AMUSEMENTS. 'l4T 



The ambition of the young men is not excited or increased by 

 bat and ball, or boat and oar. Archery, an out-door diversion, 

 which connects the high-toned men and maidens in England to- 

 day, with the people of pre-historic times, and which, with 

 feathered shafts and twanging bow, projects the distant stone 

 age into the age of gold, has not as yet, been re-established upon 

 these islands, where it flourished in the time of Columbus. Ee- 

 quiring little physical exertion, arousing no fierce passions, stir- 

 ring the bosom with only pleasurable excitement, its highest en- 

 joyment secured when both sexes participate in its sport, a semi- 

 tropical climate would seem to be peculiarly favorable to its prac- 

 tice and cultivation. But the more violent games of foot-ball 

 and polo flourish instead, and call out many spectators on the 

 afternoons of Tuesday and Friday of each week, including the 

 elite of the town in carriages. Polo results occasionally in a 

 broken bone, and foot-ball excites to spirited struggles for tlie 

 mastery. The negroes in the military department when off duty, 

 are perhaps more to be commended, for, Avhen not idle, or occu- 

 pied with their lady friends, they are satisfied, (according to one 

 of the official medical reports,) with flying paper kites, and the 

 lowly and quiet game of marbles. No doubt many of the Queen's 

 ebony subjects would rather be the humble turtle, that idly basks 

 and meditates upon a rock in the sun, than the most beautiful 

 antelope that ever scaled the craggy heights of a mountain. 

 With the thermometer in the eighties in the shade, I could the 

 better understand the wisdom and good sense of such a prefer- 

 ence. But, then, upon us high-toned English precedents pro- 

 duced but little effect. 



One result of the absence at Nassau of the iunumcrablc and 

 varied private sports and public amusements whicli exist in all 

 cities and large towns in the States is, to give greater prominence 

 and importance to the church. Religion has its social side, and, 



