The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-31
of Play and Relaxation Producing Health and Genuses
The Need of Recreation and
Amusement in Our Busy Amer
lean Life Demonstrated by
Science from the Frolics of
Animals, the Garden of Eden
Ideal. the Games of Ancient
Greece. the Beer Gardens of
Germany and the Lives of
Huxley and Darwin.
By Harlow Brooks MD

'iom a Lecture
BY Harlow Brooks, MD.
PROFESSOR OF Clinical Medicine in the Nc,o York
University
Given IN the Series OF Medical Lectures by
the Medical Society OF the Borough of tho
Bronx, Feb II, 1914.
A MoNG the primitive instincts OF all AMI.
~ NAL life are those of self-preeeryation
OF the desire for food and the perpetu.
alton OF species.
Claiming a very close Relationship n theaa
essential and insstent vital motives Is tbe de.
sire TO play We find this instinct manifestei
IN practically every grade of animal life from
the insect up to mankind The payfulness Of
the kitten, the games of birds and even tboaa
OF reptiles are matters of the most Common.
place and certain scientific observation Tbo
irohcs OF puppies OF colts. OF young calves and
a.. manner OIL our wild friends but most bean.
titul OF all the pranks OF our own babies arc
30 commonplace and SO much part and mar.
eel OF life in It's happier aspects thar -,
Out 10 recall them to you to induce you to a..
cept with me that play is indeed an essent,a,
ana primitive part OF all animal life
IL 10 also readily shown that in mos, q,
STANCES the plays OF youth under natural con-
oitlons and in all grades OF the SCALE ., evo.
iuton are largely preparatory for the sterner
oohsatons OF adult life. The higher we a.
cenu IN the iaoder OF mental and nervous de-
seiopments the more marked and evident doe.
.n's instinct OF play become and the greater It's
necessity. You are then. | hope, prepared to
accept with me the axiom that play and re
Taxation are part OF life Itself and since wa
nnd no such general instinct in nature with.
out deep and important purpose, We must
assume that in some way play is necessary
part OF lifc and that as life becomes more com.
plicated the necessity for 1t becomes the
greater.
Mans recognition OF this fact goes back as
far as history. and the very earliest OF history
tells US that Adam and Eve were given one
everlasting holiday. and had 1t not been for
that very unfortunate vegetarian fad of our
hrst militant ancestor, 1t is quite probable
that we all should be this very day iovfully
gamboi!ng about some beautiful park instead
or considering the wherewithal shall we be
clothed and the office for tomorrow and the
rent day of Laxt MONTH
All the great nations OF history have recog.
nized the need for relaxation and recreation
We see this demonstrated even by the storm
Spartans in their games and BY their feas.
DAYS. IL is also evidenced by the art OF ancient
Greece and II Is manifested to-day by our public
parks. concerts. art collections, athletic games
and geological gardens Practically every
government. be 1t more be 1t less patcrnal
In type, has arranged for the play and relaxa.
ton of its people The festas OF the Latin
people, the beer gardens and glorious music
OF those serious-minded scientists. the Ger.
HidilS, are out eVlQenCeS OF this imDelling In.
stinct and the necessity OF its normal gratih-
cation for the public welfare. Even our own
Government has taken cognizance of this In.
structve demand, and we see It recognized in
the establishment OF national Fairgrounds
such as the Yellowstone and Glacier National
Parks. Hardly now State or city of any
pretense but what has It's Yosemite its Pros
pect Park, or its Bronx Zoo.
Napoleon's greatness was no more mani.
rested by his great military operations than In
his constructive establishment of art collec-
1Onc ONT ne
and or the numerous similar institutions OF
france. Perhaps we should have even for
gotten Great Caesars conquests had he not
amused himself by the writing OF them down.
This is form of amusement however which
am afraid some OF you in common with my
sell may have looked upon as anything but
attempting to describe that crucial bridge
So great n statesman as Patrick Henry even
gave the object of life "the pursuit of happi
ness"
National, State and Municipal Governments
despotic or popular. have thus since the time of
history made the subject of play and relaxa.
tion serious study and public care We
near OF city opera, of State theatres, and pub
lie Fairgrounds. Many, If not most Of these,
are designed not much to educate as to
amuse and to relax, and their establishment ia
a recognition of that instructive craving within
us for play and diversion, instinct which
then demands thoughtful attention.
In our convalescent wards at the hospitals
we have found the necessity Of the visiting
quartette OF the photograph. the books, games
and of the pictures designed to entertain and
divert All these subjects have under such
circumstances become matters OF grave study
and careful supervision. We have our pro-
fessonal play instructors. just as certain of
the birds, the partridge family for example.
have also theirs. The storytellers OF the
Romans, of the Norsemen or those Of our own
Americans, the Apaches the Comanches.
are replaced by the trained story-tellers of our
city libraries and public schools.
But although every one must recognize these
general facts as l have stated them, how infre-
quently 1t is that we hear of any person care.
fully and studously arranging for his play and
relaxation. This Is the point to which / wish
to especially call your attention this evening.
for / am convinced that there is great need
for the individual to carefully instruct himself
in these matters. great medical scientist
and teacher CDR. v. c. Vaughn) was accus.
toned to tell his students that perhaps quite
as much OF success in life depended on the
selection of hobby or form Of relaxation, as in
the choice Of profession.