The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-09-25
RECREATION.
THE MOST SENSIBLE METHOD or
&. RE-cREATiNG OURSELVES.
on to q Rustic Reconsideration L. Not
sunicient-Yearly spurts Of Recu-
psratIon-The Poorer Glasses
Trees and Flowers.
[St. Louis Globe-Democrat.1

lSt. Louis Globe-Democrat.1
Pronounce it according to its derivation,
re-sreation. This Is really what we aim to
accomplish. Business wears US out, and
once year, IL possible, we rush of 10 create
ourselves over again. The highest problem
before US Is how to do this creative work
most thoroughly and avaiiabiy. IA mat
ters are, one-h half of the people rush home
again, after the hoated term, more than
ever tagged and devitalized. Doubtless
when cheap fares are more general, and
more good sense is shown in business meth
DDS and home affairs, a good half Of our rec-
reating will go on In winter. The south Is
opening to the north so many escapes from
the sharp handling Of winter that all classes
will soon avail themselves Of It
Undoubtedly the most sensible method Of
recreating Is TO own rustic home not too
far from business, to which we can retreat
One OF our famous actors has a small hut
snug and tight. in his yard, separate from
his house. Here he shuts himself up good
deal of the time, not for work. but to get
out of human contact. "Mi:anthropicr
Not bit Of it. He Is full Of humor, and
geniality when with others: but he gets
worn out, used up, and then hides.
Relaxation an recreation are two very
different things. Many peopls suppose be-
cause they relax once in twenty.four hours
they are doing all nature requires Of them.
They say they can leave business at the
store. Yes, and then enter into vacuity, a
stat, of nonenity for the rest of the day.
Such men grow punched, and pinch others;
they have q ring to them that is like an emp
ty barrel; they look around with a sort OF
Interrogation they have not life enough to
utter; but if it did get expression would be:
"What is life but businessl Recreation
must con join with relaxation. Such men II
they 10 Q their property commit suicide, or
have softening Of the brain. Wife and chill.
dren AMI the round world full of sun and
trees counts for nothing with them. They
are lonely with mature. The trees have no
personality for them. and there Is no COM
panionship but in piles of cotton goods,
bales OF coats and pantaloons, or paints and
varnishes. Did You ever study the run Of
business men In and out Of their storesi In
side they fit tn their work; the moment they
step outside they seem as out Of place as O
painted cavalier that should step out of his
panel.
We may be sure Of this, however, that
the present drift Of American life to yearly
spurts Of recuperation Is all wrorg, and
must be given up for a more sensible plan.
Where the drain and exhaustion is daily the
balance must be daily secured Not one out
of ten Of our public men or busine IS men
but makes daily draft on his str 9Th d
II tie beyond his physical income. his be
compensates with stimulants or end ures the
tax until the annual vacation once mors
enables him to replace in part what hs has
embezzled from his constitution and moral
energy. But this 10 dishonest makeshift
and we are sure to degenerate under it,
influence.
Contact with nature in the fullest senss of
the word has power in 1t that is subtle.
probable too subtle for superfcia. people to
understand. Old DR.. johnson disliked trees
AMI liked better to roll up and down Cheap
side in the crowd. This is obvious with
other persons Of the same sort; cannib alistio
creatures they are absorbing, deyouring
other people. Doctors forbid us to allow
children or nervous people to sleep with
older or moro rugged people. 1t destroys
them. The same influence in less degree
goes on in the day time under less close con-
tact A few gross ones grow stout on the
rest Constant human intercourse il
very destructive to most The re-
cuperative forces are in nature
Companionship with trees Is always invix.
Grating and vitalizing The value Of fow-
ers IN the window OF O poor mans home Is
medicinal and physical It is not merely
mental pleasure that the paling woman
gathers from the rosebush, but medicamsnt
The same is true of flowers di tributed In
hospitals High life can only be lived when
the whole being Is sternly protected against
corrosive influences. Moral life Is not some
thing separate from the rest Of our life, bu
part Of the physical
The happiest feature OF the rscreative
tendency is that it has taken hold of the
poorer classes. There Il no poverty left in
the civilized world as bad es that OF the
middle ages The railroad will not allow IL.
FamiDes can not get such a gripou any sec
tion Of the world. We can get away from
choleras and pestilences. History will
never again show such records Of wholesale
deaths as the black scourge brought on Eu-
rope. This is not only owing to sanitation
and moro knowledge; it Is owing to speedy
transit z. .. =
Workmen in reality rusticats nowadays
moro than the capitalists. They eat more,
eat better food, better cooked. sleep more,
AMI wear out more slowly. Besides, they
get a good deal more out of a weeks lay of
The rich man is never able to get free from
the responsibility Of Appearances