The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10

Nine out of ten adults who avail
themselves of holiday leisure mistake
it's real purpose. So far from taking
advantage of the cessation of occupation
to take an inventory of their permanent
interests, to mark out more clearly the
course they wish to pursue, the real life
which they desire to live, they seek only
distraction from the current of every
day occupation. They break away for
the day from ordinary engagements
only to get fresh appetite for them.
The continuity of distraction from the
permanent and higher purposes of life
is not broken. There is only change
in the kind Of distraction. What they
seek is not new aim in life, to get away
from the incessant din and clamor of
the world, but fresh energy for the old
engagements; and they fancy that they
can best obtain it by doing som ething
as far as possible removed from their
prevailing occupations, but something
which nevertheless, dissipates the men,
tai and physical energies quite as much
as do those occupations. The boating,
the ball playing, the riding, the picnic
games, in which grown-up men employ
their holiday leisure exhaust vitality
even more rapidly than do their every
day pursuits; while instead of develop
ing their true selves they simply blunt
the mind to their existence. 1t is true
that in recreation" of this kind energy
is let off without any special care as to
direction or consequences, while in
business it has to be carefully directed
to accomplish certain objects. But so
much energy as is required in the pop
ular pastimes of the day cannot escape
without making heavy drafts upon the
life Of men. and especially upon those
whose advancing age leaves them with
but little surplus with which to honor
them. Even many of the intellectual
amusements, when they lead to undue
excitement, draw seriously upon the life
of those who, perhaps without realizing
it. had spent their strength to the last
atom in confronting the difficulties Of
their professions.
I No doubt the prevailing restlessness
of our American life has much to do
with this abuse Of leisure, which finds
in mere distraction it's most popular
source of rest and of renewed energy. 1T
is true also that with many the love of
laborious holiday amusements is sign
Of surplus strength remaining after the
ordinary business engagements are over,
which must find an outflow somewhere.
But the majority of adult holiday makers
have no energy to spare after the duties
of the day, and would benefit far more
by an interval of tranquility and a
change OF mental attitude than by
mere change Of distractions. The usual
employments of holiday leisure serve to
blind the soul to it's highest enjoyments
and purposes more effectually than it is
blinded and dulled by the multitudin-
GUS details of business. What is needed
is wiser use of that leisure, the use
which, while drawing the mind out of
its daily ruts and grooves does so only
to enable it to recover and develop its
real self. Such use would to many
SAVIOR much of mere idleness. but most
men can better afford to be idle in this
way than laborious in much that is mis-
takenly called recreation. We need
leisure to weigh the relative value of
different things in this life. and to de-
termine for ourselves whether there is
anything worth giving in exchange for
the soul. We want serenity and moral
and spiritual peace. for. as Matthew Ar
mold says Of Englishmen, we
"See all sights from pole to pole,
And glance, and nod and hustle by,
And never once possess our soul
Before we die."
-Neac York Observer.