The bee., 1883-12-22
AmuSements.

From the remotest ages to the present
time we find that all nations, both cul-
tured and uncivilized, have bestowed
upon this subject an attention and deVo-
ton which has in many instances ap-
preached enthusiasm. They have always
recognized the necessity of the minds
having sufficient rest and diversion from
its everyday pursuits by some amuse-
ment, and therefore have they endeavor-
ed to establish such games as would be not
only participated in with delight but also
awaited with real avidity. People gener-
ally are prone to search for something
that is pleasant, and it was the realiza-
ton of this fact that led Tarquinius
Priscus, in the early ages of Rome, to in
stitute the games Of the circus, thereby
ingratiatiug himself in the favor of the
citizens at large. And here we may say
lhat it is invariably the case that the
more we please those with whom we are
associated, the firmer will they become
our friends, and hold us higher in their
esteem.
These games inaugurated by Tarquinius
were continued to be celebrated after
him, and observed with much more
grandeur. Later, their growth warranted
the building of the mnOstrous amphl-
theatre, the only relic left to show the
grandeur of ancient Rome, with the ex-
ception of the stupendous sewers which
were constructed also by the order of
the same Tarqulnius. But the grand am
phitheatre was defled, and the purpose
for which it was built abused; for dur
ing the persecution of the Christians,
the Roman emporors caused many of
the faithful to be thrown into the arena,
to be torn in pieces by wild beasts, for
the entertainment of the populace. Here
the amusement ceased to edify; the pub
lie taste became vitiated, and the desire
increased with base tendency, in pro-
portion to the horrifving scenes, with
which is was fed. Amusements should
always tend to elevate; and to arrange
them so as to effect this result can truly
be called an art. No amusement is COM
mendable which does not strengthen the
body or ennoble the mind. For this rea-
son only should they be encouraged. Con-
siderable attention is now bestowed upon
theatrical performances to make them as
pure and elevating as possible, and the
manner in which they are brought out
at the present day may be called truly
artistical. One can now, if he chooses,
visit theatre and feel not only that he
has learned lesson in morality, but also
feei its beneficial effects upon himself.
And SO with great many other amuse-
ments, that can be carried on go as to
benefit the physical condition of the body
and also to lead the mind on to elevation.
Among o.neI amusements we Ind one
that has caused such tremendous enthus-
iasm among our people, that / cannct
help but make note of it-this is pedes-
rianism-although 1 cannot vouch for
its orthodoxy among those have called
commendable amusements. Surely it
does not fulfil the first requirement, viz,
the strengthening of the body, for such
frequent over-exertions which the CdEE-
ers are obliged to endure, would rather,
in my opinion, tend to weaken it, and as
to the ennoblement of the mind, can
not see where it comes in; on the con-
trary, it seems . me that it lowers him
to the very nat~fe of beast, and l can
not believe that the primary object of
man was to run races and leave horses,
the rightful participants, if indeed they
were created for sucha purpose, to be the
spectators, as it were. And so there are
many others of which we could speak
separately, which should be avoided, for
the same reason too, that they are of no
benefit to ourselves nor to anyone else,
and are therefore, to say the least, an en-
tire loss of our precious time. Besides
this, amusements should never be al
lowed to become to one a passion, so
much 80 that the mind is constantly en-
veloped in thoughts of it to the entire
loss of any serious thought and the time
that should be occupied in study.
/ would not Danish amusements at all,
but let them be of truly beneftting ma
ture, engaged in at the proper time and
without that injurious excess which rem.
ders benefit, by its abuse, an injury.