Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-05-24

WASHINGTON, May 1o.-This discourse
OK DIR. Talnage is i'm accord with all
Innocent hilarities. while it reprehends
amusements that beiittie and Geprave:
text, ii Samuel ii. IL. Let the young
men now arise and play before us"
There are two armies encamped by
the pool of Gibeon. The time hangs
heavily on their hands. One army pro-
poses game OF sword fencing. Moth
ing could be more heaithful and inno-
cent. Tie other army accepts the chal-
lenge. Twelve men against IL men.
the sport opens. But something went
adversely. Perhaps one OF the swords
men got an unlucky clip or i'm some
way had his ire aroused and that
which opened i'm spo.tfulness ended in
violence, each one taking his contestant
by the hair ana then with the sword
thrusting him In the side. so that that
which opened in innocent fun ended in
the massacre OF all the 81 sportsucn
Was there ever better illustration of
what was true then and is true now
that that which is innocent may be
made destructive?
What of 4 worldly nature is more i'm
portant and strengthening and inno-
ccut than amusement. and yet what
has counted more victimS2 | have no
sympathy with n straitjacket religion.
This is very bright world TO me. and
! propose to do all | can TO make ii
bright for others. never could keep
step To dead march. 4 book years
ago issued says that a Christian man
has right to some amuSements. For
instance. il he comes home at night
weary frCl1 his work aud. feeling the
need OF recreation. puts Oil his slip.
pers and goes into his garrett and walks
kvely round the loor several times
there can be no harm in IL. | believe
The church of God has made n great
mistake in trying to suppress the sport
fulEcSs OF youth and drive out from
mCa their love of amusement IL God
ever Implanted anything In us. he i'm
planted this desire. Blu; instead Of pro-
viding for this demand of our nature
the church OF God has for the main
part ignored IL. AS in riot the mayor
plants n battery at the end OF the
street and has IL fred or so that CIV.
erything Is cut down that happens TO
stand in the range. the good as well as
the bad, so there are men I'm the church
who plant their batteries of condenna-
ton and fire away Unfortunately
Everything is condemned. But Paul
the apostle commends those who use
the world without abusing it, aud in
the natural world God has done every.
thing to please and amuse US.
Evils of Corrupt Amusements.
And I am glad TO know that In all
our cities there are plenty of places
where we may find elevated moral eu
tertainment. But all honest men and
good women will agree with me in the
statement that one OF the worst thugs
In these cities is corrupt amusement
Multitudes have Cope down under the
blasting Influence. never TO rise. Ii wr
may Judge OF what is going on In m1;:y
or the places OF amusement by the p.o
lures on board fences aud liz many OF
the show windows, there Is not n much
lower depth Of protligacy 10 reach. At
Naples, Italy. they keep such pictures
locked up from indiscriminate inspec-
ton. Those pictures were exhump,,
from fomilrii and are not 81 for pub.3c
gaze. if U!ir rarontery OF bad places
or amrcrlScn, in hanging out imprcar
ADVERTISEMENTS OF what they are DON.
night by night grows worse In the saa.,
proportion. in 20 years some OF oui
modern cities viii beat pompcl.
project certain principles 10y whlc,
you may judge in regard 10 any amuS,,
ment or recreation. finding ont for
yourself whether II is right or wrong
remark, In the first place. that you
, can judge OF the moral character OF
any amusement by its healtbful result
or by its baleful reaction. There are
people who seem made up OF hard
facts. They are combination OF mul
duplication tables ANA statistics. IL you
show them an exquisite picture. ta,y
viii begin TO discuss the pigments IN
vo'ycI In the cnlorlng. II you show
them n beautiful rose. they will sub
NIT IL to botanical analysis. which Is
only the post norton examination Of
flower. They have no rebound ia their
nature. They never do anything N ore
than smile. There are no great tides O;
feeling; surgins UP from the depths OF
their soul in hlllow after billow CT re-
yerberatins laughter. They seem us ir
nature had Luilt thcm by contract and
made bungl.ng Job OF IT, But blessed
be Col, there are people In the weird
who have bright faces and whose life
Is song. an anthem. 4 pecan OF vic
tory.
Now. 1t is these exhilarant and sym
pathetic and warm hearted people that
are most tempted to pernicious amuse
menis. In proportion as ship is swifi
IL wants n strong hclalSman. in proper
ton as horse is gay IL wants 81 s;oa.
driver. and these people of exuberan,
nature will DO we'll To look III the rear
ton Of all their ainusemeuts. If an
amusement sends you home at night
nervous. so that you cannot sleep and
you rise UP in the morning not beca use
You GO slr3: cpt. but because your
duty Gags yoa from your slum5ers
You have been where you ought not e.
have been. There are amuScments TIA,
send man r:It day TO his work win,
his eyes bloodshot. yawnlug. stupid
uauseatcd. and they are wrong kinds or
amusement. They are entertainments
tia: ;'!y2 :: nan disgust with the dYudg
cry Of .:.c. VIII! tools hrcaust. they are
not swer:!', with working aprons he
cause they age not robes. with cattle
because they are NOT inruriated bulls
or the arena. If any amusement sends
you home longing for life OF romance
and thrilling adventure, love that takes
poison and shoots itself, moonlight adj
ventures and hairbreadth escapes, you
may depend upon 1t that you are the
81 ,riiiced victim of unsanctilied pleas
ure. Our recreations are intended TO
build us up, and il they pun us down
as to our moral or as to orr physical
strength you may come to the conclu-
sion that they are obnoxious.
Dcpraving Influences.
lEefe ~ nothing more depraving than
attendance upon amusements that are
luil or irnuendo and low suggestion
he young man enters. At first he sits
| Ds.t. Ii