Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-07
"a Plea for the Boyr and Young Mes Of
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An article under this caption appeared in this
paper two weeks ago without editorial COM
ment. The purpose is to secure place and
the means of recreation and social enjoyment
for both sexes and all ages. and deserves, in
our judgment. as 1t seems to have received the
very favorable consideration Of our citizens.
No people put SO much energy and untiring
labor into their vocations as the American
people. and yet all other civilized nations take
more recreation than we do. As consequence.
we bury our best men in the very prime Of
life. while our women lack vigor aud health.
Is this wise? Can not our people afford to re-
create more than they do? Would 1t not be
better. if between the close of business hours
| and sleep, men and women had some innocent
means of drowning the care and perplexities
Incident to our active, busting. rushing times
AS it is. many men drown them in whiskey,
| theatres. and clubrooms. a very natural result
of over-tssked nature. The plan of construct
ing building suitable for roller skating, by
| cycling, ten pins. and gymnastics, under such
| regulations as would make it unobjectionable
| to ladies and safe for children. and at very
moderate price of admission, seems to us to
answer the purpose admirably, and to be as
unobjectionable as can be hoped for. II q good
lot is selected and a substantial building erect
ed. which could. If desirable. be converted into
business purposes, the money invested could
not be lost, even should the experiment Prove
| unsatisfactory.
| But judging from the eagerness with which
| our people attend all visiting amusem ents the
probability seems very strong that stock in
such an enterprise would prove very profitable
here, as 1t is known to be In all Northern
towns. But laying aside all idea Of profit II 1t
should help the boys and young men to purer
| lives, and our business men to longer lives,
then all classes would be under lasting obliga.
lions to the public spirited men who furnished
| the means of accomplishing so desirable an
| end.
OF course, there will be men to carp at and
object to this enterprise, to all others out of
the old ruts. Old fogyism will shake Its head
and intimate that If things were better regu-
| lated in our homes there would be no necessity
| for such things, and that there were none such
in their young days. They are right enough
in theory but the result of their practice is very
fully set forth in the report of the late Grand Jury
II Adam and Eve had not made that little mis-
| take in the garden of Eden, and II sill parents
could and would make their homes attractive
and could and would train up their children
in the way they should CO." then indeed we
should have no need of such things. But 1t is
wise to meet the case as 1t stands, and not as it
| ought to stand according to orthodox theories
Human nature is incident to many int1rmities,
which call for charitable consideration rather
than for austere censure. And beyond doubt
there are some good men who have outgrown
| their sympathy for these inf1rmities, and who
can not tolerate indulgences on the part OF
| those whose moral warp and woof is of less
| firm and solid texture than their own.
We earnestly hope that our citizens will take
prompt measures to carry out this promising
enterprise, and we feel sure that its consum-
nation will proye 2 blessing. .ia..'.7uf
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