The Mankato free press., 1903-08-21

mems. III WHICH lie Sdiu.
What amusements are lawful to per-
sons who wish to live a religious life,
is one of the questions by which many
good people are sorely perpleXed. The
stricter habits of our fathers are being
everywhere relaxed, and there are very
many who wish to do right, who know
not what to think of the change. They
Weld to the current of the times, but
Weld with hesitation, discomfort, appre-
hension. At first sight some of the dis
tinctions which have been drawn between
amusements which are permitted and
amusements which are forbidden, appear
to be too severe.
They seem to originate in no moral
principle. in no spiritual instinct. Why,
for instance, should crokinole be played
on winter evenings in very strict families
and billiards be condemned? Why should
cards stamp man as worldly and
chess be perfectly consistent with de-
voutness? Why should "draughts" be
allowed and backgammon" not allowed?
Why should fishing be permitted, even to
ministers. and shooting be regarded by
many as a sign of unregeneracy? Why
should people take their children to a
"circus" who would be Mortified at their
seeing pantomine in theatre?
The things allowed are so like the
things not allowed that the distinction
which has been drawn between them will
probably be pronounced by many people
as not wise. No sensible man, however,
will ever suppose that strong convictions
which take hold of people are altogether
without foundation in reason and expert
ence.
Nothing lives without a real root
somewhere. Many of the distinctions
which Christian people make about
amusements are easily understood when
we consider the surrounding circum-
stances by which these amusements have
been or are associated. For instance, it
is no doubt quite as easy to play at
chess for money as to play at cards for
money, but cards are associated in many
peoples minds with gambling, while
chess is, generally speaking, quiet, in
tellectual method of recreation. There
would be no more harm in playing with
pieces of colored pasteboard than with
pieces of carved ivory; but cards have
always been associated with gambling.
This is probably the reason that chess
board may be found in hundreds OF
houses where the difference between
spades and diamonds is unknown. 1t is
not difficult to explain why crokinole Is
allowed and billiards forbidden. To play
at billiards, people, generally speaking,
have to 90 to an hotel, the game becomes
associated with late hours, gambling and
drinking But crokinole and bagatelle
boards have never been in such bad COM
pany. The girls and boys have played
with their parents. While the nobler
plav of billiards has lost its reputation
from bad company, the inferior amuse-
ment has kept its honor almost stainless.
Again there are lots of good people
who look kindly upon the rod and line
though they regard a man that carries
gun unless he happens to be an African
Missionary. or a western settler) as be-
longing to the Devils Reg. How is this?
Well the fisherman is generally quiet,
meditative man. The men that look for
ward to the lst of September are some
times a registering, rollicking set with
whom it is sometimes undesirable for
Christians to associate. The lst of Sep
tember brings drinking as well as birds.
This, of course, may all change. But
though a Congregational minister with
cast of flies in his hat would feel no
shyness at meeting accidentally the very
gravest of his deacons, he would rather
be on the other side of the hedge, if he
happened to have on his CATERS and be
carrying a gun.
In some instances, the very things
which used to be condemned have chang
ed: and vet the condemnation remains
unchanged: Novel reading may, perhaps
be legitimately considered an amuse-
ment. A hundred years ago devout peo-
pie were, suppose, almost unanimous In
excluding novels from their houses.
Nothing, they thought, was more ruinous
to their children than this captivating,
ensnaring, exciting literature. But OF
what kind of novels did they complain? !?
Would the men who would as soon have
seen their girls drinking poison as have
seen them reading Mrs. Behn have had
the same objection to Miss Muloch?
There are curious corners of American
society where the pleasant fact has not
vet been discovered that Sir Walter Scott
regenerated fiction. Who has not felt
inspired almost whilest reading 'Ivan-
hoe" or ''Heart of Midlothian or "Alec
Forbes?" We are bound to understand
the judgments of our fathers before we
appeal to their authority.
Profanity, impurity, cruelty, are al
ways evil, whether connected with our
amusements, or with the common busi-
ness habits of life. Whatever tends to
these things is evil too. If any recrea-
tion, however pleasant, involves clear
breach of moral law, it must be bad for
all men under all circumstances. Or if,
though harmless in itself immortality has
become inseparably connected with it,
every good man will avoid and condemn
it.
Prize-f fighting, cockfghting are plainly
inhuman sports. There is no harm in
horse-racing in itself, but it too has be-
come associated with gambling. Bicycle
racing, foot-races and all athletic sports
are healthy and when free from gambling
very desirable.
Amusements are Objectionable which
Interfere with regular and orderly hab-
its of life and which instead of increasing
health and vigor produce WEAKNESS .and
exhaustion. What time do young ladies
breakfast the day after dance? How
do young gentlemen feel at eight or nine
o'clock on Sunday morning who were
dancing till couple of hours after mid
night on Saturday night? AS to the !
dancing question, it is not for me to lay
down any arbitrary rule, but simply to
27. The dance in itself may be harmless. :
1t is very pleasant to see dozen or
score of yaung children, daintily dressed, !