Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.

men instead of improving in this respect , seem to have made this failing so gradually predominant that , in too many cases , no merrymaking seems to be complete without it . For once , though , we think our friends wrong in their estimate of usfor what

, they deem sadness , we take to be earnestness ; for we are sufficiently self-conceited to consider that the great feature of John Bull is thoroughness . There have been times when our lively neighbours have found us terribly in earnestand if we are

, earnest in war , we are the same in peace ; if thorough in work , the same in play . Surely it behoves us then to direct this earnestness of ours , even in our amusements , into some worthy channel . Before advancing further let us not be

misunderstood as advocating what is known as the " goody" school , but simply of pointing out in the course of our investigations in what way our recreation may be as innocently as usefully pursued . We say usefully because we have already ( in a former paper ) shown that recreation is as

necessary to a man ' s health , mental and bodily , as oil to machinery ; nay even more than this , we have proved to demonstration that rational amusement , not only makes the wheel of life run smoothly on its axlebut that the time spent therein

, , is just that necessary opportunity that nature embraces to make good the wear and tear , caused in her machinery by the ravages of handiwork and mental toil . Whilst there are as many modes of recreation as there are individual bodies and

their individual minds , it is of course impossible to lay down any code of rules by which every individual unit of Society is to be amused , and we can therefore only pretend to suggest some few general princi ples . Nor again shall we stop to give more than a -passing glance at the

sports of the " well-to-do , " as our present purpose is rather to attempt the amelioration of the condition of those amongst us who , for lack of more rational and healthful amusement , are but too often driven to those low pleasures which

" Like the Dead Sea apples , Turn but to ashes on the lips . " Be it , then , distinctly understood that , having the well-being of our poorer

brethren at heart , our real intention now is to point out the way in which we can induce them to amuse themselves in a manner as conducive to their material health and moral welfare as to their bodily p leasure and mental happiness .

In a former paper we have suggested that " Volunteering" whilst rendering our English youth more than possibly useful in the hour of danger to then - country , will serve to provide many , whose bent lies in that direction , with much healthy

recreation ; now let us mention two or three sources of amusement which , with less restraint , will afford most young men capital opportunities for muscular development as well as mental diversion . First and foremost , then , is the essentially

English game , Cricket . England is the home , as it was the birthplace , of this noble pastime , and every village ought to have its club ; and what can squire and parson do better in the long summer evenings than instructand encourage in improvement ,

, the village youth in this game , so beloved by their fathers ; seen , too , as it is in such perfection , only in this land of ours , a land whose sons are not daunted by the vision

of a few hard knocks . Then m the winter time , when bricklayer and mason , carpenter and painter , stand spell-bound by Jack Erost , what better to send the blood healthily coursing through the veins than a well-played game of Hockey or Football . Againif our boys can command their

, temper , what diversion were manly than the wrestling bout of our northern shires , or the backsword contest , or the turn at singlestick of the honest lads of Somerset and Berks . Is there no comrade at hand to take a turn 1 why then let us go to the

gymnasium , and be the sky ever so louring and the weather ever so cold , there will be found exercise and amusement in one , and that without stint . Has night closed in with its darkness and winter drizzle 1 Well then let us turn

into our Reading Room and Club , and we shall doubtless find a ready companion at the lively Bagatelle , the more serious Draughts , or most profound of all , the subtle and mysterious Chess . And if even companions fail us , if our secretary be wise there will still be a fund of amusement , after the news of the day has been scanned and the " Monthly " wisdom digested , in