Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-02-08

WoRK.-The following sensible
and timely remarks are taken from
the Columbus (Ga.) San, Of the 30th
ultimo:
Physical labor, whereby a man
works muscle, in unison with brain,
to the end that an honest livelihood
be obtained, is honorable. We honor
that man who is not too proud to
work. Too'proud to work Would
that all mems pride ran in proper
channels, and that they were too
proud to steal, or cheat, or commit
forgery. Because man pushes the
plane, or guides the pillow, or handles
the spade, or beats the anvil, it by no
means follows that his intellect is
cloudy, or that his voice should not
be heard in the councils of State.
An aristocracy, other than that pre-
Dictated upon personal merit, intrinsic
worth and fertility of mind, or upon
one or all of these, united with high
moral character, has no rightful place
in this country. Our Government is
republican, our people democratic,
our citizens sovereigns, and our Off
GERS of State servants The laboring
classes are the vehicle to greatness.
Two-t thirds of the most celebrated
American orators, statesmen and
jurists sprang from this class. Under
our admirable system oP government
the mechanic and the artisan are
upon an equality, as respects civil
rights and political preferment, with
the publican and the barrister He
has right to be heard and make his
influence felt in the councils of State.
This fact has been generally &C
knowledged in form; it must come to
be acknowledged in practice.
That miserable, idiotic sentiment
the offspring of Ignorance, the
handmade of Vice-that it is ungen-
teel and vulgar to work with ones
hands, has been too prevalent in this
country. We must get out of that
way of thinking. 1t don't suit the
times. 1t might have done in the
days of side-arms and knight err
rantry, but it won't do now. 1t don't |
suit our era. 1t is not democratic. |
Our social system must correspond
to our political system A lady may
get her husbands supper, or darn
her stockings, or dust the piazza
without detrimept to her social status.
A gentleman may saw his wood, or
kindle his fires, or go to market, or
spade his garden, without encroach-
ment upon his dignity, or disparage-
ment to cultivated intellect.
We should teach our children to
work. 1t won't make them a whit
less graceful in the drawing-room,
Or engaging in conversation. Boys
should know how to use the pillow
and the hoe, as well as the fowling
piece. A knowledge of the joiner's
tools is no barrier to Euclid or Vir-
gil. The present Governor of one of
the Middle States is as graceful in
the use of the jackplane as with the
pen. Franklin was no less profound
in philosophy and the science of gov
for having worked in soap
factory. The present Chief Magis-
trate of the United States is no less
honored as statesman or respected
TOR his great strength of intellect, or
revered as wise and judicious officer
Tor having once supported his little
family by means Of the shears and
,he goose.
Girls, too, may be taught to work
without making them plebian. If
hey are taught the use of the broom
or distaff, that will not injure their
progress in Italian or music; and
hey will be all the better prepared
or the life before them. A vigorous
physical constitution, Or an acknowl-
edged acquaintance with the kitchen
n laundry, is not necessarily mark
# vulgarity. Work, work, WORK
hat is the motto. Carlyle says,
blessed is the man who fndeth his
york and doeth it.