The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-04-26
THE OVERTASKED
Or. Toll and its Victims,

IL If, on looking over the bills o
mortality, the real causes of disease anC
death could be ascertained, bow many vic
tins of toll, mental or physical, would b.
discovered The multitude seem to re
gard the human machine, SO to speak, as
calculated for perpetual motion, and as
above and beyond the wear and tear, the
!, chances and changes to which the con.
trivances Of man are liable. And yet mol
day goes by in which this absured the.
ory is not exploded, in which some one
: aye in which thousands arenot summoned
to their last account, thus proving that
the conncxion between the body and the
soul has ceased, that the mortal has done
its work, and that the life of man is mar
rowed within span.
But few months have elapsed by since
We entered upon new year. And yet
how very brief period it seems to those
who are able to look back and fix their
eyes even upon the commencement of the
present century! The Intervening space
stems within the limits of single glance.
Nevertheless, during that period thous-
ands and tens Of thousands Of the sons
and daughters of Adam have passed from
the face of the globe, and there are but
few, comparatively speaking, who com
menced with the new century, who still
linger on in their earthly pilgrimage. The
philosophy of life, so frequently glanced
at the theme of SO many great minds and !,
keen observers, is disregarded, misunder-
stood, or too hastily considered. The
masses are too busy, too much occupied,
even to watch over themselves. They
rush on wildly, recklessly, improvidently,
and often hasten their approach to the
Valley Of the Shadow of Death The
great majority overtask themselves, ment-
ally as we'll as physically. They toll, and
strain, and strive, and find at last, that
the vital powers are exhausted, that the
mental stamina is gone, that the constitu-
ton is broken, and that it is too late to re-
cuperate. This is the case constantly and
with myriads. 1t is especially SO in
great commercial cities, and in country
like ours, with SO many hopes competi-
tions, anxieties and aspirations. 1t is an
ordinary spectacle to behold individuals
who are bowed with care and bent with
age, still toiling on as anxiously as ever,
and thus exhausting instead of boarding,
their impaired and feeble faculties. They
cannot, they will not see the ordinary
limits of life, and each imagines that his
is an exception to the general rule, that
he will prove particularly fortunate, that
the laws of life and death may not be ap-
piled to him, that his mind and his body
are superior to those of ordinary men, and
hence be will not be Influenced by the
same liabilities. And thus he goes on
from day to day, indulging in this delu-
sion, until atlast, either the physical or
mental machine gives way, and he sinks,
never to rise again. But the lesson thus
inculcated, and the example SO constantly
presented, only arrest the attention fer
the moment. The multitude hurry on,
eager, anxious and impatient, forgetful
that they are upon the same path, and are
liable to the same vicissitudes. 4 COM
mon sense view of the subject would in
duce the belief, that at a certain period Of
life, knowing the reVerses to which all are
liable, more than ordinary care wo1ld be
exercised, in watching, strengthening and
protecting the physical as well as the
mental man: that all unnecessary expos
ures would be avoided, and all exhaustng
strains would be carefully guarded a
gainst. But such is not the case. For
some reason or other, which it is difficult
to understand, the powers are almost con-
stantly overtasked, and with consequences
every way deplorable. Those who have
mingled much in public life, seem never
disposed to retire. And SO with the ac-
tive spirits of the commercial and none
tary world. They become used to the ex-
citements of the day, and hence unwilling,
even when health and comfort require, TO
seek proper degree of ropose They
forget that the mind requires quite as
much care as the body, and although eth =,
ereal, it is delicate, and the least shock
or irregularity may disturb it's harmony
of motion, and snap its elastic springs
Ever and anon, too, they are admonish-
ed, directly or indirectly, by disease, by
death or by change of fortune, but all in
vain. They still toll on, restless and i'm
patient, eager and grasping. There are,
it is true, many who are compelled by the
force of necessity, to labor constantly and
incessantly. They cannot do otherwise,
even if so dispoed. A pause to them, is
indeed period of enjoyment and delight.
They seize upon it eagerly, and feel re-
freshed and strengthened through its in
fuence. But there are others again, who
will not pause when they could and should
who task their powers beyond their
strength, and who thus, if we may Sc
speak, tempt the mysterious ways of Prov
idence. They do not appreciate the bless
ing of health, they are not grateful for
the advantages of fortune, and they are
thus unworthy recipients of the benefacs
tons of the "Giver of all that is good
How many are there at this moment, who
have passed beyond an advanced condi-
ton of life, and have accu cumulated an a.
bundant independence, but who, never
theless go daily into the highways and
II. 1