Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1919-04-10
Y. nj. C. A. FURNISHES
PROPER AMUSEMENT

cussions by people of authority and
among ourselves individually. / am
quite sure we have all asked our
selves these questions: SIS this kind
of amusement right? Is this kind
of amusement wrong?" We try to
answer these questions to the best
of our ability, but are we entirely
satisfied? / know that had these
questions to worry me, and ! have
asked my pastor what he thought
about them. He would give me his
| views on the matter, but it did not
wholly satisfy me, and I have come
to the conclusion that it is matter
left entirely with the individual.
The kind of amusement that would
interest me, perhaps would not in
terest you. We all do not have the
same inclinations along this line,
therefore the many forms of amuse-
ment.
The process of recreation differs
as an individual differs. One man
will find sufficient recreation in
working in his garden, others in
/ hunting, another in kodaking, an
other in seeing a moving picture.
Still others will delight in tennis,
basketball, baseball, football, horse
back xiding, automobiling or in sight
seeing. Every person should adjust
/ his form of recreation to his consti-
| tutional or temperamental needs.
Amusement is necessary for our
best individual and social living, as
sail work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy" Let us make provision
for it in our gram of life, but while
we arrange this program of our life,
let us stop and see where the evil
enters into some of our amusements.
1t is easy to spend too much time
in places of amusement. At this
point our enjoyment loses its recre-
ational value and becomes a positive
drag to life.
Amusements are often attended by
evil associations that destroy their
value as recreations. The public
dancehalls, the poolrooms. anr race
tracks are usually filled with idle and
vicious characters, and one runs the
risks in seeking amusements of this
nature.
Some amusements cultivate habit
for gambling playing cards for in
stance. / am not at all in favor Of
church and charity organizations
raising money by so-called innocent
chance-taking. I do not believe that
God meant for US to raise money for
his cause in this form, and from my
point of view it is wrong and inn
moral.
Where we seek our form of amuse-
ment in public places we have to be
continually on our guard. It is true
the crowd has a peculiar influence
upon the individual In the crowd
there are impulses and actions which
no individual would sanction apart
from the crowd.
In church with worshipping con-
gregation the individual is lifted high
above his normal and isolated life.
In a crowd, at a motion picture show,
circus and street fairs the undertows
grip him and sweep him far beyond
his ordinary moorings; therefore it is
best that we should always be on our
guard against amusements that have
a tendency to pull us down.
One of the best places of amuse-
ment for men and boys is the Y. NJ.
G.. A., and for girls and women, the
Y. w. C. A. There are found the
right kind of amusements and the
right environment.
True and rational amusements are
a great force in the educating and
upbuilding of character. All pure
joy is helpful; all pure art leaves its
touch of beauty. Pure music sings
itself into our hearts. Laughter
makes life SUMMER; it sweeps the
clouds from the sky, shakes off many
a care, smoothes out many wrinkle
and dries many a tear. Pure pleas
ure sweetens many a bitter hearts
fountain and many a gloomy thought.
"A merry heart doeth good like
medicine" and any pure pleasure
that will make the heart glad, the
life brighten and fill the soul with
joy and singing are amusements that
are worth while
We need, most Of us, to plan more
amusements, especially more home
pleasures. l believe that more boys
and girls are ruined because they go
out into the world to seek amusement
and to be amused, and there they
come in contact with pleasures that
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