The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-13

fha wor ST. as you make it Some of these skat
ting Kinks have already been the relief OF in
pleasure TO thousands OF young. middle. aged and
cid. Some hive broken up families set surgeons
70 work at perilous operations. created life-iong
ailments and are responsible for eternal misfor-
tunes. will not be misunderstood. whatsoever
represents me rs giving unrestricted approval or
condemnation falsifies my position and will be
Hound to be defamers by those who read the
photographic report OF this sermon For years
as many. of you know, have carried a loaded
gun, ready to aim at every style of vile amuse-
anent that came out of the thicket to put its paw
and tooth upon the young. but must always
discriminate
The game-keeper Macdonald. of Glenearry,
came home and found that his home had been
sansacked by a regiment of English troops and
his family UNANIMOUSLY treated, and that the
chief offender was an officer who rode on a white
horse The nexs day, the troops passing, Mac
donald emptied the saddle of the man riding the
white horse and found out afterward that the
horse was ridden that day by another officer,
who had borrowed it. Great was Macdonalds
chagrin. The next day the troops passed again,
and again Macdonald fred and again killed the
wrong man. Now, my soul is full of wrath
against the amuSements that have ravaged so
many of the homes OF America, but must not
saim at the wrong ones. must know which are
ethe offenders, and which ought to be endorsed
sand slain.
To me, rightly preeautioned roIler-skating is
fahe most beautiful and healthful exercise ever
witnessed 1t eclpses in eracefulness and
Eneaithy movement all the croquet, and coasting
land lawn tennis and football, and moonlight
gliding over frozen ponds and all other hilari-
sties Of house and playground 1t is good for the
Aungs, good for the limbs, good for the circula
stion, good for the spirits. see In it the posi-
Utilities for the best exercise ever invented. 1t
nsas all the advantages of the gymnasium, with
aGnore exhilaration of the spirits 1t has all the
fexuberance Of the skating pond on which our
Fathers and mothers used to dart out tippeted and
sfurred, with none Of the dangers of breaking
Hhrough the ice. 1t has all the vivacity of out
sdoor games without being dependent on condi-
-4ion of the weather It would be grand thing
kif all our young men could for one hour almost
severy evening. take round at this
merriment. The women of America
who decline the stout, brisk walks
sailed constitutional, which keeps English
women roseate and strong, would do we'll If al
y1nost every day or night they would leave darn
eing, and mending and bread making, and parlor
gdusting. and tablesetting, and house keeping
For one hour. and join the whrl Of the skating
Tiuk. Some Of these hollow chests would fill up,
and some Of these lack-lustre eyes would get
back their lost light and stopped shoulders
would become erect, and incipient consumptions,
and merciless neuralgias, and nervous prostra-
tions would take everlasting departure. 1t
would be we'll if the stranger ia our hotels after
spending the day in purchasing goods for his
Western house, would in the evening go to some
respectable rink and hire pair of skates, and,
Eindependent of everybody and interfering with
Eno one, take an hour of flight in the charmed
Acircle and under the inspiration of the orchestra
Sand then go back to his hotel and say his pray
Frs and go to dream of home
SOME NEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
But while these are the possibilities of health
and recuperation in this exercise on wheels,
many have used it to the damaging of body
mind and soul, and hence speak Of the restric-
tons First, let us have no more of this vulgar
ity and immodesty seen every night in our city
sof young women. alone and unattended, skating
in Kinks and forming indiscriminate acquaint-
anceships. Let such young persons be chaper
oned by father, mother, brother. elder
sister. When man, however we'll dressed, on
the floor without proper introduction, tips his
hat to lady, bet the officers Of the rink always
on guard. invite him to make rapid strides
toward the door and help him down the front
steps with any such means of increasing his mo-
snentum as may be suggested Let those we'll
dressed devils who sometimes haunt such places
get quick justice, and our skating Kinks will be
as free Of them az a Friday night prayer-meet
ing. Let all those who wish properly to employ
this entertainment not allow the blaze of lights
and the enchantment of drums and corneta-
piston tempt them to a senseless and ruinOus
prolongation Of the amusement. Let it not be a
matter of contest who can skate the longest or
count up the most fabulous number of
circuits. Stop when you have got out of the
recreation all there is in it. Remember the laws
hcf God. Keep the ten commandments written
Eon your lungs and heart Remember that a
kgroup of pneumonias on every cold night stand
lat the door OF every amusement, however hon.
est, and would like to escort you to the selpul
cher. Cooi off before you face the north winds.
Accept no unwarrantable gallantries. Know
that the same law that dominates the parlor
should dominate the skating rink. Know that
the evil reprehend is not confined to skating
Kinks There parents in all our cities who
need to look more carefully after their children.
In nfh rfa IC 1UatI
When l see at the evening hour Broadway,
New York. or Fulton street, Brooklyn as gen
-tlemen return from business group of young
women with conspicuous manner and giggle
that is intended to attract attention of the mas
culine passers by horror strikes through my
soul, and say wonder if the parents of those
young people are aware OF this The most of
those who make everlasting shipwreck carry
that same kind of sail The pirates of death at
tack that style of craft. / wish I had voice
loud enough to be heard from the Penobscot to
the Rio Grande and would Disqualification is
damnation.
remark further that craze on anything is
deplorable. Ball playing, from which many of
US got the strength and the exuberance with
which we have fought the battle of life has with
many become dementia, and the gamblers have
put their clutches upon the sport and at
the close OF the game many have gone
home despoied of Purse and despoiled of
morals. But that is not anything against
ball playing Boating, from which many of US
who lived along rivers got development of chest
that has afforded us free respiration for twenty
or thirty years. and would have given stout
lungs to many who ten years ago disappeared
through pulmonary complaint, has been misused
by college students, who have sacrificed books
for oars and brain for muscle; victorious at the
boat race, and dead failures for the duties of life
But that is nothing against boating. Strip the
roller skate of the craze, and substitute common
sense consoling thought is that public
craze on any style of amusement is transitory
and you can't depend on the continuance of a
'city's insanity Onehalf of those who are now
building skating Kinks will go into bankruptcy.
AwoRD TO THE MIpDLE-AGED.
Another remark: it is very important that
people who have passed forty years of age do
not forget that once thoy were boys and girls