Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-11-23
SLAVERY In OUR MIDST.

SLAVERY In OUR MIDST.
y 1t is said that the whole time of Lamartne i:
(. given'to his pen; that he scarcely sees any one
and that he takes no recreation. five are moi
3 misinformed, he labors in this way in order to
liquidate debts contracted by his extravaganza
. and even prncely habits of living. 1t is moi
difficult to perceive that the poet, in securing
Iuxuries above his fortune, has "paid too dear
1for his whistle" to use Frankin's homely illus.
Jtration. His elegant table, beautiful apartments
and fine horses were enjoyed for while, but
I they have left burden of debt upon him which
makes him practically slave. Even the munif.
icence of the Sultan has failed to relieve him
from this terrible pressure. Again and again, in
(, consequences of his debts the pitess hand of the
law has been laid upon his paternal estate, those
acres made sacred by the memory of his mother
A and whose associations he has so touchingly
1Ywritten Efforts almost super-human he has
a made, and is making, to escape from his bond
,age, but with his habits oflavish expenditure, to
'Ano purpose, in spite of the large sums he re-
tceives. But when we behold such character
thnd such life, we know not whether most to
admire the heroic struggle, or to condemn the
|olly which led to the difficulties against which he
battles.
& The result of Lamartine's contest with what
q lome would call hard fortune, but what we
you'd rather call the fruits of his own impru-
lence, cannot be doubtful. An author who
Writes all day, but who takes no relaxation, is
lure very soon TO wear out. The unnatural tax
lnthe nervous energies may terminate in driv-
Hing idiocy, as in the case of Dean Swift or it
pay end in paralysis, as in the yet more memo
pble instances of Sir Walter Scott; but that it
gill have fatal conclusion, either in one way
10 rtaip thaf tive coI
bakes four. Scores of authors lawyers, minis
Iers, and others who live By the intellectual or
eans chiefly have fallen victims to overwork.-
Many writers achieve prodigies of labor, and APP
Nkbhtly without harm, as in the examples of
and other celebrated men we might name
FE Bthey compass such enormous tasks, by al
NJ ltsatng seasons of violent exercise with peri
N Of excessive work; and in this way fill the
fntain to-day which yesterday they nearly ex-
ihsted. The labor of the intellect, if uniform
Id not excessive, is really favorable to long lfe
ht undue calls on the brain, even in the most
bbust men, produce sooner or later, disease and
Heath. If Lamartine really is writing as assid-
tiously as described he is to use bold figure,
living on his own life.blood.
But literary men, lawyers and ministers, are
mot the only persons who violate the laws Of
life in this respect. There are scores of mer-
chants in this city, and thousands scattered over
the'land at large, who are as effectuallys living
on their own life blood as Lamartine himself
Eager to get rich, and careless or ignorant of the
price they are paying for it, they give their
brains, and even muscles no rest by day, and
scarcely any at night. When not working on
details, they are. busy in planning. Like lapida-
res, they keep the wheel forever revolving and
forever cutting away at the priceless gem Of ife
Nor are merchants the only men, not belonging
to the profession, who thus labor at what we
may call slow suicide. Thousands also have no
longer any choice in the matter, but are COM
pelled like Lamartine, thus to make slaves of
themselves in order to pay debts contracted by
follies in earlier life. Where mans luxurious
habits have consigned him to bondage of this
description his condition is indeed pitiabe for
he pays long life penalty for weakness that
he ought early to have conquered We talk of
slavery as a most horrible thing in the world,
and so indeed it is; but African slavery is not
the only bondage in which men are held The
bondage of debt, which makes slave even of a
Lamartine, is it not even more horrible especial
~ when self imposed, than African servtude!
Just as much more horrible as the sensibilities
of the victim are finer than those of the Ethio-
plan. Yet men are making themselves over to
such bondage daily--men in our very midst
men we all know--men who read these very
words. Philadel phia Eve. Bulletin.