Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-15
OUR CHILDREN
Training for Leisure.
BIZ ANGELO PATRI.

It Is not enough that we train chill
dren to work, to earn a living, to be
successful" Material success, a daily
job may be the ruin of a human being,
in that it cuts off all spiritual growth.
The work of the world is to be done
by machinery. More and more OF the
drudgery is handed over to the machine.
The hours of labor are shortened and the
leisure time is growing greater by year.
It Is the proper use of this leisure time
that will save us. We must prepare
children to use it wisely and well.
Art is the highest expression of the
hand and mind. A bit of beauty feeds
the soul that would otherwise starve in
a material world. What that bit of
beauty is to be must depend upon the
taste and ability of the one most inter-
ested. Music will fill the need of one,
color and form will bring Joy to another.
But the enjoyment of some sort Of art,
an appreciation of one or many of its
phases Is essential.
A man or woman needs to have some
interest apart from his work. If he is
to possess that gift when he is old. 1t
must be indicated to him in childhood.
He must be given an opportunity to
develop his taste: his power, his gift,
whatever it may be, so that in the leis-
ure time to come he will find comfort
and solace in 1t.
The gifted few can do creative work.
To make something lovely not only adds
to the Joy of the creator but it adds to
it is nothing more than a clay pot. If
it was made in sincerity, in joy. 1t is a
thing of beauty and a way that leads
out of darkness into light. The pleas
ure, the uplift bit of creative work
returns to its maker is what makes the
difference between life of gorgeous
color and one that is fiat and drab and
dreary.
To know beauty when one sees it is
an art in itself The recognition of a
fine piece of work, the discovery Of a
masterpiece gives the soul thrill that
changes the day into a state Of trans
cendent bliss.
Along with creative work and appre-
citation comes the Joy of collecting.
Nothing quite equals the transport of a
collector when he makes find. All the
trouble of life drops below the level of
living which is raised sky high. Food
and raiment are as nothing compared to
this treasure. To know what Is lovely
and discover 1t for ones self and to
make it ones own? What more could
the heart desire?
Some measure of this / would crave
for every child in the schools. Offer
them a great variety of experiences
Open all the doors Of beauty to them
and let them enter at will. Flood them
with color and music and literature
Make them acquainted with the great
songs, with the grand poems, with the
majestic prose of the masters. Offer
them ALL. but insist upon none, for
beauty can never be forced into re-
sisting spirit.
In this training for leisure there must
ever be the atmosphere of leisure. APP
probation apd culture and power cannot
be gained between trains. 1t must seep
in slowly and through the years Of
growth, so that when maturity arrives
the spirit is ready to receive it in beauty.
Make a place of Importance for this
training in the child's daily program,
for his avocation may be more inpor-
tant to his ultimate success than his
vocation.
(Copyrigi1t 1927