Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-06-25
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.

From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
Wherever we turn our eyes, we find men
striving for distinction, honor and happi-
ness.
Every conceivable expedient is resorted
to in order to accomplish their designs
There are many men who 60 to and fro over
the earth. seeking in what manner they may, :,
with the least trouble to themselves, reach
the end they have in view.
It makes but little difference with them
whether the means they employ be the best
adapted to the accomplishment of their de-
signs or not, so that it elevates them in the
estimation of the public. They stop not to
inquire which would be the most appropri-
ate sphere for them, which is the proper
channel in which their powers should be ex-
erted, whether they are so capacitated as to
derive more enjoyment from this or that
employment, or whether they are endowed
with tastes and talents for this or that busi-
ness.
These questions do not enter their calcu-
lations. It isnot the great object of inquiry
with them, how they can best accomplish
the design for which they were created, but
how they may most easily accomplish their
own designs.
It is perhaps universally true of man that
he loves ease, that he loves freedom to do
nothing, that he wishes to 60 through the
world with as little exertion as possible; but
how peculiarly applicable is the truth to men
of the present day. Scarcely one in fifty of
our young men stops to consider whether
the occupation which he selects for life is
the one in which he can be the most useful.
The young man that enters upon the stud
of medicine, or law, scarcely ever considers
and very frequently cares about as little
whether it is the occupation for which he
was intended or not.
The young gentleman of this age must
60 and spend at least a part of his fortune
at College, perhaps graduate or else quit
after year or two, because he finds it too
much Of an cup hill business" and then
away he must go to profession, or some
so-called honorable employment, the name
of which he thinks will carry him through
the world. It is profession, lorotession.-
II must be professional character. Every
iibedy is following a profession and l must do
like the world
Notwithstanding many of our young men
have neither taste nor talents for profess
sion, it would be too grand condescension
to think of anything else.
Though they possess fine mechanical ge-
MUS, and though, by devoting themselves
to some manual employment, and uniting
this genius with labor. they might do great
good to society, and enrol their names high
upon Fame's proud temple. and have their
memories revered by posterity as great bene-
factors of their race, they must have a
''sheep skin," and think it as great an honor
as they need aspire after, to have handle
attached to their names. Though very many
have wonderful taste for agriculture, and
are so constituted that they would enjoy
more happiness from farmers life than any
other, though they have been brought up
in this business, and are well acquainted
with it, now that they have grown up to be
their own men, and have gone to College,
they think it would be disgrace for them
to follow trade or to cultivate the earth
They conceive the grand and mighty idea
that society would think less of them were
they to endeavor to live by honest industry
and hard labor, that they would bring dis
grace upon themselves and their families.
While this is view that many are pleas
ed to take of this subject, we shall endeavor
to show, that SO far from being dishonorable,
it is one Of the surest ways to success, and
honor, and happiness. And that while the
professions are highly honorable, and we
would not. were we able, detract at all from
the high repute in which they are held,
more dignity attaches to condition of life,
and more honor and Importance belongs to
no character in society than to the honest
laborer.
There is a dignity, which, from it's very
nature, belongs to labor. Instead of occu-
pying that low and contemplate place to
which it is wont to be assigned, it should
rank first and foremost among the various
employments of life. Instead of dishonor-
ing and degrading man, it elevates him high
in the scale of worth.
The honest, industrious laborer, who lives
free from censure and above suspicion, is as
much entitled to the confidence, respect and
esteem of his fellow-men as any member OF
society.
There are three important stand-points
from which we may view this subject:
1st. Man was made to labor. I'd. By
conforming to this law of his nature, he pro-
notes his own happiness. Sd. Byso doing,
he contributes to the happiness of his fellow
man.
We learn that man was made to labor,
first, from the command of God himself
He has declared unto man. s'In the sweat OF