The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-01
1MMoDERATE RECREATION.

IMM0DERATE RECREATION.
The little waif at Mugby Junction who so
smperiously insisted on being amused was a
faithful exponent of average human nature
large and small Her ingenious and candid
demand for entertainment was but the expires
sion of need TO which all properly balanced
mankind must plead guilty-a need for oc-
casional change, recreation and amusement
need for relief afforded various overtasked
portions of the mind or body by diversion
granted to the other mental or physical pow
ers The kind and quality of recreation anti
dotal for different varieties of fatigue or ex-
haustion has already been wisely appointed
by those qualified to prescribe. The minis
ter, the lawyer, the man Of sedentary occupa-
his rest in physical activity, must stretch his
legs over miles of country road or indulge in
other similar exercise to work off his mental
exhaustion and raise the pulse of his physical
being. While the man of muscular employ
ment-the farmer, mechanic or the fighting
editor, must court repose of body and stimu-
lns to mental activity; IS brooke in a cozie
nooke," or, in brief, outdoor exercise for the
indoor man, and vice versa So far, so good
we are apt pupils in absorbing the truth that
''all work and no play makes Jack dull boy,
but obstinately obtuse are we in comprehen-
sion Of the reversed maxim that all play
and no work makes Jack immensely duller.
The crime of the times is i'm
moderation in almost every line of recreation.
Like the renowned Irish gentleman who, hear
ing of stove that would save half the fuel
declared he would buy two and save it all
laundering man decides that If little recre-
alton is good, good deal must be still better
Boat-rowing, club-swinging, and footb
kicking are pronounced necessary for the
symmetrical development of the college stu
dent, and his inordinate indulgence therein
returns him to his native heath with muscle
that scares all the small boys, an appetite that
terrifies his mother, but with mind whose
expansion doesn't alarm anybody. Roller
skating becomes popular recreation, and be-
hold, the school, the Preside, and the church
are showed to the wall, while nation of ami
mated bureaus OH casters clatter round in a
bewidering ring. Progressive euchre takes
the field with like result. Conversation be-
comes an almost lost art, and society foregoes
the profit and pleasure derived from an intel
iigent exchange of ideas, in indulging in
nightly tests of skill at the euchre table,
whose profits are an occasional favor in the
shape of plush dust-pan with thermome
ter on it, or suspicious-looking silver dagger,
with no mission in the world whatever.
Chess-playing, too, is much abused form of
recreation. Men of ability will hang over
chess board, every spare moment, morn. noon
and night, bordering deep schemes, and in
venting moves for an eneiny's discontinue,
under the evident impression that they are
greatly disciplining their minds, preparatory
to some gigantic Napoleonic performance
Ghich they might suddenly be called upon to
take hand in.
These are but few of the innumerable di-
versions whose moderate use is beneficial
whose inlmoderate use is dissipation, pure and
simple. He who puts an enemy in his
mouth to steal away his brains is not more
truly an inebriate than he who Unexpectedly
indulges AM fondness for any recreation what
,Ver An occasional game of football, AN oc-
rasional game of euchre an hour or two, here
and there, on roller skates, once in while a
good game of eilesss-these are good, diverting
the mind, or relieving physical tension as the
case may be; but inordinate devotion to any
one of these amusements is wrong and there
fore hurtful. Immoderate recreation excludes
better things; weakens the healthy action of
other powers, and narrows the vast and noble
scheme of existence down to the small plat
form of the afore- mentioned Polly" of Mug
by Junction, whose demands were all satisfied
when she had had her dinner. nap and some
one to amuse her. 1t is time to cry a halt
when all the valuable and serious affairs of
life must be butchered to make our holidays.
u-u.A
HIGH ART
Labouchere of the London Truth, kind
of journalistic Ben Butler, scoffer at the
eacrAdness of ROYALTY and ..apin the govern