SOME SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS AS TO AMUSEMENTS.
By Editor
A NUMBER of years ago the old Christian Union of New York gave six general principles as a help to the individual, perhaps, in deciding such questions as, Shall I play poker? Is it right to play cards? to go to the theater? to play billiards? to dance? We reprint a portion of this article for the benefit of those who are troubled by the same questions: 1. When you are in Rome do NOT do as the Romans do? There are questions which majorities must determine; there are questions which each soul must determine for itself. The still, small voice of conscience ought to be louder than the noisy clamor of the multitude. Even rabbis and priests may lead the cry of Crucify Him! Crucify Him! What everybody does may be right; but is quite as likely to be wrong. That everybody goes to bull-baiting in Spain does not make bull-baiting right; that everybody goes to the theater in New York does not make theater-going right. Neither does it make either wrong. Majorities do not determine moral questions. There is no presumption in favor and none against what everybody does. Everybody is just about as apt to go wrong as right. Do not follow the flock of sheep over the wall. Look for yourself where you leap. The whole law is not fulfilled in this one word, Thou shalt not be odd. Because everybody waltzes may be an excellent reason why you should refuse. . . . 3. Keep on the safe side of certainty. "He that doubteth is condemned if he eateth." Whatever is doubtful is dangerous; whatever is dangerous it is safe to let alone. Take a piece of paper and write down on it all the amusements that you are doubtful about. You wish that some one would tell you whether these are right or not. The interrogation mark tells you; for you they are wrong. Cross them all off the list of possible recreations so long as the interrogation mark is there. If the interrogation mark is ever removed, still leave them crossed off for at least six months. There are enough amusements that are not doubtful. There is ice enough that is strong; do no skating on thin ice. 4. The pleasure which is more pleasurable than your work is to be taken with caution. We do not say that it is to be discontinued, nor even that it is doubtful, but that it is to be taken with caution. So long as a man enjoys his work more than he enjoys his pleasure, his pleasure is comparatively safe. The great danger is from a mind given over to pleasure; the great safe-guard is a mind consecrated to its work. If the mother enjoys the party more than her children, to her the party is dangerous; if the student enjoys cards, more than books, to him cards are dangerous; if the clerk enjoys the theater more than the counting-room, to him the theater is dangerous. Be on your guard against pleasures which are more delightful than duties. "Nonsense! we must then be on guard against all pleasures?" Very well! Be on guard against all pleasures. It will do you no harm. If your work is a dull routine, any pleasure may become a seductive temptation. 5. *For "What is the harm?" substitute "What is the good?" What is the harm of cards, of dancing, of billiards, of the theater? Bury that pernicious question. Never ask it again. Substitute another. What is the good? Life is too short to waste any of it in things that are merely harmless. Devote it, the whole of it, every hour and minute of it, to what will do you or some one some good. Whatever bears no fruit, cut it down; why cumbereth it your little ground? You have none to spare. Does the evening game of cards quicken your faculties for the next day's work? Does the evening dance give you a better appetite for the next morning's breakfast? Does the game of billiards send you back to your desk with new zest for your labors? Does the theater purify your imagination, or broaden your sympathies, or quicken your sensibilities? We are asking questions, not answering them. That we leave for you to do. We can readily understand that there is no universal answer to them; that different readers will give different answers. Then let different readers have different practises. 6. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. You have no right to consider the effect of doubtful amusement merely upon yourself. You must consider their effect on others; on your companions, on the community. You must apply all these principles to this larger problem—the public good and the public evil. You will not play with fire if your neighbor will thereby be burned. You will not even warm yourself by a fire, if that fire, once lighted, will set the woods on fire. Is it safe for me? Is it useful to me? Is it safe for the community? Is it useful to the community? Put these questions to every recreation which offers itself to you and to your family. If you never do what everybody does, because everybody does it; if you never judge your neighbor by yourself, or yourself by your neighbor; if you cross off from your list every amusement which has in your own mind a question mark after it; if you are always on your guard against pleasures that are more pleasurable than your work; and if you never do anything if there is injury in it to you or your neighbor, nor unless there is benefit in it to you or your neighbor—you will be able to solve most of the perplexing questions of social life and amusement to your own final satisfaction; tho probably not to the satisfaction of all the rest of mankind.