Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-10-18


times it becomes n duty to be agreeable.
Many ladies would gladly entertain more
than they do we're il not that they feel at n
loss for Fentertainmeut. One lady exoIaim-
ed. "what shall do with the young people
after ! get them hers!s One can't always
hire elocuticuists or musicians. The young
folks expect 10 be entertained, for they wont
talk" Might it net be helpful to make a
slight preparation hsfore hand by thinking
of something to talk about. Recall some
bit OF information. incident, or bright idea
in the last magazine or book that you can
arrange in your own words and thus coutri-
butte mite toward the general good. Snp-
pose you are invited to meet noted person
whose experience or study has beeu broader
or more varied than your own. By little
tofethought you can prepare yourself to ask
intelligent questions at ieast, thus bringing
out tbs best in your neighbor's wisdom, wit
or experience, and adding eatly to the
pleasure and profit of the guests; whereas
had you made on such effort, or sat tongue
tied, overawed by his greatness, not daring
to express yourself for fear of exposing your
ignorance, all would have passed wretched
evening and doubtless thought genius very
nice to read about but very uncomfortable
to dine with. Why is it not as much 10 place
to furnish the mind suitably to please those
whom you expect to meet, az TO clothe your
door recreations music occupies the highest
place. There is in this art an indiscribable
fascination for both the young and the old.
Among the first things created was the bird
so that the earth might have music at the
start. This world which began with so
sweet serenada is finally to be demolished
amidst the ringing blasts of the archangel's
trumphet, so that as there was music at the
start there shall be music at the close.
While this heavenly art has often been
dragged into the uses of dis ipation, we all
know it is one of the greatest means of high
moral culture besides affordipg illimitable
recreation and amusement. Elocution and
reading offer another source of recreation.
Pictures are entertaining an afford numer-
GUS topics for pleasant conversation. Our
social life needs reform and development.
Jesus of Nazureth was the model social man.
His wayside conversations, the little visits
He made to homes, His many acts of chari-
ty and deeds of love, and His universal kind
wcrd for everybody, chiefly marked the So
cial part of his nature. 1t could have been
no less than social man who could hold
the crowds, bind the disciples to him, be
the friend of every one, and call Zacoheous
down out of tree to go and dine with him.
IL must have been a social man who made
dinner co versations so interesting that
pubilcans and sinners were eager to extend
Him invitations. He set the example of
true soeiability viii h to-day, if practiced,
cannot fail to make life happier and char
acter stronger, and which makes prominent
the idea of mutual helpfulness and the fact
that we are in this world for growth, educa-
tion and advance, and not as simple ire
pressible pleasure-seekers. What right has
a child of God to waste his valuable time
aud prostitute his noble powers upon anuse-
ments that are evil in their tendencies The
fact that Shakespeare is pronounced the
prince of poets as well as dfamatists, and
that no person can be considered master
of the English tongue who has not given his
works critical study, leads to the query:
What harm in Witnessing these same plays
if interpreted by living actors? Here again
we must discuss the real rather than the
ideal. Because some plays are harmless or
even helpfnl and educative in their diction
and doctrine, proves nothing concerning the
theater as an institution in she aggregate of
its influence. Credit the theater with every
good to which you can imagine it can be
entitled. Now charge up to the theater in
Its various forms all its debasing and de-
praving influence just as it occurs to your
own mind and sse If the balancs be not
heavily against it on moral grounds. You
may discriminate and patronize onis The
SO called Legitimate DRAMA" preseni,d by
weaker brother will not so discriminate. He
may not have the necessary means OR a. par
ell to enable him to appear in such company,
hence because of your want of self-denial
he is caused to stumble. Christ said, .'If
any man will be My disciple, let him deny
himself, take up his cross and follow Me-"
We can afford to make the sacrifice "in His
name" But We may have recreative amuse-
ment, dre proportion of which is essenti-
al. But as Christians, let US find our amuse-
| ments in that which can stand plainly
the test of what is right and what il
wrong. Suppose we want to go abroad in
the city, Instead of the theater or race
track let US find the panorama and the art
gallery and exquisite collections cf pictures
| let US be among the appreciative number as.
sembled at the concert or the oratorio at the
| Academy of Music; let us find the museum
and the historical society rooms full of theil
rare curiosities; let us find the lee ure hal
which has been honored by scores and hun.
dreds of men who have poured their wit an6
genius and ingenuity through that particu.
| lar channel upon the hearts and consciences
and lmaginations of men, setting this count
ry fifty years further in advance than il
would have been without the lecture plat
| form.
| To the eyes of Christians the dance il
looked upon as symbol of worldliness. L
has been the first step to eternal ruin for i
great multitude of both sexes. Whatever
apologies may be offered for other dances as
a means of exercise, under adequate safe
| guards, moral restrictions, and amid choice
associations, etc., no such excuse can bt
accepted in defense of the popular rounc
dance OF to day. The modern waltz is one
of the choice instruments of the tempter te
lead the young from the path of virtue auC
/ chastity In addition to this we cOufidentl, |,
assert that the dance however practiced i,
the uncompromising foe of seriousness ano
pious meditation SO necessary to the Chris
iah's growth IN grace and knowledge Of
Christ, and if we value onr influence we will
abandon it to The enemy. bless God tha
there are so many recreations that have mo-
in them any faint of iniquity, recreations
in whichwe may engage for the strengthen