Fashionable Amusements: On vice, thoughtlessness and vanity and living in the light of sacred duty.

Fashionable Amusements

by D. R. Thomason, 1831

Chapter 1. Preliminary Observations

Chapter 2. The Theater

Chapter 3. Card-playing

Chapter 4. Dancing

Chapter 5. Novel-reading

Chapter 6. Conclusion

God—a distinguishing attribute of his nature—is met in our happiness, then is it a law of virtue—that every means for the increase of happiness should be sought. The sentiment has often been abused—but it nevertheless forms a maxim both correct and weighty.

But there is another point of contact between virtue and happiness. By multiplying sources of innocent gratification, the desire to partake of innocent pleasures is weakened. It is evident, that the power which any temptation possesses, depends on the degree of supposed good which it contains. No temptation would be such—did it not possess qualities apparently desirable; and in proportion as it possesses these qualities, it becomes influential. The mind is never in a state less liable to seduction, than when already in possession of virtuous pleasure. When removed from the means of gratification, and when moral principle forms the only defense, temptations well-timed and well-chosen, may make successful advances; but when the heart is already occupied by innocent enjoyments, it is removed from the desire of sinful gratification, and consequently escapes the danger.

Happiness, moreover, in a well-constituted mind, is the parent of gratitude; gratitude is the mainspring of obedience, and forms the strongest stimulus to moral advances. Hence it follows, that to interdict any gratification, unless it is expressly forbidden, or is apparently dangerous, becomes not only undue severity—but positive criminality. The stoic is an enemy at once to happiness and virtue.

On the supposition that fashionable amusements are really dangerous, it is important that the instructor of youth should employ his best exertions to prevent exposure to their temptations. It is obvious that sinful gratification forms the strongest test of youthful virtue. Pleasure, at this early period of life, is peculiarly attractive, and becomes the most powerful enemy. If the severity of this test is to be relaxed, if the destroyer is to be interrupted in her pursuit and foiled in her artifices, the hand of truth must be diligently employed to strip the gilded temptress of her flattering disguises; and, by exhibiting her genuine character and design, must endeavor to break the spell of her fatal blandishments.