The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1889-04-25
Popular Amusements.

ment in the West. You will find many men
who spend nearly all their spare time in play
ing cards There are hotels and private houses
in which the guests will usually be found at
this game. Now there is no evil in playing
cards in itself. The only evil consists in its
absorbing the time and attention that should
| be devoted to the cultivation of the nobler
elements Of human nature. The greater part
of the scholars of our land seldom play cards.
The men who have built up the arts and
| sciences which form the fabric of civilized
society have seldom played cards. The same
remarks which are applicable to card playing
are also applicable TO dan cling. Wherever one
| is popular. they both are popular. Wherever
one is condemned, they both are condemned.
In regard to the class of people With whom
these pastimes are popular, it is said that it
would be answered differently in different see
tons OF the country. In Maine the majority of
the people, and they the better class, would con
demn card playing, dancing and the Use of
the Mississippi Valley | am told the reverse
holds true, as it did in the early days of Maine
| found the majority in favor OF these pas
times in Nebraska, but they could hardly be
called the better class of the community in my
Judgment. 1t can not be disputed that card
playing and dancing are invariably associated
with the use of rum. Although many people
play cards and dance who would scorn the use
OF rum, yet practices found 50 invariably COM
mon among the lower classes Of society should
be thoroughly examined before we ADOPT them.
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practice eXerts an influence, however slight. in
the downward direction, we can not afford to
adopt it. While it may be acknowledged that
they are healthy and harmless amu>ement> on
suitable occasions and within certain limits
The evil IN card playing, dancing or rum is not
IN the nature of the thing itself. but in the eN-
cess which i sure to follow. You will notice
that people who attend dances once Il week feel
rather sleepy the next Law There is "A hours
in the week sacrificed to their favorite amu>e-
ment. Nor is this all. They will often speak
of the past or future dance, showing that it
occupies high position in the mind. Human
nature is 50 constituted that man is liable TO |
devote his whole energy to some favorite theme |
The man who devote> himself exclusively to |
religion, the scholar. the politician the mtr- |
chant, nr the farmer who makes a success Of |
hi, business, usually devote> himself wholly to !
his calling. We seldom find man who devote, !
sufficient attention to all The various subject,
which tend TO promote the welfare Ot man. ,
In deciding what practices ought to be toerat-
ed, the universal rule is to consider whether
the whole amount of benefit derived there
from exceeds the harm. Although fire is one
of the most destructive agents in the known
world yet no one can for moment doubt that
we derive more benefit than harm from it.
Although alcohol is good, vet most people will |
readily admit that it is more injury than benefit
to the human family, therefore we can well |
afford to do without it. Though the fact may
not be quite as evident it is nevertheless true
that card playing and dancing. by engro>>in2
the time and attention. serve to returd those
processes which promote civilization, and there
by tend to degrade humanity. And there is 10
benefit derived therefrom that could not be
derived from some other source. While we
acknowledge the Importance of something to
engage The attention. it may he found in the
literary world. The mass uf mankind have
not been idle before Is aud The result of their
achievements is at our disposal if we will give
our attention to it. Willie we arknoN lrdyc
the Importance Of gratifying the Social instincts
of our nature to a certain extent, the means
offered by the association in 4 literary capacity
will be found amply sufficient. Literature con-
tains the essence Of the achievements Of Tire
whole human family M to the present time,
therefore it is vastly important. Literature i
50 extensive and varied that we can hardly
afford to concern ourselves with any except
that tending to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and per-
fection of human nature. As We have said.
these popular amu>ements are no harm in
themselves, neither is rattc.nakc any harm
in itself. but it i advisable to avoid Whatever
is liable to do harm unless we derive more
benefit than harm therctrom.
GRO. NJ. CoLE.
Monango, Oak, April II, 1889.