Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-16

The annual exodus Of vacation enthus-
lasts has begun, and mountain, seaside,
lakeside and country village tLrougout
the length and breadth of the land have
each their quota of Restocking and
heath seeking cutters. That this uuivcr-
sal desire among our city classp- for sum
mer recreation is Il healthful auG com
mendable one, we think, no one will de-
ny. 1t is tendency which Americans
ought to cultivate, because as a people we
are too incessant and too severe toilers.
We eXpend our fund of nervous energy
before our allotted three-score years and
ten have run their course The enormous
increase of nervous diseases, of insanity,
and OF what is known as general debu-
ity" in this country, within the past cen
fury, shows that our people are transgress-
ing some of the natural laws upon which
our virility, our physical welfare rs
nation, depend. Among these violated
laws, undoubtedly, is that benefcent law
of play, for which nature has given us all
proper and healthful regard. The
strong natural tendency to recreation,
which is felt at all periods of life except
extreme age, is one which should not be
disregarded or suppressed There is moth
ing about 1t which Is morally wrong, or
economically wrong. 1t appeals to Us in
accordance with both the moral and ply
sicai order of things. The fact, both
nature and experience are constantly
teaching US that our initial fund of vital
| ity is not sufficient to carry us through
life with It's varied demands, except we
renew it and increase it by the
] rna he
nature directs. Therefore, it is
heathful and commendable spirit
which inspires 50 large proportion of
our Woodworking American people to
spend one, two, or three months Of every
twelve in restoring to the fund of vitality
what has been exhausted by labor and
anxiety.
But after all there is a great deal of
foolishness, of mis-applied and uuremun-
erative. effort, in the notwithstanding of
/ the American people, Something of our
| mpetuosity, of our driving and persistent
methods of work get into our play. We
are a nation of enthusiasts take us where
you will, and our enthusiasm is constant
ly amounting to fanaticism. Our vaca-
tions are no exception to this general
tendency. Nine out of ten Americans
seem to be absolutely ignorant OF the first
principles of play. If they were children
once, they have forgotten all about 1t.
They 20 at their recreation as if it
were so much work to be crowded into a
limited period of time,-nOt to get the
purest and simplest enjoyment out Of the
most insignificant things in the most I'M
conscious manner which is the secret of
chld's play and of true play Of every
kind Our American vacation enthusiast
plans his or her summer campaign with
as much care and as definitely rs ne work
of the year. Every day, every week is
crowded full of proposed achievements.
And then comes the struggle to make the
ideal fit the reality. If there seems to be
Il discrepancy, lack of satisfaction. more
effort must he crowded in The vaca-
ton enthusiast PUSHES from place to
place-sips little honey here and Il
little honey there, flirts at Newport and
dances at Long Branch, PUSHES through TIE
White Mountains by rail. and climbs
Mount Washington by steam. There are
ii few quiet people who are -rn,lble
enough to settle down in some peaceful,
out-of-th way place and enjoy themselves
with the temperate and simple pleasures
of country life but the great majority OF
cutters must be constantly on the 20,
wearing themselves out with anNieties,
disappointments the fatigues OF dusty
travel and the over-eXerton of long eX-
petitions. Such vacations are not rest
ful-though, to be sure, they are better
than none. They afford change, variety,
an unequal sort of pleasure, but they fail
| to recuperate: and this ought to be the
ultimate test of all recreation. Until
Americans learn to play in a different
manner from that in which they work,
they will never get the best good out Of
their annual period of rest.