The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-09-21

at more eNluelt anu telllug III the
great crowded centrs of our popula-
ton.
Workers in the Associated Chart
ties find many distressing ccndi-
tions, almost too sad to depict. aud
ct these things. says Howard S.
Braucher, Secretary of the Play
ground Association of America.
hunger. cold. less of shelter. and
needless pain. these are indeed
tragedies. but they are not the great
est; they are surpassed. he says. by
one great climax of tragedy. "that
of dwarfsd. unresponsive. starved,
aud joylass life" The former often
lcals with but externals. but tn
after deals with tie spirit itself.
Il u. latter. the body is found liz
ne after tie spirit Is dead. 81 ~,
cf food. fuel. even the lack of a
home. is no such tragedy as the lack
of life.
This joyless, cherries. purpose
less existence is further depicted
thus by Mr.. Braneher; PHO, Pub.
Recreation Facilities)
Youthful philanthropists of all
ages have lectured on the improve
idence of the poor, and have told
interesting stories of clothing. given
for warmth, pawned for the price
of theatre ticket; of whole fami-
lies, going to the circus when there
was no bread for supper. One who
knew what was in the hearts of
men and understood their need
spoke wisely when he said: Nan
shall not live by bread alone. 1t is
far more pathetic to find families
whose only yearning is for bread,
than it is to find families whose
bread. money is paid for theatre
tickets. When the yearning for
Measure las disappeared tie spirit
is dead, life has fled. 1t NAV lie
that hopelessness is better than
vice. but it Is easier for tine social
worker to deal with the 'love IF
pleasure gene wrong. than with
deafness.
''The lowest inferno Is reac' ed
when the mother. who should be the
inspiration of her children. BY te1
daily routine of drudgerv in carine
for her thirteen children. ioiliu4
for theml early and late. has so sap
ped her own energy that all heF
labor gives them nothing but 4
physical return. and they see hen
only as a machine. thing like the
rest of the furniture OF tie home
with few added attributes. suc'
as motion. No Sundays. no holt
days. nO days off. no rest hours. un-
til finally she realizes she is dead
1t is especially tragic when the per.
sen is conscious that the life is DIV
ing, and vet seems unable to pre-
vent 1T.
sit Is said that certain insect
fastens itself upon the apple tree
and draws its nourishmenf from the
sap. When it has fastened itself
upon the tree and has ceased to
move about, part after part drops
off from disuse until the insect has
lost all power except that of re-
production and of drawing its fooo
from the tree. 1t has thus come
merely to exist. This is a true pie.
ture of some men and women. and
represents one of the greatest TRACE
dies knOwn-existence which seems
to have become purposeless.
And who is responsible for this
case. given also by Mr.. Braucher:-
"For twenty years, | have work
ed at the same task in the shop
said a spiritless man in Portland
Maine, unable to procure work. "Iu
the morning. he had gone to hi:
labor, and bent his back to the
days toll. At night. he had return
ed tired to his home. He retired
early, and he next morning awaken
ed to repeat the monotony of the
day previous. For him. there had
been no dissipation. no religious
eestacy, only working, eating, sleep
ing. working. eating. sleepine. Ry
making himself piece of racfin-
erv he had made it impossible. fcI
him to preserve the elasticity which
accompanies life. AS piece OF
~achinerv he tegan to show signs Of
wear. He was replaced. He hal
hardened into the mold into which
he had allowed himself to be placed
He could not then change himself
except by miracle, ana this he was
not able to perform. what has
,.een YOUR recreation?" he was ask
ed. "My ten dollars week was
needed for my family was the
repl5. "Who sinned, this man OF
society. CT both-that his spirit be-
came blind that lis rlav shirt died
that he WIS not kept fresh. strong
- --ree'elj u ra"reation of the
right sore? The play spirit hepi
strong throughout life, presuppose.
that the child has been taught
resourcefulness in play. and has
learned how to turn his leisure time
into advantage and power pill