New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-14
Yac4TIOy-LOSS AND GAIN.

All over the land seminaries. academies and col
eges have shut their doors students and professors
have stepped joyfully from the treadmill OF rout-
inc. turned their backs on lectures Laboratories.
llrar,cs and from the exhilaratons and short-lyed
beyIldcrInents OF Commencement found their way
homeward or elsewhere In the iotos-and OF vaca-
tion. Uohapplly vacation is too commonly inter
preted as a period OF vacancy OF literal omptiness
Rest and recuperation for che time lost sight OF
ard tho energies Of living turn altogether In mega
tive directions Burdens are laid aside as labor
ing skin throws overheard cargo that may no
longer be safely carried The weary lie down Ms II
10 PERPETUAL repose. Pleasures enter into and Nil
the whole vital circulation. Habits of living are
not only postponed they arc 40 far "a may be torn
nm nv the root. new and different life ut right
angles 10 the old swallows MP or wipes out the past
and for three or four teenng months the ingatter-
ngs of the whole year are often Feeklessly squan-
dered The fall will End these learners again OF the
bottom of tho hill. like raw recruits who must I'M
dervo afrssh the wear and tear of rudimental dis
ciplne before they catch and keep the old pace
While all machinery mnst have It's periodical rest
OF wear ont before its time. no shrswd workman
suffers 1t to rust gather the dust and lightweight
AZ absolute neglect Tho athlete maintains his elias
tic shows and his absolute health not by switching
OF on another track of indulgence and Incidence,
omen The nd student keel alive purpose. enthu
.iasm and love for his work. forces. al
vaya within call. even IL rest aud play command
the pre,snt For tho truest rest Is had In change
AND fresh pursuits rather than In emptiness and
,dleness Tho vacation offers fne opening Tor .
,hou,and little things which regular work crowds
out and which can hardly he looked altar In later
prof, s.ioual life. How few catch the witchery OF
botany ana a sympathy with the wonderful world
of pl.nts trees and flowers SO that many clever,
highly educated speople liyo out their days and 20
all about the world without knowing the trees or
flora by the wayside. There Is no such diversion
for faded BRAIN as a familiar stndy and acqnaint-
.nc, with flowers. And 80 OF birds. He who
c,ietlv studies the flowers and wsrbvrs. making
lifelong acauaintanees one by ono, finds vacation
w,n f,eirhtod and its days swift-footed. Then
there mr.. aeology aua skctchIng iron Mature. One
nust yity the graduate who is pushed forward to
h,s degres between narrow lines Of mathematics,
Ianguag and philosophy.
II Ia needless 10 suggest tho rccreatons which
NAV enter into and ennobio a vacation without
trs,pass,ng upon ats repose They command the
ere at every turn. Besides much delightful reading
waits for These en times not likely 10 be taken up
dur,nq academic or professional lifc Many grad
nate, no are at home in the Greek and Latin class
ics are st augcrs to the endless riches OF our own
early and middle English literature. Ana there Is
flavor for every mood and within of fancy. The
mind weakens, loses grip and qnaty under this
long stretch of dissipation. Not TO grow or gain Is
actually 10 lose ground. There arc no perioas of
suspended life IN the vegetable or animal economy
no more can there be in the intellectual ard spir
,ua The true secret lies In giving the mind grace
full cougenisl easement. While well selected
novel or two may kindle and at the same tme III
Win ,ratr the alton steady diet will derange
and aobauch the whole mental experience. A little
something each day which keeps the old life from
| stagnation or utter waste will Save many month
and year. For people Of sedsntary lives there
are trout. streams and nnumerabIe trsmps and
rambles; for jewellers by the sos, inland mountain
regions and these latter may send their iders to-
| ward Underwater. That, in short will be an
emptied fruitless vacation that does not send the
worker back to duty, of whatever sort II may be.
with clearer head stouter heart and keencr ap-
petite for the waiting lsoor.