The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-01-13
THE CARNIVAL.


| When the pagans of old desired
to give periodical freedom to I'M
| restrained impulses they instituted
a festival in honor Of some god
or goddess. Ordinarily these festi-
walls were somewhat religious in
form, but they later degenerated
into orgies Of unbridled passion.
The Catholic Church in Christian
ling the barbarians who over
ran the old Roman Empire, also
civilized them. She instituted festi-
walls that tended to give free play,
within certain limits, to the nat
ural warnings Of mankind for oc-
caslOnal recreation. Amusements
and entertainment Of an innocent
kind were provided, and the peo-
! pie profited thereby both spirit
ually and materially.
At the present day there is an
institution i'll our midst in this
country which is neither spiritual
nor pagan in it's nature. 1t is
called the Carnival. The object
Of the promoters Of a Carnival,
such as st. Paul is soon to witness,
usually is a most laudable one.
They desire to furnish lawful en-
tertamment for the citizens, to in
crease business sales, and to adj
veftise abroad the peculiar merits
Of our city and, its people. Surely
this three-fold object is in itself
most commendable. Now, psychol-
ogy shows us that when the emo
lions are unduly aroused they are
apt to become extreme and to go
off at a tangent. Many things
tend to unduly excite the sensi-
bilities, especially of the young.
The fact that a festival costume
is worn does not by any manner
of means indicate that the ordi-
nary formalities and niceties of
civilized life are to be dispensed
with.
. During the. excitement Of car
nival festivities the young are fire.
-quently led on to commit excuses
from which in their saner mo-
ments they would recoil with a
shuddcr. 1t has been affirmed,
and as vigorously denied, that
past events of this nature have
produced much immortality in our
city. The plain fact known to
many is that a great deal Of i'm
morality has resulted, in spite Of
all denials to the contrary. Mem
bers Of clubs and Dispensers of in
toXicantS,, not to mention other
parties, will testify to the truth of
this statement. Professional men
could also add somewhat to the
evidence.
While not attempting to in any
way condemn the Carnival as
such, we wish most emphaticalIy
to bring before the notice of par
ents and other responsible persons
the fact that great perils Turk in
the path of those civic pageants.
Parents should be especially on
the alert as to the whereabouts Of
their boys and girls, the nature Of
their associates during this time,
and the responsibility of those in
charge Of the various clubs. It is
nothing short. Of sheer crime on.
the part Of parents or guardians
to allow those in their charge to.
take part in these celebrations
without proper protection. Youth
is naturally impulsive; it is sway
ed by emotions, and easily led on
by the contagion of example, espe-
clally when example means pleas
6ure. We trust that Catholic par
ents, at least, will not indulge in
any foolish notions that their boys
and girls are better or stronger
than others. A boy lis always a
boy, and a girl but a mere girl,
with all the inherent weaknesses
Of youth when there is question Of
unusual opportunities for unre-
strained and apparently per-
mitted enjoyment.