Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22

familiar with its offices and performs then
not only naturally, but mechanically
scarcely without any direction. There
no reason why the brain of the left side {
the head should be more sensitive o
active than that of the right side. W
hear equally as well with the right ear a
we do with the left, and one eve can see a
distinctly as the other.
KEEP AT WORK.
Breeds Mischief
From the Baltimore sun
Occupation and industry are so Otter
recommended merely for the materia
gains that they bring that their mora
force is not always recognized as it shoult
be. Yet occupation that brings no materia
reward, and is, by comparison with work
the merest tritiing, may be, if innocent il
itself, moral force simply because i
keeps the individual out Of temptation!
and gives employment to mischief TIL,
mind, if not the body, must be at worI
during idle hours. 1t is difficult to con
ceive of period of inaction for the brair
except. during sleep or insensibilitv
Thoughts come unbidden; they may be
mischievous or merely idle, but occupation
| supplants them with other thoughts relat.
ing to the work or play in which one i.
engaged or stirs the mind to speculation OF
/ 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 itself, 10 keep
them out Of mischief. 1t is for these
otherwise idle hours hat good amusements
should be provided-b0oKs or papers to be
read, societies, literary entertainments.
/ concerts and theatrical performances of an
improving kind to be attended. In great
, city many Of these needs of humanity are
furnished by business men to meet a want
, as real as that for food and clothing. But
there are many who have not the means
! to avail themselves of such occupation as
is thus provided for idle hours, and for
such as these charitable people establish
free libraries, schools and other places for
self-improyement Some of the working
mems clubs and similar bodies 90 further
than this, and furnish gymnasiums ana
rooms tor various games, recognizing that
occupation for idle hours is the main
thing, and that it must be of kind con-
trasting with the daily labor Of the indi-
vidual to he benefited
The clerk may find amusement in man
ual labor or in violent exercise the me-
chanic, who has mad enough of both, is
better satisfied with book or with a
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 4 large city by the
variety Of entertainments provided BY bus
mess men and philauthropists-the ore
for gain, the other for the good he NAV 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 advantages. For all such
places, however, there is opportunity to do
a 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 dur
ing the few hours devoted TO the meet
ings, but for many hours in preparation
therefor It may also furnish the founda-
ton for q small circulating library of
books or papers that viii provide reading
matter, giving useful occupation for other
spare hours, From such beginnings in
the course Of time may developed lect-
ure bureau bringing to town or village oc-
casional speakers from abroad All such
enterprises undertaken in the right spirit,
have undoubted educational and moral
virtue.
IN the smaller cooperative bodies work
on the part Of the members takes the
place Of money capital. A lazy village
may be transformed by such an institu-
ton; the young men, instead Of idling
away their hours Of rest in useless or mis-
chievous gossip at the country store or the
wheelwright's may have their ambitions
aroused, be encouraged to read and study,
and thus be given occupation that will
keep them out of mischief and promote
their mental and moral welfare Many of
the great men Of the country received their
earliest impulses 10 study in societies Of
this kind.
The educational value of the exercises
may have been limited, but the readings,
the debates and other literary endeayors
stimulated 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 COM
munity to be reached. It should be
adapted to their wants as well as to their
needs. Aiming at too much good may de-
feat the purpose if the occupation pro-
vided should be in the nature of drudrerv,
For men who work hard during the day,
relaxation and amusement are needed.
These may be found in reading, in literary
I exercises adapted to their understanding,
and games of various kinds But as the
main purpose is to occupy their idle hours
with exercises not injurious, efforts toward
/ their Improvement should be limited to
such things as win surely-enlist their in,
terest and engage their attention, trusting
TO time and the influence Of good habits
for the future development of higher tastes
and demands.