The New York herald., 1877-09-17

most majestic agencies OF time No game sur
pass billiards In intellectual point OF view, with
perhaps the single exception OF chess The clerical
game OF croquet originally invented TO help bashiui
young curates in making love and young maidons IN
pointing graceful and well shaped toe has been CON-
pared with IT, The comparison 10 simply contempt
bic and the more so BECAUSE for the most part, while
have been obliged to put up with such poor stun Us
croquct Now believe in letting tho saints have
fair the best things for true religion has NOT
only promise of the lie is but also OF that
which Is to come
Dancing Is this an evil In itseff Miriam was
dancer, David dancer and It said, and truly,
that dancing the poetry OF motion. 1t has Its uses
IN the improvement Of department.. 30 that persons
may enter society with confidence and composurc. ana
shuttle roll into drawing room II they wero
walking stills or shot from IN old Roman caa-
pult. Moreover II Is graceful exercise AS matter
OF course 1t will not be presumed that am IN favor
OF that sort OF dancing which as habit turns nsht
into day and places moderately modest man IN such
contact with threequarter clad partner that he s s
loss TO know what ~ do with his eyes These, now
abuses, contingent but not necessary aduncs
of accomplishment which in itself ~ graceiui,
elegant innocent and healthy Omitting Tor toni3ht
the theatrical question, which reserve for speclai
discourse next Sunday evening, let US now invest
our inquiry with q little critical thought Tho
Bible nowhere condemns ainusements ko these. Ihe
marriage feast, ut which jesus performed HIS hrst
miracle, gathering at which dancing was usually
pracsed, and Is only reasonable TO suppose tht no
the sanction OF His presence lie was IN avor
OF usements and recreation, for He came "cat'hs
and drinkng"-that Is, recommending all ratlohai
enjoyment In this respect HIS Church has made
monopoze what tho Church has not only tailed TO
patronZe. but without Christ's authority 70 condemn
John Wesley said the devil should not have The pest
tunes, and should say neither should he nave the
best amusemcnts. These amusements have received
condemnation, not because OF anything In themselves
sinful wrong, but because OF their assocations
The billiard table has been almost exclusively owncd
by the barrooms and hence It's beautiful attractions
have drawn our young mon into the dranshops o our
CITY, II should be one 0t the recrcations oi nome.
and therefore the who putsa billiard table III ms
house public benefactor and has done more IN ING
cause Of temperance, sobriety and moraty thah n'n
temperance lecturers, VINO IN order 10 be useiu III
their sphere qualify by first becoming drunkards
These sources OF amusement when introduced gem
eruy homes, cease 10 become dccoy ducks 10
drinking saloons. Mako the billiard taoic hxeu
piece of in tho homestead ana you then anu
thero initiate u grand reform and cultivate " with
increased social Intercourse In tue home circle inc
Christian Church has exercised on these ana similar
questions mistaken policy, which tho Young Mems
Christian Association has perceived ana Is Trying 10
remedy VISIT its gymnasium and you VIII scc some.
thu sound muscular Christianity. wish IL Goo
spec nrlng the pure influences OF tho Christian re-
ou contact with all our rccreatons and anuse-
ments and they Will be purified and rendered moro
potent for good. The eavcn VIII penetrate and en-
rioh every department OF our life and amusement
aud recreation ueedlu for healthy organism AZ
bread. IL is philosophical necessity. The boy ut
school who plays marbles is learning TO play biards
Tho mischief Is in placing these Inducements ana at
fractions in drinking saloons instead OF our homes,
which should be sacred TO pure rccreatons and Intel
lectual as well US rational enjoynents.