Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-10-09
HOW TO HAVE FUN.

the other thing was wrong, without
telling US what kind of amusements
are good for mind, soul and body.
The result is many have turned their
backs against the church on the
| ground of worldly amusement.
I commend to everyone vocal and
instrumental music. What delight
full thing to see children ia many
homes brought up amidst cultured
voices and musical Instruments.
Everyone should have in his house
flute, violin, piano or organ and teach
the children as soon as they are old
enough to pick out harmony. What
a mighty power has music in dispell
ing the blues, annoyances and also
overpowerlng temptation. Music not
J only furnishes entertainment, but it
! has a great influence on the moral
character. How many young men in
boarding houses and at home have
spent hours of delight alone in their
room with some musical instrument.
I commend all innocent parlor games
and amusements which are the in
ventions of our days and other days.
One of the greatest means of keep
ing boys away from places of evil is
TO make the home bright and happy.
Don't sit around glum, and pose your
supernatural gravity because your
children are having some sport in the
room. Sometimes it is difficult for
stiff ankle-joints and dimeye sight to
remember they were once Young.
Remember desolation, heartbrakes
and bereavements come soon enough,
SO let your children enjoy their sport
fulness as long as they can.
I commend also croquet, baseball,
lawn-tennis, hsherman's rod, sport
mans gun and scores of other out
door amusements. We need more
sunshine and exercise in our religion.
So many people sit around in the
store, Office and home without exer-
else until they become morbid and
bilious and they think everything is
going to the bad. In this great
battle of human life, we need stout
lungs, steady nerves and strong arms
In the summer time, there are so
many outdoor sports which will pro-
mote health and give recreation.
One of the happiest ways of anus
ing yourself is to watch for opportuni-
ties of doing good. If you are cross,
queer, sour and disgusting in your
home and on the street. just you start
out tomorrow morning and see how
many pleasant looks, cheerful words |
and kind deeds you can do. Ifyou see
a boy trying to get wheel-barrow
over a curbstone and fail, help him.
If you see sick person respondent,
give him a hearty hand shake and
cheerful look. If you go in one of
your friends places of business, tell |
him what nice store he has, and tell |
him you have some friends whom you
will introduce to him and will try and |
get them to trade with him. If you
see boy destitute, give him dime I
and see him hop, skip, run and jump |
The most magnificent recreation of
earth is to help somebody. You try
1t and see if you don't enjoy your
supper better, and find yourself
whistling around the store and sing
ing out in the yard and feel better
than you ever did before.
The object of amusement is not for
mere pleasure, but to give health and
recreation to your life. Any sport
that harms your spiritual or physical
nature is wrong.
There is not much fun in engaging
in anything which will harm you.
Some people think there is fun in
drinking. But when you see a
drunkard in which pain fills every
nerve, travels every muscle, gnaws at
every bone, stings every tissue; when
you see them going around with
bleared eyes, red noses, flushed
cheeks, and shattered bodies; when
you see their children ragged, and
starved, their homes desoIate, their
wives heart-broken, it is not very funny.
Some people think there is fun in
gambling. But when you see how it
developes the base in man, his pride
of skill, love of gain, fear, jealousy,
hatred; when you think how it leads
to sleepless nights, profuse drinking,
and congenial immortalities; when |
you see how he neglects his work,
grows unsteady and becomes unfaith-
full to his promises, how it vitiates the
Imagination, corrupts the tastes and |
destroys industry, how it is the parent |
and companion of every vice that
pollutes and corrupts society, it is not
very funny TO be gambler. Some
people think it is funny to sport with |