Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-05
THE FASHION OF LABOR.

and Indispensable to the status of a gentle
man is, in this country at least, giving place
TO another view of the case altogether; and
that is-that only those too young or too old
for labor, the infrm and a few others, are
honorably privileged to life of Incidence or
exemption from work. The procession through
our streets the other night was suggestive of
good many things in this direction. Our
fathers received this land from the hand of the
Almighty in "A condition so crude, so devoid of
everything like the power of sustaining them
in idleness, that only the hardest and best di-
rected efforts possible enabled them to keep
starvation at arms end and abide finally
where their lot was cast That they had
the good sense to appreciate the situa-
tion at once, and proceed to remedy the
disabilities of it, has been made plain any
time during the three centuries that have
passed. Landed in the most unpromising part
at that day, of the new domain, their dire ne
cessities were so pressing and imperious, that
they were not excused from toll from the week
they built the first shelter and the fire to warm
it, until they had accomplished the task of
founding great commonwealth. Achieving
thus the habit of industry, whether at Ply
mouth or jamestown, the whole of the new
empire of liberty has. been benefited by the
example, until, we repeat:-the usage, or Gus
tom, or habit has at last made the fashion;
and an ider,-an habitual one, we mean
whether his pecuniary resources are large or
small, is by common consent, bore to the
great mass Of energetic busy men, who in one
or another vocation carry on the world.
And if any one doubts the soundness of these
premises, let him call to mind any confirmed
idler of his acquaintance, whose custom it is
to haunt the thoroughiares of the great city,
Let such an one drop in where he will, to Cos
sip. to discuss the news of the day, and al
though his presence may be tolerated in insur-
ance office, or workshop, in store or bank,
''semi- professionally" how soon is it evident
that however entertaining his budget of gossip
may be that he is silently voted clog on the
active business of life, check on that needfu
and tireless machinery which keeps the world
of trade and finance and commerce in notion
to benefit mankind.
The truth is, there is too much to do in this
new Western World of ours to admit of mac
ton as profession. Let the son of him most
regarded In the community approach man
hood, and the world at once proceeds to take
his guage-his measurement. his calibre.-
"What is he good for?' ''What useful place
lean he fill i'll society, as his father has filled
"a place before him?'' is the query; and if the
hat o r.
he has no talents or faculties that can be turned
to useful purpose, how soon is he allowed to
drift down the current of life unheeded, TO die
little regarded or honored.
And we insist, that since toll" is the watch.
word, the first condition to an honorable stand
ing in this land where rest is the exception. it
should not matter much what trade or profes-
sion may happen to be, to entitle 1T to honor
able consideration. Let the man fulfill to the
uttermost the acquisitions upon him, whether
1t be to handle bar of iron upon the anvil, or
equally without gloves to handle that other
Char which engrosscs so much of learning, of
profit and honor, and the rightly discrimina-
ting, who appreciate republican institutions
and mete out justice according to desert, viii
honor one equally with the other.
is reported of the late Chief Justice Mar
shall, that when he was at the zenith of his
honors as great iurist, and his company
sought by all who honored great talents and
worth combined that he was in the habit of
retiring from the learned circles he adorned. to
visit and converse with poor man of the city
OF Richmond, whose vocation as gunsmth
kept HIM remote from those too proud or ex-
elusive to recognize his worth. Frequently
were these two men-it is said-seen for hons
In cheerful CONVERSE the one busted with his
daily tolls, the other tightening these labors by
his conversation, and both doubtless profted
by the interchange of thoughts in which the
world outside might have been edited to par-
hclpate. Let society recognize-as did Chief
Justice Marshall-tc0,th wherever it is found
and how soon would useful toll be awarded its
Just standing; how much better it would be for
all concerned
Let none then shun labor, or slight labor of
any useful kind, as compromising the dignity of
the race; let none patronizc or welcome idleness
In this age, as the badge of honorable distinc-
ton. Committed to the needs of labor from
the beginning; accepting it cheerfully as that
which must make the world better wherever
1t is bestowed, let our people at once discard
those notions and follies born of less enlieht- |
ened times; let us not accept it as badge of |
interiorlty where so much that is great and |
glorious by means of ii remains to be achieved, |
falen upon better times, of late; fully alive to |
the beneficent change that is progressing, let |
our State have the advantage of all we can do |
for her, whether by the toll of brain Or hand;
let no one feel himself excused unless in his dav
and generation he has done something to ad- |
vance the welfare of the community. to make |
the world better or happier for his having lived
in it,