The Delaware herald., 1854-05-17
The Laborer and the Temperance
Question.
BY CHARLIE.

"Stand up-erecti Thou hast the form
And likeness of thy God who more!
A soul as dauntless mid the storm
Of daily life, heart as warm
And pure, as breast e'er wore.
What then Thou art as true man
As moves the human mass among;
AS much a part of the great plan
That with Creations dawn began,
AS any of the throng "--GGlldgher
IT is doubtless the apathy and indifference
evinced by the laborer to his own interests--his
neglect to the improvement of his intellectual
faculties, in those hours of leisure which occur
to all who are engaged in ordinary business
life, by the careful perusal and study of books,
,impartlng, at once, useful and practical know
ledge and, at the some time, giving healthful
and an elevated moral tone to his conversation /;
upon which, to great extent, is based the
superstructure of character for probity, pune
tuahty and perseverance, and, consequently,
success.
1t is this neglect and Incidence, in this par
ticular respect, that has contributed, in a mea-
sure, to place and to keep the laborer in, if not
adisreputable, at least limited and unenviable
social position-circumscribing his sphere OF
usefulness, and thus diminishing and narrowing
the chances to respectable, elevated and re-
fined social position among his contemporaries
We think the laborer, other circumstances
being equal, as much entitled to attention and
respect as those who are engaged in professional
pursuits; and, ifhe is true to himself his coun-
try and his God, the good and intelligent (and
they are all whose opinions are worth noticing
will award to him an equal share of respect
patronage and honor.
But, the fact is, the laborer, as genera
thing, is disposed to overlook and undervaluC
the Importance of considerations of an educa
tional bearing, and to be content (or, which
amounts to the same thing, act as though h,
were,) with merely partial and superficial ac
quaintance with works inculcating practica
and beneficial knowledge TO the great mass o
general readers.
The objections usually urged, and which
| from their nniversallty and the readiness witt
which they are adduced by nearly all classes Q
laborers. are, generally, pa,,t time, defcienc
Of books, and the lack Of interest IN thei
Pernsaf, even when they are brought within
the easy and ready access of the poorest
We propose noticing, as plainly, perspicuous
i iy, and briehyas possble these objections, ,whic
satisfy, aad which aerve as an excuse for th
limited information of thonsands---and of thou
sands. too, in this State. 1t is generally concG
ded that, where there is a icilI, there is likews
a ioay, in which those who are really in edrnes
may aspire TO the highest improvements in th
/ many and various departments of business Ifi
and, also, secure the advantages Of liberi
acquaintance with the leading facts sof literatur
: and science,
II The fcdnf of time appears to be the prineipt
obstacle which many urge as an excuse for the
} deficiency in a knowledge of books. Let i
look ut this phase OF the subject III itstrue ligf
r las it is--and NOT as it is generally viewed
: You are employed in business operations, ho
:, many hours Of the twenty-foura We will ca
r fen,--and that will cover the whols time j
which the majority are necessarily engaged
ana, with the agricultural portion, this OIL
# embraces, we will say, three-fourths of III
tS year. (Leok out, or we shall soon prove tn,
Q your most Desghty reason is not vaiid) ys