Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-29
Tho Nobility of Labor.

From the Anderson Is. c. Gazette.
Under this head the Southern Patriot sermo-
nizes in an excellent article. 1t is text on which
eloquence may dwell and argument sound and
serious be deduced. Its fact lamentabIy true,
too true we fear Tor the good of the country, that
there is "A feeling, continually ON the increase,
TINT manual labor is iguoble and worthy only of
IA slave Gentlemen too frequently are judged
by the texture of the coat they have on their
bnck, by the deficiency of their hands, the fairness
of their skin; while in truth it is the heart that
constitutes the true gentleman, and the rament
man wears Is no more test oi his gentllty
than the beard is an index of manhood The
meaning of the word gentleman Is meek man,
being composed of the adjective gentle and the
noun man. Society has so corrupted this world
thut its definition depends upon the tastes of
those defining it. Labor and gentiGty are not
antngonistc. The connection between them IN
their true signihcations is strong that they
almost inseparablo. Every man who labors is
not gentleman, but no man can be gentleman
without labor in some why, though the spheres
in which men labor are as various as the human
face. Some of the grentest men were the hardest
workers. 1t is by this means that they become
great. Who would think othaying fruitful crops
without labor! The soil must be cultivated or
II will not produce. So great men are not "A spon-
taneous production OF Nature, but they are formed
by the seycrest toll, the strctcst self denial and
the most active energy.
Mechanics, laborers, and farmers are often
snared nj because their hands arc hornZ, their
clothes soiled but do these men reflect that it is
those very mechanics, laborers, and farmers who
mainly contribute to sustain the Government
1t is upon them that our safety or honor rests ;
they are the strong arm of the State the fortif
cations of the Republic. The man who sneers
at them because of their calling in life, derdes
manual labor and toll, is no honor to the race of
humanity, mere p,pniay whose mind is cramp-
ed by the foolish whims and caprces OF fashion.
Has one of these mock gentlemen ever contrbu-
ted his mite to the support of the great mass of
humanity! Is the world benefited by his exis-
tence, or is he II burden and curse TO it All
must come to the latter conclusion.
Labor is one of the first commands of God
Idleness is deprecated in the holy writ the one
is honorable, the other dshonorable. Labor
strengthens the physca constitutions; it gives
power to the mind it ennobes the feelings and
makes great men and good citizens. ldeness,
on the contrary, impairs the body, enervates the
mind, destroys natural integrity, promotes dis
sipation, and is u source of incalcuablc evil 1t
will on examination be found to bc the root of in
temperance and debauchery, and in many insta1l-
ces of crime. 1t wrecks the physical system,
debaseS the mental faculties, fills our prisons and
poor houses, and cumbers the earth with a race
of beings who live upon the sweat of others
brows, and pass off the stage of life without ben
-, citing others or developing themselves. Is not
i labor, then, more genteel than idleness