37.

GAMES AND PLAYS.

I. Historical introduction.

Games were prac

ticed among the most ancient people. Wrestling, boxing, chariot-racing, and the like, had become popular in the earliest ages: among them were the Olympic, the Pythian, the Nemean, and the Isthmian games.

II. Definition.

a. The words "play" and "game" both signify exercise, bodily or mental; but play is, strictly speaking, unsystematic; game, systematic exercise. Plays are peculiarly adapted to children: games are more suitable for older persons.

1. Play is the necessary unbending of mind or body to allow free exercise to either.

2. A game is the direction of the mind to the higher objects of intellectual pursuit.

III. Variety of games and plays.

a. Game. Any exercise in which there is a contention for victory, for amusement or for a prize; as chess, boating, cards, billiards, &c.

b. Play. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended simply for pleasure, amusement, or diversion from serious occupation; such as the games already mentioned, when they are not engaged in for the purpose of contest or victory.

IV. Utility of games and plays.

a. They strengthen the body, and give it agility and grace. b. They recreate the mind, and gladden the heart.

V. Dangers.

a. They often stifle the desire for earnest occupation and scientific and literary pursuits.

b. The game being often for gain, as in betting, gambling, &c., leads to,

1. Dishonesty, cheating, &c.

2. And, by exciting the passions in contentions, undermines the health, and destroys peace of mind.

c. The game often exerts a baneful influence on social and family life by causing, through repeated losses,

1. Melancholy and discontentment, and sometimes

even,

2. Poverty, degradation, ruin, crime.

VI. Means of avoiding danger.

a. Play only when in need of relaxation.

b. Never spend much time in this way, but return promptly to your regular occupations.

c. Never engage in any game for the sake of gain; do not bet even the value of a pin: little by little every evil grows.

d. Prefer those amusements which exercise the body without fatiguing the mind; those in the open air rather than those in close rooms; those in which you walk about rather than those in which you stand or sit.

VII. To preserve and promote health and vigor of mind and body, it would be well to introduce lively out-door games and plays into all the schools of our land.

38.

COURAGE AND FORTITUDE..

I. Courage respects actions; fortitude, feelings: a person has courage to meet danger, fortitude to endure pain.

II. Courage is that power of the mind which bears

up against evil to come.

III.

a. The man of courage goes with the same coolness to the mouth of the cannon,

b. As is shown by the man of fortitude in undergoing the

amputation of a limb.

c. We can not boast of courage unless we are ready to set aside every present and personal consideration in the conduct we should pursue.

"What can be more honorable than to have courage enough to execute the command of reason and conscience?"

COLLIER.

d. We can not boast of fortitude when the sense of pain pro-
vokes a murmur or a token of impatience.

Courage distinguished from bravery.
a. Bravery seems to be involuntary, an instinctive movement
that does not depend on ourselves.

b. Courage requires conviction, and gathers strength by

delay.

c. Bravery is of utility, only in the hour of attack or con

test.

d. Courage is of service at all times and under all circum

stances.

IV. Value of courage and fortitude.

a. They are sometimes the only means of freeing us from danger and the effects of misfortune.

1. Horatius Cockles displayed his courage in defending a bridge against a whole army of Etruscans. (Mention names and actions of men in our own country.)

2. Mutius Scævola showed no less fortitude when he thrust his hand into the flame, in presence of King

Porsenna, and awed the prince as much by his language as by his action.

b. To these great qualities we owe many important discoveries and inventions (Columbus, Capt. Cook, Fulton).

c. They ennoble heroes. The three hundred Spartans who defended the Pass of Thermopylæ. (Name heroes of our own wars.)

d. These qualities were displayed by hosts of martyrs in the cause of truth and justice.

V. How they may be acquired.

a. By exercise. The life of man offers opportunities to "Man's life is a warfare."

every one.

b. By unceasing application to virtue; for this will inspire true courage and fortitude, and raise man as it were above himself.

"Let Fortune empty her whole quiver on me;

I have a soul, that, like an ample shield,

Can take in all, and verge enough for more;
Fate was not mine, nor am I fate's:

Souls know no conquerors."

DRYDEN.

39.

ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN OVER INFERIOR ANIMALS.

I. Introduction.

a. From the very beginning, the lower animals have been

in the service of man.

b. Man, however, has not always used his authority over them with justice and moderation.

II. Has man a right to this authority? and, if so, what is the extent of his authority? and how should it be exercised?

III. That man has a right to this authority is evident; first,

A. From his physical frame.

a. The organzaition of the human body, in most climates, requires the use of animal food. Imbecility is gener

ally the result of living entirely on vegetable food from one generation to another.

b. In the absence of vegetables in many parts of the globe, man is obliged to subsist entirely on animal food (Arctic regions).

c. Too great an increase of animals would disturb the
equilibrium of nature, and endanger human life. Self-
preservation compels us, therefore, to destroy some of
the animals. Nature herself also provides for this in
allowing voracious beasts, birds of prey, &c.

B. Also from the superior organization of man.
a. Nature shows everywhere that the lifeless is subject to
the living, and the irrational to the rational.

b. Man, the most perfect of organic beings, derives from his
perfection his right of dominion.

c. In the economy of things, animals are but means, man the end.

d. Many animals are carefully treated by man: their services are, therefore, in some degree, but a compensation.

IV. In what man's rights consist.

a. He may use animals as food.

b. To furnish clothing.

c. He may use their labor for his advantage, comfort, or amusement. (Name certain animals which are useful in different ways to mankind.)

d. He may hinder the hurtful increase of animal life (by destroying reptiles and dangerous wild beasts)

V. The manner of exercising his rights. a. Without cruelty.

1. To give no unnecessary pain in putting them to death when needed for food or any other purpose. 2. To allow sufficient food and rest to those that labor. 3. Not to overburden them with work.

I.

40.

FRUGALITY AND AVARICE.

We sometimes hear persons say that frugality is the same as avarice; but there is a great difference between them.