Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-09
MISCELL A N Y
PLEASANT VALLEY,
Oct. 1st., 1860.

We Work too much and Play too Little.
The intense devotion of Americans to s'busi-
ness'' is proverbial We are by far the hardest
working people in the world. Though compell-
ed by no such necessity as drives the inhabitants
of the densely populated countries of the old
world to their daily tasks for their bread, new
ertheless the majority Of US work more hours
than they, with a more intense and perpetual
strain upon brain and muscles, and with fewer
intermissions from labors, for recreation and a.
musemhnt. We are taught from childhood that
work is the "chief end of man." The dignity
oflabor' is among the earliest lessons we receive.
With us not merely is labor honorable, but most
of us hold that it is about the only thing that is
so. Even wealth and rank, while they are COW
eted and worshipped, borrow their respectable
ty-as we may see If We will look little below
the surface of our social philosophy-from the
idea that they are the embodied expressions OF
labor. 1t is acquired rather than inherited
wealth, which conters honor among US. While
we NAV envy, we have at the same time lurk-
ing contempt for the wearer of ancestral ''pur-
Die and fine lneD," unless he forswears the i'm
munity from toll which they confer and becomes
worker.
Now all this would be very well, If our pas
sion for labor, or rather ambition to secure It's
rewards. did not convert US into slaves. 1t Is
quite right that idleness should be disreputable,
and industry held in honor. But it Is not right
to brand all recreation and amusement as Idle
ness. 1t is bad policy, as well as bad morality,
TO give all our time to work and none to play
Both body and mind are injured, and life is
shortened thereby. What an army do we see
in our streets of paralytics dyspeptics, consump-
tiyes. and other victims OF dlsease-men not
vet passed middle age, who have retired from
active business with fortunes, only to drag out
few months or years of miserable existence-all
canacty for ENJOYING the fruits of their past toll
DESTROYED by having made that toll Slavery
The sight is melancholy one. A few hours
snent daily in recreation, with the burden OF
bnsiness laid down and the mind unbent from
it's tension, would have preserved to them their
health. without diminishing their gains.
We are race of dyspeptics. A man with
perfectly sound digestion is the exception rather
than the rule among US and the principal reason
is, that we do scarcely anything but work and
eat. Even sleeping is regarded as time wasted
-0It is the early bird that catches the worm,"
is onr motto. and the ''worm" we must Save.
Now we entirely reject this doctrine, that
work is the schief end of man." Labor in and
of itself has no "dgnity" So far from it, it was
imposed upon the race originally as penalty for
sin, and the best that can be said of it now is,
that by kind arrangement of Providence the
penalty has been softened down into means OF
redeerning us from other and more destructive
consequences of the fall. BY excess it may be
restored to all its characteristics of a curse
When it breaks down bodily health, and dwarfs
the soul, instead of being dignified and hOnora-
BILE, it is vulgar and mean, unless indeed it be
imposed by a necessity from which there is no
escape without guilt Our FIRST duty in this
world is to grow sonnd mind in healthy hody,
and this is our truest dignity. Whatever im-
pedes these ends, whether it be labour, 'sbusi-
ness,' or anything else, should be condemned
Our highest obligation is to serve God. But
who can serve him acceptably with a softeped
brain or crick in the bsck2 We are COM
manded TO love our neignbor as ourselves But
with 'duodenum, or an agitated piorous," as
Sydney Smith describes dyspepsia, we can love
neither ourselves nor our neighbor. Hence,
sound bodily health is an Indispensable condition,
not merely Of intellectual growth and vigour,
but as we'll of the moral harmony of the soul
just as indispensable conditions Of sound bodily
health are diversity of employmshts, and an al
formation of labour and recreation.
1t is not necessary to urge our readers to be
industrious. There is not the slightest danger
that they will not work hard enough. The dam
ger is all on the other side. There is far great
er necessity to urge them to spend more time in
recreation, and we accordingly, seriously and
earnestly do SO. While you are "dilligeDt in
business" do not consider ''business" the "whole
duty of man." Look upon it rather as neces-
sity, from which you have perfect right to es-
cape if you can. Esteem innocent diversions,
sports, amusements and recreations as lawful,
nay, as truly duties as hoeing potatoes or selling
tape. And by all means see to it, whatever may
be the fancied demands of business, that you
give to recreation all the time necessary to Sc
cure sound health.