Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-05-25

Is Mol Nuu(WIl!.sIA
WASHINGTON, May 19.-Thls discourse
OF DR.. Talmage Is In accord with all
Innocent hilarities, while 1t reprehends
amusements that bellttle and depraye;
text, ii Samuel II, IA, "Let the young
men now arise and play before us"
There are two armies encamped by
the pool of Glbeon. The time hangs
heavily on their hands. One army pro-
poses q game of sword fencing. Moth
ing could be more healthful and inno-
cent. The other army accepts the chal-
lenge. Twelve men against II men,
the sport opens. But something went
adversely. Perhaps one of the swords
men got an unlucky clip or in some
way had his ire aroused and that
which opened in sportfulness ended In
violence, each one taking his contestant
by the hair and then with the sword
thrusting him in the side, so that that
which opened In innocent fun ended In
the massacre of all the "a sportsmen.
| Was there ever n better illustration or
what was true then and is true now
that that which Is innocent may be
made destructive?
! What Of worldly nature Is more I'M
portant and strengthening and inno-
cent than amusement, and yet what
has counted more victims? l have no
sympathy with straitjacket religion.
This is a very bright world to me, ana
I propose to do all can to make II
bright for others. l never could Keep
step to a dead march. A book years
ago issued says that Christian man
has a right to some amusements. For
| instance, IL he comes home at night
weary from his work and, feeling the
need of recreation. puts on his Slip
pers and goes into his garret and walks
lively round the floor several times
there can be no harm in 1t. l believe
the church of God has made great
mistake In trying to suppress the sport
fulness of youth and drive out from
men their love of amusement III COD
eyer implanted anything In US, he I'M
planted this desire. But Instead or pro-
yiding for this demand of our nature
l the church Of God has for the main
mart ignored it. AS In a riot the mayor
plants a battery at the end OF the
street and has 1t fired Off so that ev'
erything is cut down that happens to
stand in the range. the good as well as
the bad. so there are men in the church
who plant their batteries Of condemna'
ton and fire away indiscriminateiy
Everything Is condemned. But Pay
the apostle commends those who use
the world without abusing ity and IL
the natural world God has done every
thing toplease and amuse US.
Evils of Corrupt Amusements-
And l am glad to know that III al
our cities there are plenty OF places
where we may find elevated moral ell
tertaInment. But all honest men an'
good women will agree with me In TIL
statement that one Of the worst thins'
in these cities is corrupt amusement
, Multitudes have gone down under th'
blasting influence, never to rise. Ii w
NAV iudge of what is going on IN man.
, of the places of amusement by the pic
. tures on board fences and In many o
the show windows, there Is not mucl
lower depth of profllgacy to reach. "A
Naples, Italy, they keep such picture
locked up from indiscriminate lnspec
ton. Those pictures were exhume'
= from Pompeii and are not fit for publ
gaze. If the effroDtery Of bad place
of amusement in hanging out imprope
advertisements of what they are DOM
night by night grows worse In the sam
proportion. in 80 years some OF ou
modern cities will beat Pompeii.
Il project certain principles by whic
you may Judge in regard to any amus'
ment or recreation. finding out 10
Yourself whether 1t Is right or wrong
I remark, in the first place, that 20
can iudge of the moral character G
O any amusement by its healthful resu
or by its baleful reaction. There al
people who seem made up OF mar
facts. They are a combination OF mu
. tiplication tables and statistics. lfyo
q show them an exquisite picture the
o will begin to discuss the pigments II
q volved in the coloring. If you sno,
: them q beautiful rose, they VIII SUI
q NIT II to q botanical analysis. which
4 only the post mortem examination OF
4 flower. They have no reb und In tue
nature. They never do anything MOI
= than smile. There are no great tides
u feeling surglng up from the depths
3 their soul in billow after billow or T
y verberating laughter. They seem as
g nature had built them by contract al
n made a bungling job Of it But bless'
be God, there are people In the wor
n who have bright faces and whose u
; is q song, an anthem, p@an OF VI
! tory.
=, Now, 1t Is these exhilarant anu .!
IL pathetic and warm hearted people ID
ls are most tempted to pernicious anus
n ments. In proportion as a ship Is swl
l. 1t wants a strong helmsman, In propc
q. ton as q horse is gay it wants sto
driver, and these people of exubera
nature will do we'll to look at the rea
ton of all their amusements. IL
amusement sends you home at mig
nervous, so that you cannot sleep. a
- you rise up in the morning not pecau
>, you are slept out, but because 20
IL duty drags you from your slumDe
you have been where you ought not
have been. There are amusements u
send man next day to his work WI