Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-09-28

SARAH was engaged IN this preparation 70 en-
tertain the guests Of her husband ABRAHAM
ran'-this was in the heat Of the day, and the
bare Thought Of it is enough & take away the
breath of a gentleman of digniiied leisure
ARRAuAM ran "unto the herd and fetched
calf tender and good, and he gave 1t unto
voung man. and he fastened to dress It. ana
while thew ate. he stood by them under the tree,
and when they departed he ''went with them
to bring them on their way" Few VIII refuse
to agree with the writer who points out these
characteristics Of the patriarch that here is "a
specimen of a genuine gentleman; here was
courtesy Of external department; the courtesy
Of polite language the courtesy of substantial
hoSpital,tv: and all this the offspring Of truly
benevolent heart" No quality OF gentleman
is here wanting, and no blood or station can
make the man gentleman who lacks these
qualities.
Other examples from Holy Writ, illustrating
the dignity of labor, might be adduced. GID
EoY was taken from the threShing floor to de-
liver his country. SAUL was tending his cat
tie when he was made king DAVID was
brought up in a sheep-fold. Every one made
their own instruments of tillage The women
spun. wove. embroidered and made clothes for
their families. The divine founder of our re-
ligion was the son of a carpenter; the apostles
were chosen from the laboring class. PAUL
and AoUuI.A Aweretent-makerS, and PAUL work
ell at bis frlde after he had become an apostle,
that he might support himself while preaching
the gospel. Nor was it among the chosen pe0-
ple alone that labor was honorable. Women
of the highest repute in Greece were employed
in needle-work, spinning and weaving. Ladies
of the first rank were washerwomen. The
daughter of the king of Pheocia went in a car
riage drawn by mules, with her maids, to a
fountain at distance from the city, to wash the
clothes of the family The Greeks held the
business of carpentry in higheSteem. The car
penter was classed with physicians soothsayers
and bards. and sent for to great distances. The
trade was practiced by the most illustrlouS
chiefs. ULYSSES is represented as building the
boat in which he leaves the island of Calypso,
and in his own palace, in the midst OF his opu-
lence. making his own bedStead and adornmg
it with gold, silver and ivory. The celebrated
wooden horse of the Greeks was built by EPEUs,
one of the Grecian chiefs On the whole, we
DO not see how it can be beneath the dignity OF
man to DO that which is essential to his wants,
his happiness and development, nor how that
which is necessary to the prosperity, power and
pride of a State can be degrading to its indiyld-
ual members.
Some Of the most eminent men even IN mon
archial countries have risen to their high posi-
tions from vocationS Of manual industry. In
our own Republic the instances are almost IN
Vulnerable. There is nothing in labor which
is incompatible with intellectual developement
any more than with personal dignity. We
have heard it said that the great man at the
head of the nation has preserved, with senti-
ment of true manlineSS the humble edlhce IN
which he formerly pursued mechanical voca-
ton. History records that PRINIsLAUS, the
first king of Bohemia, kept his country shoes
ALWAYS by him, and AGATHOCLEs, by the fur
niture of his table, confessed that from potter,
he was raised to be the king of Sicily. 1t Is
only true greatness, moral as well asintellectua,
which can thus rise superior to the absurd and
irrational preiudices of society.
These considerations are not inappropriate
in the present condition of our State and peo-
ple We have too long been deluded by the
foolish notion that work Is inconsistent with our
dignity. 1t has now become essential to our
very existence. The war has had at least one
redeeming influence-in innuring our young
men to toll and hardship. Let them now real
ize that it is as digniied to work in the field as
i'm trenches, and they will soon repair the ruin
to individuals aud to the community which the
war has caused.
We are gratifed in being able to add, that
many Of our young men in this region, fresh
from bloody fields, have shown an admirable
spirit Of industry If they have not literally
turned their spears into plOushshares and their
swords into pruning hooks" they have hung
them up in the hall, and rolled up their sleeves
for hard labor in the furrows and the work
shops. No idlers they; their exposure to
weather and sometimes to want, has taught
them lessons of self-reliance, and not man of
them seems disposed to 'eat the bread of idle
ness" They are illustrating the true dignity
Of labor, and proving that "honOr and shame
from no condition rise.