Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-21
Leisure HOurS,


provision for it; we take il, it at all, by
suatcbes as boys take stolen frOit. aud
/ often feel somewhat similar guilt in en-
loving it. FROM infaucy up the same in-
/ auence surrounds %. Parents who give
/ the most serious thought and attention 10
/ their children's educa.i ion, carefully Sc
| lectiug their teachers or schools. ard aid
ing them with faithful home Instruction,
are frequently ignorant OF the character
OF the compauiors or books, or diversions
which occupy their leisure hours. The
young, setting ont in life, often arrange
with method and system tSeic life-work,
giving to it, consideration their wses,
iudgment and most earn 81 thought, and
yet form no plans for the hours when
hey shall throw of care and lay aside
work.
Ia ma.l-e lie, men ard women engage
in the strife sod tUrno , o. busicess, ard
the uuhsggipg ,nduslcy OF labor, with
zeal and assidUiig tray laudable. but
scarcely spare thought, much less any
serious or systematic attention upon the
time when nature compels them to lag
aside work, and recruit their enerSes.-
Even as the tune approaches when old
age liil, the heavy burden OF labor from
tue weary frame, there is hardly any pro-
vision made Tor the occupation OF the
tine tnus set at liberty, add too olten the
ged pa cot. after long and tiresome
Ife, sinks into al euiUtced and unhappy
ide1es-, tnus incurrrg some degree OF
contempt iron The yo2 2 ard stt"ug, be-
caVSe he has never brd any systematic
resources TO- 'e,srec ho1rs
The lsc, is. that wr.le We justly respect
labor, We most urjv,,Y dosp;se le'Spre.
In our basic to appreciate the vslue OF
tine, ard awaUds iss just bonors, We iot-
ge. that there is time when men aud
women must relax, must throw of the
weight Of care aud work; and t1at time
is AS t.1Iy deserv NJ OF cArelJl plan and
arrangement as soy othet-nay, even
more valuable IN some important resoects
than the active exer,iod. For most worS
has, OF recessdy, something OF comPul-
son IN Il, ard even the most deliberate
se!i-ccmpu sion, hopest'y and earnestly
pfact.ced from the pest motives, while II
gives a firm basis TO character. caupot
round il off and BRING j. into beautiful
p.Oport oDs.
In,s caa only he the work OF comp etc
lrue ", sud must dersnd gleat'y uooa
the existence OF leisoi ard the Use made
OF il. Tne over-bu,y mTl, who 'hIdsts
this truth out o. ut, ard reserves 40
time for domestic unj gment, oc social
converse or person Al enj 7ment, cots on
his real prog 'ess, bI'ders hi1 De 'elo,-
ment, uartows doa his MUD TO single
line OF ihOu2t,, and ,prs renders himself
lust SO much lass effective as power IN
society, apd so mrch less capable OF hap-
piness asan Individual. He imprlsops
himself within smsll and co0fDed
range of thought and action, shutting out
a thousand good influences which might
brighten his lite ard cause ii TO reflect
radiance upon others.
The wors, result, however, that i'soes
f-om this hs,it ot igrorinG oc Daglecti"g
leisure hours, il rhe evil mat irsidiou@ly
Greer into them. la propc ion to our
estim2te OF NJ vs'ue OF anYlhldg viii be
the care We sna'j r-se Of it. The precious
gems that ara rue, are seldom mis-
laid. wasted or injured. So, because the
Importance i aporecis,ed, ard i's value
acknow edged. y o select il with oor best
judgment aud We sympatbze apd ar
range It's houvs. we devote TO it our most
earnes. energies. And because leisu'
time IS uudervalUed, and its significance
not understood, we suffer it 10 run 10
waste, we lose it without regret, or, what
is still worse, We suffer it TO become ap-
prouriated by the lower and baser parts
OF our nature.
For this reason il is that leisure hours
are hours Of iemptation-hours when vice
and evil of every kind como in their most
a!luring forms - ill up the vacancy. Ii
these seasons had been recognized, and
filled with " no lesome, natural enjoyment
and refreshment how much oil the sicken-
ing and vicious corruption that now goes
under the name Of pleasure, might have
been prevented. This thought may be
worthy The attention of those who are
Jealous 10 their efforts to suppress vice.
There can be no doubt that the coEti-
mental people owe much OF their temper
ance and morality to the numerous gar
den concerts, and other innocent diver
J sions which arc freely open to them, and
which encourage whole families to unite
: in seasons OF rest and enjoyment. What
! can foster the habit OF family happiness,
: and fill the hours OF leisure with national
pleasure, will deal heavier blow upon
, vice of every kind, than the severest leg
, islation can possibly inhict.
Il Used rightly, our leisure hours would