome, and it
is a false morality to attempt to sup
press. There is true philosophy in
the old distitch:
"All work and no play makes Jack dull boy;
All play and no work makes him n mere toy"
1t is the duty of the fathers and
mothers, moulders and guardians of
our social organization, to alternate
apd blend instruction and amusement
in such manner that one will not de-
generate into moody and hateful
discipline, inimical to social enjoy
ment, or the other into frivolous and
liccntious indulgences, fatal to moral
and intellectual growth.
Many of our amusements are mat
ters of fashion or association. \ boy
will put forth physical efforts at
cricket or base ball which would be
exceedingly irksomc and exhaustive
if applied to manuel labor for any
practical purpose. Men and women,
with or without culture, will throng
the assemblies of an Italian Opera
troupe, paying the highest admission
fee, when not one in ten understand
"A word of the language, or have the
least sympathy with the character of
the music The sole cause of this is
because it is fashionable to affect
Italian opera, which we are free to
confess is to us an unmitigated bore,
and SO it is to thousands who patron
ize it without an educated taste for
that style of music.
If our professional mon, the intel
lectual and educated classes. and those
who give tone To society, would take
an interest in this mattcr-which we
regret to say they have not thus far
done-they could make these lectures
as popularly attractive as any species
of public entertainment heretofore
patronizcd in this community, and To
vastly better purpose. They would
make intellectual pursuits fashionable,
aid in ditiusing useful knowledge,
cultivating literary taste and in build
ing up permanent institution, which
will be of incalcuable advantage in
| nromotiny tho moral and ,ptollootua |