The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-04-08

unsympathetic and with q half con-
dcmnatory lock because Of the spOrtful
ness Of your children. You were young
once yourself; let your children be
young. Because your eyes are dim and
your ankles are stiff do not denouncc
spOrtfulness in those upon whose eyes
there is the first luster and in whose
foot there is the bounding Joy Of robust
health. thank God that in our draw
ing rooms and in cur parlOrs there are
innumerable games and sports which
have not upon them the least taiut CT
iniquity.
Light up all your homes with iuno-
cent hilaritics. Do rot sit down with
the rheumatism, wondering how chill
drcn can go Oh so. Rather thank God
that their hearts are so light, and their
laughter is SO free, and their cheeks arc
SO ruddy, and that their expectations
are so radiant. The night will come
soon enough, ard tho h":r:break and
the pang and the dcsolation-it will
como soon enough for the dear children.
But when the storm actually clouds the
sky it will Lo timo enough for you to
haul out yoar reef tackles Garry, thcr,
into your homes not only tho innocent
sports and games which are the invcn-
tions of our own day, but the games
which come down with the sportfulness
Of all the past ages-chess aid charades
and tableaux and battledoor and calls
themes and lawn tennis and all those
amusements which the young people of
our homes know SO we'll how TO con-
trive. Then there will be the parlor So
cialities-groups Of people assembled in
your homes, with wit and minlicry and
joviality, filling the room with JOY from
door to mantel and from the carpet to
the ceiling. Oh, is there any exhilara-
tion like a score Of genial souls in ono
room, each one adding contribution OF
his own individual merriment to the
aggregation Of general hilarity?
Suppose you want to go abroad in the
city; then you will find the panorama
and the art gallery and tho exquisite col
lections of pictures. You will find the
museum and the historical society rooms
full Of rare curiosities, and scores of
places which can stand plainly the test
CT what is right and wrong in anuse'
meEts Ycu will find tie lecturin2 hall,
which has been konored by the names
Of AeasSiz in natural history, DorenIus
in chemistry. Boynton III geology, Mitch
ell in astronomy, John B. Cough i'll
moral reform, and scores and hundreds
of men who have poured their wit and
genius and ingenuity through that par
ticrlar channel upon the hearts and con-
sciences and imaSirations Cf meii, set
ting this country so years farther il ad-
vance tl!an it would have been without
the lecture platform.
Outdoor Sports.
Irejoice I in the popularization of out
door sports. l hail the crCquet ground
and the fisherman rod and the sports
mans gun. In our cities life is SO un-
healthy and unnatural that when the
census taker represents city as having
100000 inhabitants there are only
100000, since it takes at least two men
to amount to one man, so depicting and
unnerving and exhausting is this met
ropoitan life. WewaDt more fresh air,
more sunlight, more Of the abandon Of
field sports. l cry out for it in behalf
of the church Of God as well rs il be-
half Of secular interests. l wish that
our ponds and our rivers and cur capi'
toliEe grounds might be all aguake with
the heel and the shout Of the swift
skater. wish that when the warm
weather comes the graceful car might
dip the stream and the evening tido &c
resonant with bGatnan's song, the
bright prov splitting the crystalline bill
low.
We shall have the smooth and grassy
lawn, ani; We ill call cut people Of all
occupations and professions and ask
them to join in tho ball players sport.
You will como back from these outdoor
exercises AID recreaticns with strength
IL vOur arm AID color IN your cheek and
a flash i'll ycur eye and courage III your
heart. In this great battle that is open
ing against the kingdom Of DARKNESS
we want not only con5ecrated soul,
but a strong arm and stout lung: and
mighty muscle. bless God that there
are go many racreatiOns that have not
on them any taint Of iniQu!ty, Iecrea-
tions in which we may engage for the
strengthening Of the body, tof the clear
ing Of the intellect, for the illumination
OF the soul.
There is still ;!uctheI form Of recrea-
tiou which | commend 10 you, and that
is the pleasure of doing good. l have
seen young men, weak and cross and
sour and repclling in their disposition,
who by one heavenly tolch have naAcn-
ed uD ard become blessed and buoyant.
the ground under their feet ard the sky
over their heads breaking forth into
music. "Oh,' says some youn. r!an III
the house today, Il should like that rec
rcation above all others, but have not
the means Ny dear brother, let as
take un account CT stock. You have
large estate ii you only realize it. Two
hands, two feet. You will have Per
haps during the next year AT least so
for charitable contribution. ICu Will
have 2,JGO cheerful locks if you want
to emplo! them. You will haze 5000
pleasant words if you want to speak
them. Now, what al amoun: that Is to
start with!
Icu so out tomorrow morning, ard
you see case Of zeal dcstitution hy the
wayside. IUu give him cents. The
blind man hears the pennies rattle III
his hat, and he says, "Ihank ycu, sir;
God bless you!' You pass down the
street, trying to look indifferent, Iu5
you feel iiUm the very depth Of your
soul o profound satisfaction tEat you
made that man happy. You 20 On still
farther and find poor boy with
wheelDarrow, trying to get it up on the
curhStone Ee fails in the attempt You
gay, Stand back, my lad; let me try. y
Iou push it up Oh the curbsicne for
him and pass On. He wonders who that
we'll dressed man Was that helped him.
You did Kindness 10 the boy, but you
did a great jov to your own soul. You
U.i1 NOT oet over II al tho week