MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Letters from James Alexander (1804-1859)
to his younger brother, on the virtues and
vices, the duties and dangers of youth.
Amusements
My dear brother,
You will not be displeased if I devote another letter or two to the subject
of recreation and amusement. This is not so trifling a matter as some people
might suppose. All young people are fond of play, and more than this,
something of the sort is absolutely necessary. As the proverb says, "the bow
must not be always bent." The more diligent a boy is at his books—the more
he needs relaxation. This is not only important for the preservation of
health—but for preserving the activity and strength of the mind. Constant
application to studies or work, without rest or pastime, wears the mind, and
leads to dullness and despondency.
It is very common to leave boys entirely to themselves in
the choice of their amusements; but this is not right; for all recreations
are not alike good, and there are some which are highly injurious and
improper.
There are three things which you should have in view in
every game, sport or amusement—
1. It should be full of entertainment.
2. It should be altogether innocent.
3. It should be of some use to body or mind.
The first requisite, that is entertainment, you will
readily seek and find; but boys are not so careful to amuse themselves in a
profitable, or even a harmless way. Let me call your attention to some of
the amusements which are common.
First of all, I persuade myself that you will never think
of playing cards. I would wish you never to know even the name of a
playing-card. Games of this kind are all games of hazard or chance. They do
not benefit the mind, they waste precious time, and, above all, they lead
directly to the ruinous vice of gambling. Every play in which dice are used
is, in some degree, a game of chance; and such amusements lead the
inexperienced to gambling.
Checkers is a game of skill; but I never could see it
to be of much use to the mind, and it certainly affords no advantages to the
body. Indeed, all sedentary games of this sort seem unsuitable for
youth, because they keep the players within doors, while they might be
employed in taking healthful exercise.
The game of chess is liable also to the last of
these objections, although it has been approved by many judicious people. I
certainly do not regard it as evil in itself, and it may be true that it
encourages thought, and exercises the mind to a certain extent. But its
fascinations are such, that most who are fond of it waste many precious
hours at the chessboard. It often takes up a great length of time, and those
who become experts are frequently tempted to try other games, and so become
gamblers at length. Besides, I could never find it as clearly beneficial to
the mind as has been pretended. Some of the most wonderful chess-players I
have ever seen have been people of very feeble understanding and limited
reasoning powers.
In a word, I would recommend to you to abstain from
all games which keep you sitting still, and yield no direct improvement.
You are rather too big a boy to engage in the trifling
sports of children. Such I consider marbles. I am always mortified to
see older boys at this pastime. It brings one into bad company, is often
connected with a sort of gambling, and at best is somewhat a groveling
business, without any pretense of being useful.
There are other recreations which are either good or bad,
according to the way in which they are used. Such are wrestling and
boxing. These are highly useful to the limbs, affording them exercise
and strength. But then care must be taken to avoid all danger, and
especially to shun every disposition towards fighting and bullying. I fear
it will generally be found that good boxers are apt to become quarrelsome,
and fond of picking fights.
You will, no doubt, expect me to say something about what
are called the sports of the field. Among these I include fishing. It
is certainly delightful to stroll along pleasant brooks, and to recline on
the green, shaded banks, in fine summer weather. And in the pursuit of this
sport, it is always pleasing to witness the increase of one's skill, and the
corresponding success. Where it is pursued for the sake of obtaining food,
it is undoubtedly a reasonable and useful employment. But when boys go a
fishing, their sole object is amusement, and their amusement is a cruel
one. The baiting with live worms, which writhe upon the barbed hook, and
the mangling of the harmless little fish which are caught—are surely bad
lessons of humanity for tender youth. Some people will call these objections
weak and womanlike. But where amusements are so abundant, without the
necessity of harming any living thing, I cannot see the need of seeking so
barbarous enjoyment.
My objections are still greater to hunting or
gunning for birds, as an amusement for boys. There is no sport in which they
become so enthusiastic, and there are few which are more injurious. Not to
speak of the lamentable accidents which are constantly occurring with
fire-arms. There is hunting, a greater cruelty than even in fishing. If
every bird at which you discharged your gun were killed on the spot, there
might be less reason for this remark. But how many poor fluttering things
are merely wounded, and left to linger for hours or days in mortal
anguish. I can never forget the impressions made upon me in my childhood, by
the touching lines of Burns, upon seeing a wounded rabbit limp along his
path—
Inhuman man! shame on your barbarous art,
And blasted be your murder-aiming eye.
May never pity soothe you with a sigh;
Nor ever pleasure gladden your cruel heart.
Seek, 'mangled wretch', some place of wonted rest,
No more of rest—but now your dying bed;
The sheltering rushes whistling o'er your head;
The cold earth with your bloody bosom pressed.
Oft as by winding path I musing wait,
The sober eve, or hail the cheerful dawn,
I'll miss you sporting o'er the dewy lawn,
And curse the ruffian's aim, and mourn your hapless fate!
Whole days are commonly consumed in this sport and there
are many young men who become so fond of it as to make it their principal
employment. Without enlarging upon the reasons why it is so, I will state it
as a fact, which I have long observed—that young men who are devoted to guns
usually become idle and dissipated.
But you will be ready to say, "You are only telling me
what past-times I must not indulge in; name some which you recommend." This
I propose to do in my next letter. In the meantime, let me give you one
important rule, which applies to the whole subject—Let amusement always
occupy its proper time. Its time is when the mind needs refreshment, when it
has been jaded by hard work or study. Never make a business of amusement.
Never spend whole days upon mere recreation. Be moderate in all enjoyments
of this kind, and avoid everything that is frivolous and childish. Remember
that we are just as accountable for our relaxation as for anything else; and
we ought, therefore, to be as conscientious in it. Farewell.
Your affectionate brother,
James