The sun., 1894-02-01
EDITOR SUM-

to call the attention Of a certain class Of
your readers to the other side of an impor-
tant question on which they have taken a
very decided, and, as it appears to the
writer, an unwarranted stand.
Dancing and card-playing are two amuse-
ments which have been much censured from
Morris pulpits. and 80 little has been said
on the other side of the question except in
private conversation, that some good
people, most Of whom are perhaps too
easily influenced by their pastors opinions
on such matters, are inclined to the belief
that many Of those who dance or play cards,
do so against their dictates of conscience,
and some of them are too much disposed to
express such uncharitable opinions before
they are prepared to substantiate them. It
is for this, class of people and for those
who have taught them such precepts that
this article is especially intended.
The writer believes that all social
pleasures which will add to the sum of
human happiness, are right. He is fond
of both dancing and card playing, but his
pleasure in either is considerably dimin-
ished by the fact that others whose good
opinion he-values highly, are so rabid in
their views on this subject. =.
Has it ever occurred to you that the pleas
ures of life may be of too much importance
to human welfare to be lightly interfered
with Inthe declaration nOfindependence,t of the
pursuit of happiness is mentioned with but
two others, life and liberty, as being in
alienable rights with which we are endowed
by our Creator. AS sunshine is necessary to
properly sweeten and ripen the apple, so is
pleasure necessary to sweeten, ripen and de-
velop human character. Imagine if you can,
aperson who has passed through childhood
and youth without any of the pleasures so
necessary to those periods of life. Would
you chose such an one for companion
Would you expect to find in him much of
the milk of human kindness? Would you ex-
pect to find him anything better than stunt
ed, sour apple. If then the pursuit of happi-
ness is matter of so much importance, if o
fair success therein is so necessary help to
healthy mind and kindly disposition, are
you not assuming a great deal of response
| bility when you attempt to restrict the
pleasures of others? Are you not some
times appalled, by a thought that you may be
wrong? That you are taking from others,
pleasures which they need, which are help
full to them? That there is possibility
that you in subtracting from the pleasures
of those who are Influenced by you, are doing
wrong infinitely greater than do they who
steal thatswhich is more tangible.
| 1t may be pleasant to think with
Pudd'n-head Wilson that the things
which need reforming are other peoples
habits; but don't make it unpleasant for
both yourself and neighbor by trying to
reform his habits until you can clearly
demonstrate that his habits are wrong, and
your own habits all that can be desired. Ii
you believe dancing and card-playing ale
wrong, for your own sake and for the sake
of others, keep that belief to yourself until
you can give good solid reason for it and
then be well prepared to defend all the
ways in which you pursue happiness. II
you like to hunt or fish, show US how
that pleasure, gained only bykilling innocent
creatures and adding to no ones pleasures
but yOursown, is any better than a social
dance or game at cards where each will
add to his own happiness and contribute to
the happiness of others. ::
| D0syou object to the. amusements in
question because you can imagine con-
ditiOps under which alover of either might
be tempted to evil, a low resort perhaps or
bad company, if so draw On your imagin-
alton little more, see if you cannot
picture to yourself conditions under which
any amusement might be to those who are
fond Of it, temptation to evil. Is it not
possible that lover of music may be
tempted into low city resort, or beer
garden, by the music and frequently good
music used in such places as an allurement
Cannot you understand how aloverof sport
with gun or rod may be often and strongly
temptedHo break the fourth commandment.
If You condemn one of these amusements
for the reason given, why not retain for
yourself all the respect that is due to con-
sistency by condemning all?
| Human nature is such that it Is impos-
sible for US all to enjoy the same amuse
ment, or to decide alike as to what is right
and what is wrong; you therefore should
have much charity for those who some.
times step beyond that line you have drawn
between right and wrong, and should re-
member that there is a possibility that you
have not drawn that line in exactly the
right place. A specialist on diseases of the
mind has said, that not more than one
person in FIVE is well balanced men
tally. Don't be too sure that you do moi
tbelong with the majority.
J 1t is not difficult for those who are toe
much inclined to notice 'the mildew on the
peach or false note in an angels song'' t.
discover evil or what may appear to then
as evil in any amusement, and the NOR,
popular the amusement the less dificul
viii be their task Of detecting Its upper