MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1312, 30 April 1872, Page 2

MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.

(HOBART TOWN MERCURY.) The decline of the summer will see the revivification of the numerous associations, whose object is to provide for young people especially means of passing profitably and pleasantly the long evenings of th e wi n ter months. Ft rsons can under almost any circumstances find amusements of a doubtful and' unimproving tendency in that direction, and the object of the literary and mutual improvement associations of the day is to win such persons from those debasing pastimes, which are derogatory to their physical as well as mental capacity, by substituting equally entertaining means of passing the time, but of a more elevating and legitimate character. This has been the wished-for object of well meaning gentlemen for many years past, with a degree of success at times encouraging, but .frequently otherwise. The great obstacle which the promoters of these rational amusements have had to contend with, has been the fickleness and constant desire for novelty on the part of those they intended to benefit, and where the s'yle of amusement has not been regulated by the tastes of the persons for whom the gatherings were inaugurated, failure has almost invariably been the result. There is, of course, such a thing as educating audiences to receiving instruction at entertainments, and ol making gatherings for amusement also the means of conveying profitable information; but the tastes of mixed audiences generally are so opposed to the reception of anything which is nol calculated to amuse, that it is an achievement requiring considerable tact and discrimination to introduce successfully at the*e entertainments improving and instructive matter. As an illustration of this we may refer to the career of the once almost universal, but generally speaking lamentably unsuccessful, " penny readings." When first introduced, these entertainments were of a most recherche character; instructive papers found a place in the programmes with lighter literature, and music of varied descriptions lessened the monotony of the entertainments. When the novelty wore away, however, certain sections of the audiences tired ot the solid matter introduced for their instruction, and those portions of the programme were received with indifference, whilst lusty lungs cheered invariably the performers of nonsensical comicalities characterised by a total absence of anything like wit or meaning. This led to the withdrawal of the instructive pieces, and the programmes in most places were devoted almost entirely to a lot of senseless rot put forth in order to please the ears of persons of depraved judgment, and in those places where the promoters did not have the good sense to discontinue the entertainments when things arrived

at such a pass, tlie "penny, readings,"' or " silver readings," or "popular readings " —for bhey are known by various designations—defeated the very object for which they were introduced, by depraving tastes which they were intended to eleva'e, and wasting; time itwas supposed they would profitably engage. This has been the very general: experience of persons v\ ho have interested themselves in the welfare of the people socially and morally in this respect, and more especially where the efforts of the promoters were not colfined to any particular sect or religious, congregation, but extended-to-the publio mdiscriuiinately. The- great fault of many literary or mutual improvement associations inaugurated in connection with, religiousbodies for the improvement and amusement of the adolescent members of the.congregation, appears to be the introduction of too, much of the instructive - element, and the almost complete rejection of anything calculated to<amuse. This generally produces one of two* effects—either interest flags, .causing theattendance at the meetings to grow beautifully less, and the affair ultimately dies, a natural death, ok the members must be unexceptionably excellent young people, and derive very considerable benefit from, their, deliberations*. <fec, in connection with the society. Unfortunately, we are afraid the formeris the rule, and the latter the exception. But where a proper view is taken o£ the matter, amusement and instruction are permitted to gp> hand in, hand, the. lesult in the cases of. well-managed associations being to the very great advantage of the members by the attainment of the objects for which the sooietys was inaugurated, in. the profitable enir ploy men t of time which otherwise might have been passed in a manner which, would be detrimental tothe best interests o£ the persons concerned.