The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-03-17
socIALrrY.
Phiiadslpkia Ledger.

playmate to all the costly playthings
that can be offered to him; the young
seek the companionship Of youth, and
maturity and even old age continue to
feel the same want. Solitude, except
for rare and exceptional hours, is
generally regarded with aversion, and
even the familiar faces of friends and
family are not quite sufficient to supply
the whole need.
Every universal desire implies certain
benefits which are 10 accrue from its
satisfaction, and human progress is
shown mainly in the degree to which
these benefits are recognized and plans
made to secure them. The most obvi-
Gus Of the benefits in this case is the
immediate pleasure which is derived
from social intercourse. This is, per-
haps, the only aim which many persons
have in cultivating il, and the idea
tacitly held that pleasure cannot be
real benefit serves often to throw soci-
ality into the shade as thing Of any
positive orpermanent value. The truth
is, however, coming TO be recognized
that pleasure as such is one Of the great
blessings of human life, both for its
own sake and for its indirect influence
on character and that it, therefore,
demands, not contempt nor in indif-
ference, but thankful recognition. Ii
is not pleasure, but something evil that
NAV sometimes be associated with il,
that needs wedding out from our lives,
and il sociality had no other claim
than the simple and innocent happiness
it creates, it would still deserve a high
place in our regard.
There are, however, other results
which it is capable of bcstowing, and
to secure which we should make deiHite
efforts. II is the best corrective Of
that serious and prolonged absorption
in business, or thought, or cares, which
people. The rest taken in solitude,
after working hours are over, permits
the mind still to pursue one beaten
track. The easy chair and blazing fire
may be tempting to the weary toiler,
but they do not force his thoughts into
other channels, or compel him to lay
aside the train OF ideas that has for
long hours been working in his brain.
Society, on the contrary, forbids such
unwholesome indulgence. She insists
upon aiotal change Of mind and manner
during her short reign. She calls for
vivacity, variety, imagination-if pos
sible, wit and humor, or at least acheer-
ful interest in that Of Others. She BAN
ishes the accustomed seriousness OF
mind, the brooding over familiar topics,
even the carnesiness of strong emotion.
For short time all these are forced to
give way to the lighter play Of fancy,
the excitement of popular interests, and
the development ofsympathy with others
upon familiar and varied subjects
Thus the mind is refreshed and invig-
GRATED, unused faculties are brought
into exercise, and the last balance re-
stored by gentle compulsion that no
one desires 10 resist.
Another benefit which society is
specially adapted to produce is the
prevention and cure of one-sidedness
and prejudice. The impression Of new
faces and voices will OF itself often
scatter to the winds previous ideas thar
We had ignorantly held, and usher in 4
favorable opinion where he had expect
cd only TO criiicisc still more frequent
ly will free exchange OF thought and
sentiment chase away the phantoms Of
prejudice and clear the air Of bigotry,
intolerance and suspicion. Il is the
best antidotc against the danger Of
living in 4 rut. II is easy for busy peo-
pie, even when intelligent and thought
ful, to drift into certain channels OF
life and there remain. One round of
duties, one set of recreations, one small
circle of congenial friends satisfy them,
and they scarcely know Of, much less
appreciate, the wealth of life in every
direction that lies outside their little
sphere. Books and still more news.
papers serve to lift men and women
out Of these ruts i but more than either
does that free social intercourse which
brings them into close contact with
people of different views, feelings and
interest, and awakens within them new
and healihful 5, s,mpathies.
To further these aims Of sociality,
however, something more than the
mere drifting into company is required.
Care should be taken to supply the
various elements which are lacking in
our immediate circle of friends. II is
here that so much Of our society fails
OF its bcs, results. II gets divided up
into cliques, parties. clubs and sets,
each OF whom admits only those OF
similar age or sex, or business, or pol
tics, or tastes. The young do not
welcome the old, men are not at ease
| in the society Of women, the scholar
cares nothing for the business man, nor
the merchant for the scientist. nor either
for the intelligent mechanic. Families
only associate with other families OF
about the same income or style Of ex-
c!usiveness, thus everything destroys the
chief advantage which society has to
Offer
Ii is true that there must be some
common aim binding together every
social circle, and that Of itself will
enforce limits. Promiscuous assemblages
without purpose could neither promote
Measure nor improvement. or course,
the reading club, the musical soiree,
the sewing circle, the dancing party,
the scientific or charitable association
will each Of them number among its
members those only who are interested
in its special aim, but beyond this no
artificial barriers need be erected, and
no person need be so exclusively absorb
ed in any one as to allow il to exhaust
all the time and power he can spare
for social intercourse.
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