The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-12-31

Occupation as q Moral Force and Idlensss
as a Mischief Breeder.

4
as q Mischief Breeder.
Occupation and industry are so often
recommended merely for the material
/ gains they bring that their moral force
is not always recognized as it should
be. Yet occupation that brings no
material reward, and is. by comparisop
with work, the merest trifling, may
be. il innocent in itself, moral force
simply because it keeps the individual
out of temptations and gives employ
ment to his energies. Idleness is a
fruitful breeder of mischief. The
mind, IL not L. body. must be at work
during idle hours. 1t is difficult to
conceive of a period of inaction for the
brain except during sleep or inseusi-
bility. Thoughts come unbidden; they
may be mischievous or merely idle,
but occupation supplants them with
other thoughts relating to the work or
play in which one is engaged or stirs
the mind to speculation or planning.
1t Is not possible. even though it might
appear to be desirable, to keep men at
work during all their waking hours.
They must have rest and recreation,
and it is during this period that they
need some occupation, harmless in It
self. to Keep them out of mischief.
1t is for these otherwise idle hours
that good amusements should be
provided-books or papers to be
read. societies. literary entertain
ments. concerts and theatrical
performances OF an improving kind to
be attended. In a great city many of
those needs OF humanity are furnished
by business men to meet a want as real
ss that for food and clothing. But
there are many who have not the
means to avail themselves of such oc-
cupstion as is thus provided for idle
hours. and for such as these charitable
people establish free libraries. schools
and other places for self improvement
Some OF the workingmen's clubs and
similar bodies 60 further than this and
furnish gymasiums and rooms for var
ious games. recognizing that occups-
ton for idle hours is the main thing.
and that it must be of kind contrast
ing with the daily labor of the indi-
vidual to be benefited. The clerk may
find amusement in manual labor or in
violent exercise; the mechanic, who
has had enough Of both. is better sat-
isfied with book or with game that
calls only for mental exertion- All
these different tastes and needs for an
occupation that may fill in idle hours
are fairly well met in large city by
the variety OF entertainments pro-
vided by business men and philsn-
thropists-the one for gain. the other
for the good he may do humanity. But
1t is far different in the smaller
towns and villages. where it does
not pay to cater to such needs and
where there Is seldom wealth
enough to furnish from its abundance
free entertainment or educational ad-
vantages. For all such places. how
ever. there Is opportunity to do good
work by cooperative enterprise at
very little cost A literary society
meeting in the school house or church
furnishes occupation for the thoughts
OF members not merely during the few
hours devoted to the meetings. but for
many hours in preparation therefor.
1t may also furnish the foundation for
q small circulating library of books or
papers that will provide reading mat
ter. giving useful occupation for other
spare hours. From such beginnings
in the course of time may be devel-
oped a lecture bureau bringing to
town or village occasional speakers
from abroad. All such enterprises.
undertaken in the right spirit. have
undoubted educational and moral
value. In the smaller cooperative
bodies work on the part Of the men,
bers takes the place of money capital.
A lazy village may be transformed by
such an institution; the young men,
instead of idling away their hours Of
rest in useless or mischievous gossip
at the country store or the wheel
wrights. may have their ambitions
aroused, be encouraged to read and
study. and thus be given occupation
that will keep them out of mis-
chief and promote their mental
and moral welfare. Many OF
the great men of the country received
their earliest impulses to study in So
cieties of this kind. The educational
value Of the exercises may have been
limited. but the readings. the debates
and other literary endeavors stimu-
lated desire to learn and established
habits OF study and industry bearing
good fruit in later years. What form
the efforts to provide occupation for
idle hours should take depends very
much upon the community to be
reached. 1t should be adapted to their
wants as well as to their needs. Aim.