The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
OUTDOOR CULTURE
NEEDED, He Says
Dr.. Hawthorne, in New Lecture,
Describes One of Problems
of To-day.
FAIRGROUNDS FOR CHILDREN
Aim Should BE Not Money-Mak-
ing or Mind Making, but
Bodybuilding.
FAIRGROUNDS FOR CHILDREN

Expressing his appreciation to the
pastor and to the great audience as
sembed to hear h i'm. the Rev. DR.. j. d.
Hawthorne delivered in the First Zap
fist Church last night for the first time
his new lecture. "Air, Sunshine and
Outdoor Living" which during next
week will be repeated in several OF
the largest cities of the Southern
States, notably those in which the
we'll known minister formerly preached.
Opening his address, Or. Hawth orne
said that during the last forty years
of the nations life there has been a
steady and growing tendency among
the people of the United States gem
orally to locate in the cities. 1--WE are,
he declared, pre- -eminently city
building people. In the rapidly with
which we have multiplied and enlarged
our centres of population, we have
surpassed any other people on the
globe Only 80 per cent. of the popu-
lation OF the New England States now
inhabit the rural districts, and this dis
proportion between city and country
population will soon be as great in
other States of the Union as 1t is there
The Grent Problem.
According to DR.. Hawthorne the
greatest problem of American govern
ment to-day is that of controlling the
population of the cities. AS a rule the
rural sections are peaceable. law-abld-
ing and patriotic; they require but
little governmental supervision and re-
straint. Drunkards, gamblers. dead
beats. cutthroats and thieves abound in
the city, and the chief danger to society
lies in the fact that the cities domi-
nate the country and dictate the policy
of government.
City life of necessity means indoor
life. City people spend by far the
greater part OF their lives in houses.
Nine-tenths of the anusements are in
doors; the games the children play are
nursery and parlor games. The amuse-
ments OF people. no less than their
business, shape the character OF the
nation.
The late Colonel cutshaw." said Dr.
Hawthorne. was heard to say again
and again that one OF the greatest
needs of Richmond and of every other
city in America is more playground
for the children; that the absence of
such facilities Will tell fatally on the
rising generation. You cannot grow
boys into strong men by any sort of
indoor culture. They must have the
ministry OF the open air. the direct
rays of the SUM- and the freedom Of
the fields and woods and streams.
Let us cease babying our boys and
making dolls of our girls. The problem
OF this country in the next thirty years
is not one of money-making or mind
making. but OF body making"
Like IN Engine.
Showing additional causes for Ill
health in the life in cities. he said that
IF we would break up our furnaces
and put o!d-fashioned fire places
even the open crate In their places we
would prove that at least we are not
stupid. and that we are too sensible
to pay men for killing us with what
they are pleased to call modern con-
veniences and comforts, which are SIM
ply new inventions for abbrev!ating
human life"
The human system he said, is like
an engine; it can run fast and far, but
the time comes when it must be slowed
up and must go into the shops for re-
pairs. Blessed is the man." he cx-
claimed. who knows how to be lazy
and to loaf. for that is an experience
which indicates a real suspension of
bodily and mental exertion. Sleep any,
whore and under any conditions Is to
q CeI tdiu QtSIee TeSll VI 10 Tie weary
man. but of all natures restoratives
it is best and sweetest when we get it
out Of DOORS"
Laughing Animal.
DR.. Hawthorne described man as n
laughing animal-the only one on this
planet-and declared that this charac-
teristic marks his superiority over the
brute. No one laughs Well who does
not laugh loud.
Passing to the spiritual good to be
obtained by communion with nature,
he said that 1t furnishes the inspiration
for worship and the practical activities
of Christian life which one can get
from no other source. The men who
wrote the Bible We're saturated with
the truth and beauty of God as they
saw 1t in nature far from the rush and
roar of the city. Great men in all
other walks of life have gained their
measure of greatness from communion
with nature.