New-York tribune., 1900-08-05
ETHICS OF AMUSEMENT
LADY BATTERSEA'S VIEWS ON THE
SPORTS OLE TODAY

AT this season Of the year, when the daily routine
becomes the daily grind and rccreatIve pursuits
are the business of the hour Lady Battersea's
! views on amusements, proper and improper and
their influence the social community come with
especial interest She SAYS:
amusement, properly understood is the relaxation
~ from the daily grind and only when it is taken
IN that sense and not as the main object exist
ence, can II be considered moral grounds. 1t
robe itself The moment that amusement in the
in OF games sport society even. departs from
such cannot claim ethical power Its true purpose
and this it caases o emer he TO me mind or the body
amount OF time. brain power physical energy
ful and pure ii should depend, first upon the eX-
mental powers second po5 Gn 0a ana
IohshiP; third. upon the certainty tina: in the pur
sult or our own pleasure not inuring
{; 0{5ners; fourth; upon the fact that giving
gPeaser s6me wi" ra be our Possoties of enoymen To
through green fields may lead a paradise of de-
llght. while to others it may simply
cCTfloh Trhs INTO the kingdom of boredom.
NJ me amusement gained in learning to observe
Without 6e a1 II e1er sense Is 5mGT ape fSG ram
ing 70 many OF the pleasures of art as we'll as to
When combined with love of research and read
ing, these interests are yet more valuable. It
Of the amusement gained from precious
triendSub2okS t, s How they feed our imagination
limits OF our little world, giving as it were,
contact with noble lives and great minds,
| Novels, which if they do not amuse unworthy
being among the best preachers and teachers that
| the World mas ever known. What thank offerings
would we gladly raise to the magcians who enrich
our lives by their creations!
Second 10 the amusement derived from all forms
nected with si Es equsl s 10 TO IT, o IS 1na GI
8ePI[able 99I from our conception Of esiyy Of great
and great celebrations '0e'''
With music dancing Is. of course. intimately as
s3clated The popular dctum has now given to the
@Thythmplcal @ movements so dear to the young a
Tery hSnered place e in the scale Of az use
| an open door into the modern working girls clubs;
wholesome recreation in their parishes, and the
| young Of an classes would count social pleasures
as insipid IL they did include a dancing party
or a ball The ethical value of the dance must de-
| the fine spirits that it engenders and upon the
healthy social tone that it imparts
citement, and that do depend upon gambling for
snc m ccE ooa hd g are
invaluable They bring their votaries into the open
body. agile and supple of limb, keen of sight en-
lie spirited. l regret that the element Of gambling
should ever have intruded itself upon these open
danger resulting from the hero worship so freely
aciency in the national games. 1t must often re-
quire great force of character 70 settle down to
ttious excitement of injudicious and universal
/ would add that the ethics of those countries
are IN the Ascendant where national games are
need of gratitude to the sedentary games such as
the learned and dgniied game of chess; whist, so
nos, patience, all of which have helped men
and women through many a tedious hour? But
here again their ethical value is at a discount IL
they are played for high stakes gambling pur-
poses.
And then the bicycle. What avenues of fresh de-
light IL opens up! What possibilities those who
have lived their lives within city walls. 1t pro-
notes cOmpanonship between men and women. so
valuable to both and in way realizes the aspira-
tions of the poet:
Ee gods annihildte but time and space
And make two lovers happy.
Travelling. an unfailing delight and amusement,
is now happily brought within the reach OF slender
purses owing to half philanthropic, half business
arrangements of poytechnics, working mems
clubs settlements, etc
At sports ethical sense cries for "HaltH'
For what is sport TO The hunter is not sport the
animal he is pursuing, but in far sport
duces to courage quickness of resolve good fell
lowshp. the love of country town life, a
healthy mind in healthy body it has valuable
ethical IS well physical attributes At best life