Show HO HOLIDAY hollday libay PROSPECTS FOR FOA 1 4 christendom the political sky ky of the world is anything but clear heavy and portentous douds are hanging over owr the nations and the present season of holiday mak ing and festivities is laden with muttered sounds that seem to indicate approaching strife monday was celebrated by christendom as the anniversary of th the birth hirth of him whose nativity was an bounced accompanied by the song glory to god in the highest and on earth peace good will to man and after more thai thal eighteen cen een centuries turie s and a half have elapsed what is the condition of that portion of the world which meks to perpetuate the anniversary of that day religiously and morally it presents a sad spectacle god goa is not glorified he is almost unrecognized jarring discordant sects insult the wisdom and intelligence of heaven by claiming that as the source of their conflicting theories when ignorance is the parent of error and contending opinions the spread of corruption and crime grime is so rapid lapid M that newspapers ahiah devote largely of their space to e chroni eling cling the misdeeds of their fellows profess to be growing alarmed at it every virtue enjoined every crime condemned in lre the decalogue is daily hourly disregarded gara ed or oi perpetrated in the great cities of christendom while places of smaller mee nee and fewer inhabitants show fully rully increased of evil this is gathered from sources that have no interest in holding up the condition of society to abhorrence the press is but ful fal fulfilling filling what it deems a portion of its duty when it publishes the actual state ef of the people and records their acts so far as those acts affect the public interests te twelve months ago this republic was engaged with vigorous efforts in putting down a gigantic rebellion that rebellion is crushed under the fo foot ot of the khe nation but many serious questions connected with it still demand attention and grave results may grow out of them apart from the still unsettle unsettled a condition of the late lato reb rebellious ollious states and the fact that our country is compelled and likely to be for some time to come to maintain a standing army which is almost equal in a military yiew view to a war establishment points have arisen during that rebellion which ar 6 still estill unsettled and which may seriously try the temper of the nation before an understanding can be reached the depredations by the alabama and similar vessels which issued from english ports under the flag of the rebellion TB forms a subject for diplomacy to todeal deal deai with which may prove too weighty for a peaceful solution the establishment of an empire in Al mexico exico under napoleonic auspices in direct contravention of the tho monroe doctrine is a another question which presents aspects of lowering character the fenian movement however unwise d and imprudent many of its leading members may be is sufficiently wide spread to threaten tio trouble troubie uble ubie other subjects are presenting themselves 1 or looming up that are far from indicating a speedy approach to that millen millennial g peace of which prophets have spoken aud poets have sung and while we wish in the customary ous dus tomary language of the season a merry christmas and a happy new year to all the signs of the times da donot not augur peace to the world world of mankind kind yet the nations and an d their inhabitants are in the hands of dod god who will order all things according to his good pleasure and individually we feel that as a people and community we we have much reason to be grateful to him for the peace happiness and prosperity continuing and increasing which exists within our terri territorial to rial bounds LEISURE HOURS MENTAL improvement during the depth of the thet winter in thi shift territory out dhori ork is of necessity meas measurably and there is much more leisure time at the command of the people than at any other season of the year it is a time of very general relaxation from arduous toil toll and amusements parties and other sources of social intercourse and enjoyment receive a large share of attention by many dancing is a good and healthy exercise when itis not indulged in to excess and when p proper roper precautions are taken to avoid injurious results theatricals are pleasing amusing and often instructive when properly conducted and in such a theatre as fas we have with stage capacity scenery costumes and appointments capable of giving us ua faithful pictures of scenes and society in other lands than our own and of reproducing historic characters with the habits and manners of the times in which they lived i they are a source of relaxation and instruction having highly beneficial tendencies but no wise person would wish to dance every evening and there are many who while they enjoy theatricals occasionally would not care to attend regularly every time the theatre is open at for fon performance apart from these things the mind requires cultivation as well as relaxation and for many the best and most convenient season in which that could be done is the winter season that through which wo we are now passing schools are heli helt during the daytime day time in our various ward schoolhouses school houses and in other places devoted to that purpose would not the formation of evening classes for adults under competent instructors and at moderate charges bo be also productive of good one or two evenings a week so employed would be of vast benefit to many of our young men and young women too for here liere as els eis elsewhere ethere the the common claims of subsistence and existence compel many baady to commence working for r a living before they have progressed ro 9 so far in educational acquire ments as to be able to correctly conduct and keep an account of even their limited business transactions while many of the simplest and most beautiful truths of science are comparatively sealed mysteries to them such classes could be formed and well viell attended during the winter wint erand and those composing them have all the time for amusements which it would be wise for them so to spend again associations for mutual I 1 improvement m pro might be much more numerous than they are we are seeking knowledge we wish to acquire an understanding der standing of truth it is right that the mind should stretch out for the accomplishment of these objects we are no advocates for debating clubs whose members come together simply that they may display heir ability in litigation and debate seeking to gain the victory for the sake of tr triumph lump h I 1 whether they are advocating truth or error that is too much like the practice of pettifogging lawyers who have no regard to truth or equity seeking only to earn the dollars every victory in n court no matter how obtained being 1 i viewed by thyn as increasing the value of their services debating to win or overcome an opponent whether right or wrong is the gratification of a vanity that is very reprehensible and will lead men to do wrong but mutual improvement m pro societies can be and are conducted without descending to this if too the members will regularly pay a stipulated sum however small into the hands of a treasurer of their own choosing and after necessary expenses are met for lights or other purposes invest the balanc ein the purchase of goods useful books on history science mechanics ac c a very respectable library would soon be the joint property of such an association who could borrow and read their own books bool s returning them at stated intervals for others to have the like privilege this is no speculative theory it is is a something that has been and is now being done in some other parts of the earth and with good xe results suits there are many other ways in which the leisure time of the winter season can be well and usefully employed gaining a knowledge of the science of music is acquiring that which is a source of future pleasure and enjoyment j it is gratifying 0 to note how rapidly harmonic societies are springing up throughout the various cities and settlements of the territory and we would imagine from the quantity y of music and musical instruments that has been and is being ordered through br D 0 calder that there is no necessity for urging attention to this branch of improvement still it is pleasing to all friends of progress to see every branch of study calculated to elevate and improve the mind receiving a due share of attention and we will be gratified if these few hints provoke thought among those most interested and aid in the work of mental improvement |