The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-02
The Necessity for Pastiines.

Games are Of such excellent use in
themselves, OF only as recreation from
strain but as safety valves for the dam
gerous or mischievous forces in human
nature. diverting the thoughts from I'M
healthy tendencies and Christening the
frames unto symmetry and grace, that It
were pity if room were not kept for
people who can never aspire TO pr0Ies-
sional proficiency. They are potent safe
guards against two Of the most depiora-
bic defOrmitios to which human nature
is liable-dullness in the hard-wOrked,
and vanity in the idle; each Of which
brings many Il man and woman into
tragic degree of ridiculc. Some young
people are 50 constituted as 20 feel no
inclination to games, but very much the
reverse: their minds are of such fiber as
to retain elasticity without having re-
course to systematic diversion. ! nat
they are not characters OF small capacity
which exhibit this trait may be shown by
quoting two well known instances OF men
highly distinguished in widely different
careers. The Duke of Wellington could
never be induced. when nj school. to throw
any spirit into the sports of other boys
he preferred wandering about alone 10
the engrOSsing occupation Of football or
cricket Rousseau consumed days ana
nights Of close study in m attempt 10
master the game of chess; but though
he persevercd in repeated endeaVoTS'
they all came 10 nothing, Tor as oitei rs
he sat down 10 q game, all that ne Hau
learned went out Of his head. Dut suth
instances are exceptional, and IN most
characters hard work, unreleYed ny com
netitiva games. is apt TO produce 'ErooNl-
ness"-and superhuous leisure stupidity
II i difficult TO imagine a young woman
fond of lawn tennis falling a prey 10 the
morbid sclf-cOnsciOusneSs when CON
sumed the COmtcsse dc Scnecterre, Whohi
TaIIemont des Rcaux describes as beau
tifnl lint very foolish woman. Ohe OF
her fancies was 10 have pillows OF every
size In her bed-even for her thuihDss
for she pridpd herself on her beaulIui
hands. and slept with them open, 10 keep
the joints smell. Athletes u Is rue, "ic .
neculiarlv prone TO vanity, but the form
ilat vice assumes in them is that OF the
nr;de of life. by many degrees more par
donoble f1lan the deliberate sclt-lOYe or
II Is a long descent from games which
-l'~,fsn tnind OF body TO these OF pure
chance. vet these have as trm hoid
mon human inclination as II tney pos
ef.sod merit in themselves. No more
nitcous impression can be made on IL
mird capable of reflection than IS leit
Inv n visit 70 the tables OF Monte CARO-.
Iiour after hour. day after day, year
after wear. the same crowds gather round
Them. blind TO the beauty OF sapphire
son and glorious sunshine, content 10
s,velter and scramble and wrangle-tOr
WHAT Well. they are under thrall OF
one of two mOtiyes-twO deploraole mo-
tiyes; one, the lowest; the other, the sad
dest that can be conceived. For the
first is avarice-of all lust the most OBJ
scene. Of all passions the most disastrous.
NalOr. self-deyOtiOn, truth, humanity,
may $50 complex is human naturei co.
evist with much that is evil in a charac-
Ter: but ayarice taints the whole beng;
unlike other desires. il is never salts
fel. il is never MT rest; nothing sweet
can flow from the source which It has
noIlufed. Let there be no mistake or
nolliation about this: ayarice is the prl-
mary lure To the casino. Take away the
GOLD and who would be so childish as to
nlav for counters or sweetmeats Inc
other and subsidiary motive which col
lects a crowd round the tables IS the
desire Of idle men 10 rid themelVes OF
that most precious possession-tlme !;
which. once it is gone. can never be re-
called the loss of which is ever the cause
of fruitloss regret
knowledge comes, but wisdom tar
RIGS" but here even knowledge seems
70 be set ut contempt. Crowds Of edu-
Gated people. with ready access 10 all tho
stores Of knowledge laid up through the
Ioborious ages for present use. Affirm the
contemplate creed of luck. Never was
there a god so false. never one before
whom so many bowed the knee in pro-
found and ignorant faith. IL would be-
lost labor 10 combat the belief-almost
universal and wholly ineradicable among
gamblers-in an i-scrutable influence
mon human occnsion. capable of being
offended or propitiated. IL differs in no
respect from idoIatry; for civilized, well
educated necple behave just as the pagan
does In regard 10 the Great Spirit.
! the souls of bis ancestors, or the deiiietl
powers Of nature. 1t is In fact. kind