Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-13
USE OF LEISURE
VITAL TO NATION
SO SAYS MIR. ARTHUR POUND
WHO SPOKE IN CHAPEL ON
FRIDAY MORNING.

Alma College was indeed fortunate
Friday morning in having the plea
sure of hearing Mr.. Arthur Pound,
well known newspaper man and au-
thor of a much discussed series Of
articles in the Atlantic Monthly to say
nothing of his being former class
mate of Professor Hamilton. Mr..
Pound added spice to his talk by the
clever interspersion of a number of
very funny stories. He dealt with the
forces which have destroyed civiliza
tion in the past and which threaten to
destroy our own. He emphasized the
value of general education as play
ing an important part in preserving
our present civilization.
The history Of the world, said Mr..
Pound. is the story of rude, virile,
barbarous peoples overcoming civil
cations, succumbing to their luxuries
and vices, and then being conquered
themselves. He then sketched briefly
the history of the various nations and
races. While the Norsemen were car
rying out their primitive political and
social ideas, and were yet strength
ened by hardships that attend an early
civilization, the Chinese had already
achieved a luxurious state of living
and had become static state Al
though China had been overrun at
various times by the different tribes,
such as the Mongols, she had not been
destroyed by the ruder clements, be-
cause the invading peoples had chosen
to accept the Chinese luXuries, and
extravagant misuse of leisure. The
result of this was that these various
peoples had, in the course of few
generations, become absorbed into the
decaying civilization of the Chinese.
The story is the same in connection
with the Greeks. They were a sturdy
race. They had developed a civiliza-
tion of culture and intellectual attain
ments, of political strength, and Of
physical perfection. Yet all this was
lost when through conquest the
Greeks became infused with the indo-
lence and love Of leisure of their sub
ject peoples.
The history of tho greatest nations
is the history of the creditor nations.
Until recently England was the
creditor nation of the world, but now
that distinction has passed to the
United States. This, said Mr.. Pound,
is no reason for praise or self salts
faction. 1t is the most dangerous
thing that can happen to any nation,
and it is the stage that has preceded
the downfall Of the greatest nations
in the history Of the world. The true
character of our nation is not wealth,
it is the puritan home, the Abraham
Lincoln,-it is rather the character
of the people. Our country today has
everything that historians have as
cribed to the fall of Rome, and in ad-
dition it has narcotics and adulterated
booze. The introduction Of machin-
cry has 'done away with the crafts
men, thus taking the personality out
of labor. Most of the occupations now
are sedentary, and strength is no
longer a primary requisite for days
work. The eight hour day has given
people a great amount Of leisure, and
this is used chiefly in patronizing
commercial amusements.
1t is the use of this leisure that will
in the final analysis determine whcth-
or the nation will crumble or continue
TO grow. If the vices of our ingen-
ious civilization continue to absorb
the leisure time of the people, then
the American Eagle will soon be
stuffed and put in glass cage along
side of the Roman Eagle. Recreation
is a wonderful occupation Of leisure
time, and the amateurish viewpoint
of sports must be emphasized if re-
creation is to be of any avail. 1t must
be INDUCED in by all. The creates
thing, however, is cultural education.
The man who operates machine has
no chance to express his personality.
He has no interest in life. Hence this
interest must DE provided, and cul-
tural education is the interest that
will elevate the people to a higher
plane Of civilization and keep them
there. AS to definite program Mr..
Pound had none, saying that it was n
problem for the people themselves to
work out