The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-02-18
SUNDAY BASEBALL
An Argumen, That Applies as Well TO
RFat,leboIo as 81, Adams.

] lAr following itum the Hartford iiisi
\ iimrs, - commended io the ihonshiiul
I consideration If serious minded proFlf
/ hrTrabUuis a. suggesting morr % hes ia
wfilN i sociological problem that punii"ni +.
- Aiisanr iUo although some II our guoi'
| iuienlione,l hurihHn iscisisiunily ignotc q 3
Father William Mclaughlin ii 81 IA,
gu,tinr's church lulon lilll, \, j., a..
laairyl 81 she NeW Irf-ey hon.r committee
hearing Monday Afternoon ~ adversary o
Asssmhlgman OlMrils mll io itmaNr the
restrictions against sunday baseball Tie
aid b. was not speaking iur the church
90 Niih iis sanction, bat MAS giving *
lifrssion o. hls personal view, based upon
" YEAR 81 church work,
Father Mclaughlin ,aid he ~, Il would
b. good thing for the morality IT young
mrn, and prfhap. their elders q sunday
baseball Wrre permitted, II would remove
them from many temptations aud 10 mum
crntl, Instances would substitute clean,
manly spou for the influences Of the ~
loon. lie concluded hy saving that II base
ball !. wrong on sunday u = wrong every
day ia the week.
The burden Of proof !. upon the oppo
-iiion 10 show that this minister Is wrong
-. Alhans could do no morr useful. no
more uplifting thing Tor IT, Nonth and
young men than TO set aside 4 few acre.
Of land ia a conveniently accessible location
Tor public recreation park. equip II with
facilities for the playing Of healthiul out
door sports such A. baseball tennis. Ia
crosse, lawn bowling, wrestling. boxing,
aud similar pastlmc-, and then TO set about
the cultivation Of a public policy that not
only would influence the young people 10
frequent this park but that would move
their elder 10 go there. too and by their
presence oversee the fun, keep It within
due bounds and at the same time give sane
ton. encouragement, and stimulation TO y.
Aud let that park be- open IN the favorable
seasons all the daylight hour seven DAYS
in the week. saving perhaps, the provision
that 1t should be closed during the hours
OF church services Sunday forenoon for rca.
sons that will suggest themselves 70 most
folks a. at least cXpedent
That would be a way to help raise a gen.
Grafton Of strong limbed. strong winded,
elear.headed. bright eyed
men TO take up the duties OF citizenship
here; men that had been taught 10 lind
their chief pleasure out IN the pure air and |
the sunshine during their years OF growth: |
men that had been taught that the building /
up of 1.-THE and athletic body by healthiul |
exercise and sport j. Just as much an act I
Of worship rs notifying the body by alb I
>tinence and fast: men that had been I
taught the spirit OF chivalry and sense of /
humor and fair play. the love Of justice and l
the contempt for cheating and toulng that
are bred in the sometimes rude but always
kindly give.andtake of manly sports and
contests; men that had been reared from
youth to grand and inspiring social inter
curse with all the decent men in their own
generation in the same community and
whose early acquaintance thus formed
ended TO prevent forever the growth OF
lass or sectional distrust and iealousles be
ause the men did know and understand
ach other and grew up together in a noble
of genuine American democ-
acy.
II st. Adams wants TO do something for
Ter boys and young men, let her begin by
eaching them how to play, by encouraging
hem to play, by providing the means for
,ay Character is formed in early youth !
n the playground Just as much as any !
lhere else, and sometimes even more. |
Wellington said the battle of Waterloo I
,as won on the cricket fields Of England l
uch public playground where the youth {
the city learned to fraternize and their I
ithers and elders taught them how by do Y
~ the same thing themselves. might off +
ct some of the temptations to young men b
hat are now providing the mischief that is +
,und for idle hands everywhere. o
Here is missionary work several miles Ii
MS side of India that will cost but very r
tile money and yield priceless dividends
/ healthy bodies and healthy minds
Move onl-St. Adams Messenger