Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-30
0RIGINAL PApRRSo
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Comfort Of the Poor.
BY INVALID.

" II is little thing to speak phrase
OF common comfort, which by daily use
Has almost lost its sense yet on the ear
0fhim who thoughtto odieunmourn'd twill fall
Like choicest music. ."-TALFoRD.
This is'the age of progress, not only in
a scientific and intellectual, but moral
point of view. Scarcely year goes by,
that startling discoveries are not made
tioHs in commerce, trade and travel, and |
to make or mar the fortunes of thousands.
Enterprises of benevolent character are
also of frequent occurrence. New institu-
tions are starting into existence, new sour
ces Of philanthropy are constantly devel-
oped, popular education is becoming more
widely diffused, and the moral and mental
progress Of the masses appears to be on
ward. Nevertheless, there are thousands
and tens Of thousands of the honest and
industrious poor who, from the force of
circumstances, are little better than slaves,
who, toll as they may, can scarcely provide
themselves with the means of ordinary sub
sistcnce, and who therefore look forward
to sickness and old age with fear and tremb-
ling. Is it not possible to soften and re-
lieye this condition Of humanity, to bright
en- and cheer the homes and the prospects
Of the poor. "The greatest good of the
greatest number" has long been the avowed
object Of enlightened statesmen and gener-
erous philanthropists but, in elevating
the moral and Illuminating the mental,
they have, to q certain extent, lost sight
Of several Of the social and physical, and
have thus in some measure, sharpened the
power of appreciation, and rendered the
keenness of poverty more CALLING. 1t is
the doctrine of many Of the most careful
observers, that the general condition of hu-
manity cannot be permanently improved,
until provision be made as well for the So
cial aud physical wants and comforts Of
the multitude, as for their moral and men
tai Advancement.
But how shall this be done How
shall more enlarged spirit of equality be
introduced among the children of men p
This is the great question, the great desid-
eratum. The tendency in the Old World
is for the rich to become richer, and the
poor, poorer Thus, evenin Great Britain,
liberal nations of the earth, the contrast
between the classes is broad. The few,
revel in luxury and roll in wealth, while
the many toll on, able merely to earn
brown bread for their wives and little ones.
Nay, in seasons of famine and disaster,
hundreds and thousands are hurried "down
to DEATH" A green land of promise pre-
sents itself in the New World, yet multi
tudes find it impossible to obtain even
means sufficient to liquidate the expense:
Of the voyage Thus they are chained tC
the earth, as it were, and have before then
the prospect of lifelong poverty and wretch
edness, the poor house or premature
grave.
The condition and prospect are better
far better in our own comparatively happy
country ). nevertheless, the time will come
when our population, swollen to accumula
ted millions, will find the struggle for dai
ly bread, calculated not only to tax tn,
morals and the mind, but to press out th
health and the elasticity of the physica
frame. Even now, in our crowded cities
how many sad spectacles are presented =
What narrowing tales have been told o
the wasting and toiling tailoresses and nee
dlc-women ! How many at this moment
male and female, are engaged eagerly AM
willingly in some severe labor, and VIII
at nightfall or at the close of the week, fin,
that they have earned simply the means c
subsistence and not of comfort The fe'
are fortunate, but the many seem born
lives of toll. Some, we are aware, are az
to mock at anything like sympathy for th
great multitude, to contend that the char
ees are equal, and to argue that any ind
yidual with proper industry and energ
may soon acquire an independence. Ala:
how differently are we constituted Ho
- untitled are some to wrestle with the worlC
How Sorrow and Misfortune seem
track the footsteps Of certain individual
to battle their brightest Lopes, and to owe
whelm them when they appear about
emerge from viccissitudes and gloom :
How many are pressed to the earthly sic
ness, by treachery and by ingratitude !
The prosperous should remember the
things and be grateful. They should loo
around them, rejoice at their own hapl
condition, and then cheer by language,
manner, by counsel and by aid, the HON
of the iesolate, the afflicted, the strugglil
and the poor Life, after all, is but SUI
mer's day. Its morning may be brigl
It's evening stormy. But with all, mig
and death will surely come The curta
which separates the mortal from the spir
ual will rise, and the things of vanity a
of this world melt and fade away forev,
And how apt are the prosperous to fOrg
this truth How prone are they to oil
to and ponder upon the present, rath
than contemplate the future How,
self, its tastes, its appetites and it's enjC
ments, are all thoughts, feelings and cC
siderations absolved, and often to the M
lect Of solemn duties, and to the disregs
of the hundreds less fortunate, who IL
need succor and assistance We repeat
what can be done for the physical CO
fort of the poor How can the daily ia,
of labor be lightened and sweetened
How can the masses be elevated il
consciousness, not only of political in
pendence and moral propriety, but of
cial and physical comfort and enjoyme
The question we are aware is more reac
asked than answered, and yet, it must
asked, discussed and inquired into to
cure remedy. Equality of cOntt