Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-03-30

which pain, even when deserved, is inflicted
reluctantly and from a sense Of duty. Ev.
cry class, doubtless, has gained largely by
this great moral change; but the class
which has gained most is tho poorest. the
most dependent, and the most delencelcss
The general effect Of the evidences which
has been submitted to the reader seems hard
ly to admit Of doubt; yet, in spite of evil
dence, many still image W themselves the
England Of the Siuaris as a more pleasant
country than the England in which we live.
II may at first sigh, seem strange that soci-
ETY., while constantly moving forward with
eager speed, should be constantly looking
backward with tender regret. But these
two propensiiies. inconsistent as they may
appear, can easily be resolved into the same
principle. Both spring from our impotence
Of The state 10 which We actually are. That
impotence, while il stimulates US to surpass
preceding generations, disposes US TO over
rate their happiness II is, in some sense.
unreasonable and ungraieful in us to be con-
stantly discontinued with a condition which
is constantly improving. But. in truth.
there is constant improvement precisely be-
cause there is constant discomfort. II we
we're perfectly satisfied with the present, we
should cease to coniriye, TO labor, and TO
save with a view to the future. And il is
natural that, being dissatisfied with the pre-.
sent, we form too favorable estimate Of the
past
In truth, we are under deception SINH
lar 10 that which miseads the traveller in
the Arabian desert. Beneath tho caravan
all is dry and bare but far in advance and
far in the rear is the semblance Of refresh
ing waters. The pilgrims hasten forward,
and find nothing but sand, where an hour
before, they had seen a lake; they turn
their eyes. and see lake where, an hour
before, they were toiling through sand. A
similar Illusion seems TO haunt nations
through every stage Of the long progress
from poverty and barbarism to the highest
degree of opulence and civilization. But.
If we resolutely chase the mirage backward I,
we shall find il recede before US into the re-
gions OF fabulous antiquity. II is now the
fashion 10 place the Golden Age Of Eng
land in times when noblemen were destitute
of comforts, the want OF which would be in
tolerable TO modern footman when farm
ers and shopkeepers breskfasted on leaves,
the very sight Of which would raise riot
in modern workhouse; when men died
faster in the purest country air than they
now die in the most Presidential lanes Of our
towns, and when men died faster in the lanes
OF our towns than they now die on the coast
Of Guinea. We, 100, shall in our turn be
outstripped, and, ln Gnr TIL T. on,,rs ,ha,
the peasant OF Dorsetshire may think him.
self mserably paid with fifteen shillings a
week that the carpenter at Greenwich may
receive ten shillings day laboring men
may be as little used to dine without mea
as they now are to eat rye bread that SAM
tary police and medical discoveries maj
have added several more years TO the length
OF human life that numerous comforts anG
luxuries which are now unknown, or con-
fined TO few, may be within the reach o
every diligent and thrifty working man, an,
yet il may then be the mode TO assert tina
the increase Of wealth and the progress 0
science have benefited the few al the ex
pense of the many, aud to talk of the reigI
OF Queen Victoria as the time when Eng
land was truly merry England when al
, classes were bound together by broiherl
sympathy; when the rich did not grind tn
I faces of the poor, aud when the poor di'
not envy the splendor Of the rich.