, 1860-01-06
The Dignity Of Labor.

Since the decree went forth from the
hallowed lips of Jehovah, "In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread" it has
been the destiny of man to labor inccssant-
ly. Nothing great or gopd can be accom-
plshed without it. Think not, young man
or woman, that you can avoid it without
injury to yourself. AS well might you in-
hale the pestiferous gum of the Upas and
escape unLarmed. Tell us not, vain and
naughty young man, that labor is beneath
your dignity = that your parents are
wealthy, and that there is no need Of your
work-that labor is for the poor, and not
for the rich. Deluded mortal ! when that
poor boy, whom you scOrn aud despise, is
high upon the ladder Of fame, you, perhaps,
will he groveling in ignorance, poverty and
rags Insinuate not, young woman, that
your blood is too noble-your ancestry too
renowned, for you to labor Your seam
Stress" upon whom you lock with sover-
eign contempt, may live 10 give your starv-
ing children bread Travel back through
the vista of time as far as you please, ex-
anime iu every department OF life, aud show
us single great man who got 10 be such,
short of long continued, unrenittmg, indi-
vidual labor. Go look upon the pale face
of the Athcnian orator, as he labors in his
cause, then judge ye the price of his pro-
ductious Ask the great Milton the amount
of labor bestowed by him even upon Par
adise Lost" Inquire again Of the great
American philosopher, Franklin, if he at
tained the high position he occupied in the
scientific world by a course of idleness and
case. To labor is 10 do the will Of heaven.
When man came forth from the hand Of
the creator, he had virtually stamped upon
the very tablet Of his being, in characters
Of living light, the impressive injunction,
upward and onward ad inJfRitWm. The
man who looks upon honest toll as degra.
ding, like weeds which rot on farm, will
sink into silent obscurity. 1t is lsmenta-
BILE fact, however, that large class Of the
people regard labor as dishonorable. Over
one-half Of the young men, throughout the
nation, whose father owns few hundred
dollars, are preciptately rushed into pro-
fession. The "old man feeds the ardent
imagination Of bis boy by dilating upon the
wonderful achievements Of Esculapius, orr
expatiating upon the maichless forensic
eloquence Of Cicero, Burke, Calhoun, Clay,
and Henry. The whole thing looms up in
a grand paorama before his youthful vision.
He also imagiRes himself demi-god in
embryo, and that be is soon TO realize the
reward so beautifully spoken Of by Gray ::
The applause Of listening Senatss to command,
The threats of pain and ruin to despise-
To scatter plenty DER smiling land,
And read his history in nations eyes.
He is taught labor to despise-that he
is a decided genius--and has nothing to do
but to fold bis arms in idleness aud live by
his wits; fatal rock, upon which thousands
have been wrecked But the young genius
soon finds that be has no business qualifca-
tious, and as matter Of course, gets moth
ing to do. Whnrenpon, he becomes dis
heartened and discouraged, and too fire.
quently ends his life ~ misery and shame
While it is true that nothing great is at
tainable without labor, it is equally true
that with it we are enabled to accomplish
almost everything, Of which the history Of
the world affords abundant proof. The
Latin maxim, 4" Labor omHia viaeit," is en-
inently true; aud whatever be your hopes,
your dreams Of distinction, young man, new
er forget that trite but sterling truth La
Dor is what really digniies life, and woe to
him who dreams of fame or honor without
it'll