Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-12-08

DIR. Duncan, in an address to the
Young people OF Knoxville said he
doubted not that a great many OF his
hearers had come in anticipation Of
hearing him decry the three things
which were generally regarded as the
leading amusements Of the present
time. He referred to dancing, card
playing and theater going. He said he
would not d~isappoint them, but would
not take the position 80 often held,
that of denouncing the amusement
itself, without first showing reason. He
said he preferred to present the three
amusements at issue as the truth would
permit, and then let his hearers draw
their W conclusions, which must
logically follow.
Dancing was the first taken up. DR..
Duncan said many regarded this
amusement as one of the greatest Of the
SINS He continued by presenting the
picture of a young man, on a small
salary, attending at least three balls a
month, during the season, He must
provide q carriage, in the event Of an
lnclement night. He must also give
the young lady a handsome boquet. He
must provide himself with a dress suit
and he must contribute his pro rata to
the expense of the affair, in the event
it is a club dauce. He must dance
from ten O'Clock at night until perhaps
TWO in the morning. The next day he
must go to his work, for which the dis.
s'pation of the night previous has TO.
tally unified him. He will then at.
tempt to revive himself by taking a
little brandy and soda. The question
naturally presents itself, has the young
man benefited himself physically or
financially Has he not outlived his
income, and will not such a life lead
him to dishonesty The answer to a
level headed man can but be that it is
not right to indulge in such practice.
Referring to the xcuse often presented
that there can be no harm in a small
party of intimate friends dancing il
ones own home, DR.. Duncan stated
that might be true, but they don't
dance that way. They adopt the other
plan nine times out Of ten.
Relative to theater going, he said be
would agree it vas sometimes an in
SEPARATION to witness the dramatic eff.
forts of some actors and playwrights.
If the theater goer will confine himself
to that class of dramatic productions,
then it stands to reason that il is a
benefit to him. 1t is a sad fact, how.
ever, that the majority of plays at.
tended are of the lower order, and tend
to degenerate, rather than elevate
mankind. There is where the line must
be drawn and the question answers
itself. If the play to be presented is a
benefit to the auditor then it may be
regarded as a legitimate amusement,
but II it is of the lower order, certainly
1t can not be productive of good.
Gard playing, like the other amuse-
ments, has its faults and can lead into
a degeneration of the mind and body.
DR.. Duncan referred to the gambling
spirit growing out Of the old, old story,
Just put up a little to make it interest
ing. He said a person had no moral
right to put any such spice into any
game, and playing anything for stakes
would certainly lead to wrong. He
concluded this subject by applying thu
same argument as in the dance cues.
ton. If card playing will ennoble,
then it is legitimate. If not, then it is
wrong.
The m was conc aded by the as.
sumption that nothing is wrong In the
way of amusements, the observation OF
which will result in the glori6cation
of Gods kingdom, and a benefit to
the individual who may engage in it.
YELLOW JOURNALISM"
One of the difficulties that confront
the editor of a newspaper in these
times, who wants to publish a decent
newspaper is the desire for the sensa.
leads so many newspaper
readers to demand something of that
character. 1t may be curious, but it
is a fact that many who join in the
complaints made against sensational
newspapers are among the first to com
plain at a paper that fails to give all
the disgusting details of crime.
The influence for evil OF our latter
day yellow journalism can not we'll be
overestimated. 1t is poisoning the
morals of the peoples, and leading the
youth of the land into ways that are
devious, with debauchery and ruin at