Talks to Young Men: IX, Amusements and Pleasures

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TALKS TO THE YOUNG MEN.

IX— AMUSEMENTS AND PLEASURES.

He who takes pains to foster joy accomplishes a work as profitable for humanity as he who builds bridges, pierces tunnels, or cultivates th« ground. So to order one's life, as to keep amid toils and suffering, the faculty of happiness, and be able to propagate it in a sort of salutary contagion among one's fellows, is to do a work of fraternity in the noblest sense. To give a trifling pleasure, smoothe an anxious brow, bring a little light into dark paths —what a divine office in the midst of this poor humanity! But it is only in great simplicity of heart that one succeeds infilling it. The Simple Life. — Chas. Wagner. We are now fairly into the season of pleasure. Spring, with her fitful spells of shower and sun, is past. Summer with her generous invitations summons all to partake of her bounteous pleasures. She spreads out before us a panorama of enchant- ment; green field and verdant grove; lazy streams winding through placid meadow, and mountain solitude and grandeur. Shady walks and long beguiling eventide. To all these, and many more, summer says, with winning voice: "Boyant youth, these are yours, enjoy them while they remain." There is no sterner moralist than pleasure. —Byron. To our young men, we wish to say a word or two, before they make up their minds as to what this summer's pleasures shall be. In the first place, let us not be misunderstood on the subject of pleasure- seeking. We believe it is natural and essentially whole- some to seek and obtain pleasure. If we were to rate people in

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this world it would not be by the money they have, and the wealth that surrounds them, but by the joy they have, and the happifying influences that are about them. Happiness is true wealth, and the absence of it is most piteous beggary. It is as natural for youth to seek pleasure as for the flower to reach out toward the sun. But we would carry our figure still farther, and remind the youth that tender shrubs and plants very often get more sun than their delicate nature can endure; and, unless tha.shelter of moderation is thrown over them, the autumn sun sees them a withered wreck to be blown away by her winds. Pleasures, or wrong or rightly understood; our greatest evil, or our greatest good. —Pope. We believe that many become cloyed and surfeited by exces- sive pleasures. Their appreciation becomes benumbed, and they go to fatal excesses, in order to stimulate their sense of pleasure. When one reaches this state, he loses what he set out for because his sense of pleasure is destroyed by the sin of intemper- ance. Joy comes from within, and must be fostered and nourished by self-discipline and simplicity. If solid happiness we prize, Within our breast this jewel lies; * *

The world has nothing to bestow; From our own selves our joys must flow. —Cotton. We believe our Church is as liberal in providing for, and as considerate of the entire needs of, its members, as anyjike organi- zation could be. During the arduous journeys of the pioneers, and after their arrival in the valleys of the mountains, their leader showed deep insight into human nature by finding proper amuse- ments for the toiling and struggling men and women with him. At night they danced in child-like innocence and conviviality. Halls for social enjoyment and culture were erected, and dedicated to those noble purposes. These were finally displaced by more pretentious theaters and opera houses. No straight-laced and sanctimonious sectarians could have borne the burden of the pio- neers. They would have broken under the strain. A hard-working and persistant, plodding people, must, if they succeed, have hours and days of relaxation. And the flower of their joy will be rooted in their toil.

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As with a people, so with the individual. Young men, we would have you pleasure-seekers, but would remind you that true enjoy- ment is a flower that grows not in the garden of aimless pursuit and frivolity, but its roots reach down deep through the dust of superficiality and idleness, into the sub-soil of honest and contin- ued effort. If you wish to enjoy a holiday, be sure that work days

precede it. We believe that proper and pure amusements should be pro- vided for the youths of our Church. And we wish to suggest to those in charge of ward affairs that many of our young men and maidens fair, failing to find their desires for amusement gratified

within, go outside in pursuit of it. Then is taken the first step

that leads them away from the protecting care of the Church. It often results, as far too many broken-hearted parents know, in

misery and woe. To obviate this unhappy result, we suggest that more atten- tion be given to local amusements. Let old and young mingle together in dance and sociable, for there is no time when the youth needs the influence of a parent or wise friend, more than when in the enchantment of pleasure. More pure souls, and hearts unsullied, have been led by the care- less hand of pleasure, and sacrificed upon the altar of sin, than have

fallen in battle,.or perish in plague.

This the danger which we would point out to our youth. is there is Pleasure with moderation is necessary and harmless, but a danger line which can only be crossed with peril. Your own conscience or sense of right and safety stands, like an angel of

light, to warn you of the danger line before you cross it.

"Sure as the night follows the day, Death treads in Pleasure's footsteps round the world, When Pleasure treads the path which Reason shuns." intellectual The highest pleasures are those which are allied to things. We know that for the weary and hard-worked man or and heart, there woman, whose cares weigh heavily on the mind "knits up the raveled should be that abandon which relaxes and youth. sleeve of care." But they are not often found among the been Therefore, we suggest that after the physical demands have

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supplied by games of a healthy and enjoyable character, that the intellectual needs be looked after.

Don't spend all of these summer evenings in frivolity.

Form literary clubs, or reading classes. Spend one evening a week with Eugene Field, or Tennyson, or any of our well-approved authors. You will find them only too delighted to meet with you, if you'll but extend the invitation to them, and make proper prep- aration for their welcome before hand. You know, they feel very awkward in the company of strangers. They like to be very close to their associates, and their sense of pride is slightly touched when they encounter some one who is totally unacquainted with them. So, to make them real welcome, learn all you can about them and their works, then you are sure to have an enjoyable time in their company. We have known of men of musical ability drawing a score of boys around them and teaching them to sing. They formed glee- clubs and on moonlight nights would go around the ward and sere- nade their parents. This is the highest kind of pleasure. It is

an educating, character-building and soul saving pleasure. It will

be an eternal joy. Let us conclude by reading a page from The Simple Life: "I wish to say in substance what cannot be too often repeated:

"If you wish youth to be moral, do not neglect its pleasures, or leave to chance the task of providing them.

"You will say that young people do not like to have their amusements submitted to regulations, and that, besides, in our day, they are already over-spoiled and divert themselves only too much. I shall reply, first, that one may suggest ideas, indicate direc- tions, offer opportunities for amusements, without making any regu- lations whatever. In the second place, I shall make you see that you deceive yourselves in thinking youth has too much diversion. Aside from amusements that are artificial, enervating and immoral, that blight youth instead of making it bloom in splendor, there are very few left today. Abuse, that enemy of legitimate use, has so befouled the world, that it is becoming difficult to touch anything but what is unclean; whence watchfulness, warnings, and endless prohibitions. One can hardly stir without encountering something

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that resembles unhealthy pleasure. Among young people of today, particularly the self-respecting, the dearth of amusements causes real suffering. One is not weaned from his generous wine without discomfort. Impossible to prolong this sort of affairs without deepening the shadow round the heads of the younger generation. We must come to their aid. * * * We bequeath them cares, hard questions, a life heavy with shackles and complexities. Let us at least make an effort to brighten the morning of their days. Let us interest ourselves in their sports, find them pleasure ground, open to them our hearts and our homes. Let us bring the family into our amusements. Let gayety cease to be a commodity of export. Let us call in our sons, whom our gloomy interiors send out into the street, and our daughters, moping in dismal solitude. Let us multiply anniversaries, family parties, and excursions. Let us raise good humor in our homes to the height of an institution. Let the schools, too, do their part. Let masters and students -schoolboys and college boys— meet together of tener for amusement. It will be so much the better for the serious work. There is no such aid to understand one's professor as to have laughed in his company; and conversely to be well understood, a pupil must be met elsewhere than in class or examination. "And who will furnish the money? What a question! That is exactly the error. Pleasure and money; people take them for the two wings of the same bird! A gross illusion ! Pleasure, like

all other truly precious things in this world, cannot be bought or

sold. you wish to be amused you must do your part toward it, If

that is the essential. There is no prohibition to open your purse, and find it desirable. But I assure you it is not if you can do it,

indispensible. Pleasure and simplicity are two old acquaintances. Entertain simply, meet your friends simply. If you come from work well doie, are as amiable and geniune as possible towards

your companions, and speak no evil cf the absent, your success is

sure."