Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-01
hltstcIlauGoas.


How to make Industry attractive, is ore
ofour present social problems, Work is a
human necessity, and exercise is necessary
to health ldleness is felt as a curse. Eve
rybody wishes to be actively engaged at
something; but it is nevertheless true that
protracted and solitary labor is wearsome,
whether it tasks our muscular powers or
not. We do not love toll and drudgery-
and we are very apt TO think that some 9TH
err occupation would suit US better than the
one in which we are engaged,
But there are certain conditions that
render all kinds of labor delightful When
man has passion for any particular work
he pursues it with ardor and pleasure. The
author writes hour after hour with a sus-
tanning enthusa:m-the artist works hard
and long at his picture or stqtgs-thc gard
ener who loves his employmep never gets
tired.
But it is to be observed tEd all these
i q yafc hg.e PTfff eh sd6 ea p1o
ducing something new-the atAt is enga.
ged in various portions of rs work and
bringing them to perfection-the gardner
has little world of objects un@r his care,
and he sees their grogress from day to day.
Beside enthusiasm and variety, there is
another condition of pleasant Or attractive
labor; and that is Society. Work is al
ways pleasant and easy, whcr many per.
sons can join together especially where
men and women can engagen It, Our
country life gives us many Illustrations of
this principle.
For instance, there is not much harder
work than to sit down alone, add husk corn
hour after hour; yet what is pleasanter
than husking! Rolling log and lifting
timber are hard work, but Ogrolling or
raising is a festival. What uRnotonous
and tircsome task it is to par apples and
prepare them for drying; yet what rustic
scene is nicer than pairing bel
We may draw illustrations fop our plea
sures and amusements. If a lah were to
90 into a room alone and dane pill himself
for four or five hours, he wcld be very
much fatigued, and would dhand good
wages; but give the same man little music
and some agreeable companyahd he will
not only dance six hours, witbut thinking
Of fatigue, but is very willing pay good
days wages for the privilege.
There are not many kinds work hard
er than rowing boat; buiglve man
genial companions, fine sceneG and plea-
SAINT excursion, and he will NOR think of
fatigue, Dragging fre-enlpe through
the streets, working the machis and fight
ing a fire, call forth great unused r exertion;
yet how nobly is it perforusd, without
wages, by men who are mcitellby enthusl-
asm, chee:ed by association aud enticed by
variety
There is no kind of exertio4 that is not
tlresome by monotony and sofude; there
is none that cannot be made delightful by
variety and social enjoymenF and if we
add to these the spirit of rlvalt, or honor
able competition, we find enthusiasm and
pleasure.
What kind of labor tasks tile powers of
exertion more than game Of cricket ?
Yet cricket is play, because it Combines as
ISOLATION and competition. Aeaping and
and moving matches have SIMILAR excite
ment
In Europe the harvest timePnd the vint-
age are seasons of Joy and iesaylty, though
they involve the hardest labor Of the year
The vintage especially is great festival
Men, women, and children work from
morning till night, day after day, gathering
the grapes and carrying themto the wine
press. Ladies and gentlemen from the ci-
ties come to witness and JON an the labor
The laborers sing together in chorus, and
one group answers to another. At the
wine-presss il stationed little band of
music, for there the work IS hardest; but
the strongest young fellows leap into the
press, with their naked feet, and dance the
red wine out of the bursting grapes. The
labor would be terribly fatlgung without
these accessories, but with them it is mere
sport,
Children are never tired OF their games
though they involve great eSertion. But
oblige a boy to play alone, or 10 continue a
game ten hours day and he would be tir-
ed enough.
Now what is wanting to make industry
attractive Give variety, society, and all
work is but play Is not tins the solution
Of the problem