The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-17
bank book, as sales increased aud null

bank book, as sales increased aud mul-
tiplied. But It was q disastrous move
in spite Of all that. He can never moro
resume, his role Of imaginative writer,
The reading public, sadly following in
the path OF it's critic guides, would throw
up it's hands in holy horror at any Q
ton Of levity in connection with the
name OF Edward Bethany. And the
poor mar has to pass the rest Of a weary
lifetime in Celebrating and exploiting
fantastic, utopian ideas, that he may
keep his tottering place on the pedestal,
on which, all against his will, his inno-
cent admirers have placed him.
From any other conception than this
Of the man and his work, it is difficult to
understand his latest u~tterances. Ac-
cording to the gospel according to Bel
lamy, competitive sports amongst our
young people ought to be abandoned
for ever. No more base ball for the
lively %youngster, whose high spirits can
find no lawful outlet within the four
walls OF a house. No more lawn tennis
for lads and l1eses. No more exciting
contests between rival crews on some
classic stream. No more bicycling, no
more riding, no more marbles. There is
not one Of these that serves a utilitarian
purpose, and therefore, sad to relate,
they must go. Robust frames, graceful
carriage, innocent pastime-these are
nothing in the scales of a dead level OF
utility. And in their place? We are to
go back to primitive ways. We are to
resucitate the quilting bee and the corn
husking. We are to combine business
with pleasure, a tremendous amount of
business with the smallest modicum OF
pleasure that this degenerate age will
be content with. Shame on the lads
that spend long summer afternoons in
hitting a senseless ball, or in trampling
the tender life out OF the
young grass shoots! They must
reform and reform at once. Let them
take off their coats and lay out the
walks in public parks, or lend a hand at
painting the sign of the now saloon. The
new messiah has no patience with such
antediluvian drivel as all work and nc
play making Jack a duh boy. The
ladies, too, must mend their ways. II
they want amusement, they may take to
circles, and if they are foolish
enough to weary for outdoor life on
pleasant spring and summer evenings,
let them lay aside all their iripperies of
dress and head-gear, and dig the flower
beds of the public parks, while the men
folks are engaged upon the paths.
Surely, Mr.. Bellamy does not go far
enough. Consider the flowers of the
field and the lawn. ''They toll not,
neither do they spin" and yet they
i1aunt their gaudy colors in the eyes OF
cooperative workers. OF what
use are they: Away with them: let us
have potatoes Or ruta baga in their
place. Think of the amount of original
sin that must be surgipg in the breast
of the colt who is kicking UP his heels
and dancing around in some pleasant
meadow. Youth will no longer serve as
his excuse Harness him up and start
him to some practical occupation at
once And the innate idleness and use
lessness of the birds that pour forth
floods of melody to CRATE on the ears of
Edward Bellamy! And the uselessly
gorgeous colors of the sunsets that sink
in gold and crimson and glory behind
the hills of our mountain homes! And
the fruitless romping of kittens! And
the utter vanity of "a baby's merry
laughter, and the little girls doll house.
What a horribly pleasant, detestably
beautiful world this earth Of ours can
sometimes be. Mr.. Bellamy is woe to
think of 1T.