Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-09-14
THE pEsrILENcfE, EIF HuRRY.

THE PESTlLENCE Or HURRY.
This is the age of hurry, and this country
its most congenial home, IL the two words
can rightly be associated, when hurry has
done its utmost 70 spoil our homes. making
them more like restraints aud loiging-housee,
than they were designed for or like stations
on a railway, where one geis out to breathe
the fresh air for a few moments, keeping
watch all the time for the Conductors warn
ing Business is the waichw of Ameri-
can life; under tho pretepce Of duty, it steals
the best OF our time and leaves us but the
odds and ends, In which We are zoo weary to
enjoy ourselves. Business has its undoubted
claims; but it cannot prosper by stealing /;
dishonesty is not the best policy Business
has made US 10 differ from thrftless savages
and w0rn-0ut arist0oracies lt is good SER
want, but a bad master.
Look at our large cities, with their thous-
ands Of care-wofn, over-taxsd, " driven-to-
dea.h business men. Tney accomplish a
certain amount Of labor day by day, it Is true.
Their deposits az tso bsnt hn5tetse steadily
year by year, but At what fearful outlay Of
vitality. Yet they have become so habitu-
a,ed 20 this way Of life that they willingly
decrease its pressure in every possible way.
Look az them as they leave the city for their
elegant suburban homes. They are Just in
time to jump on the train they talk business
ell he way nome, and when they get there,
they are so weary that they mist be patted
and coaxed like sick babies. The children
must be KEEP. out Of the way, SO as not to
disturb papa, or if ainsted TO bis presence
are enjoined to behave like grown people,"
Papa Is too tired TO take them 90 ride too
tired 90 enjoy the garden TOO tired to hear
his wife read the new book which would be
d0lbig interesting 20 her from reading it with
him too tired, in short, for anything bus
absolute repose of mind and body. Back he
goes 10 ths morning to his work, and fifteen
minutes before the train stops, you shall see
him On his feet, pressing crowd.ng eager 20
be the frat TO rush into the street. and feel
ing actually buoyant if he succeeds in saving
q second or Two of tims--not that it presents
itself Go him 10 that light; hurry mas become
with him habitual and unc0nscious but 20
a lo0ker-on 10 is painful 20 see now the man
is the slave and not the master Of his work.
And go h9 goes on day aner day till sudden
iy there is d break ia ths human machinery
"a mal il dead-lead from abuse OF natural
laws, which, properly o5eysd, would have
kept ain 10 healthy being for twenty years
longer; rlch indeed, but insensible now to
all his riches resting, let us hope, at last.
There is something wonderfully touching ia
the look Of sucl dead faces the lines of care
relaxed, the look Of eageme5s and tension
gone, the quiet mouth. win something Of its
clildlike expression. 90 it it had found time
once more TO smile; ald on the breast the
busy fingers crossed and still, to do no more
F q ha 4 rf IFrt o. ..g,
hour for respectful sympathy, and then the
world draws them back again, and new
machine takes the place Of that which has
been worn on, ami laid aside. It has even
been proposed lately to defer the remoya. OF
the corpse TO the tomb till the day after the
funeral services Why We 20 not know unless
to save the precious time OF friends. Surely
IL Is not from want Of sympathy, for in cases
Of distress, that is freely given by these very
men they will give money TOO anything in
fact, but time; that was given them for
business.
Men and women 90 on thus from year to
year. and call it living. Feeling sometime.
the hardness of their lot, getting a glimpse
Of things beyond the daily round, they think
it wrong % indulge their longings, or do il
az by stealth ia short summer vacations, INFO
which they try to crowd the recreation that
should have been distributed throughout the
year But is this lie win not the chit.
dren remember a parent more fondly from
some mutual pleasure, some holiday excur-
sion, some kind and patient explanation OF a
picture or poem, some thoughtful care for
mind and soul, than from the most liberal
provision for their temporal wants And
even it money getting be the end and aim oi
life, it is poor economy to overwork the
muscles and the brain. We are urging re-
1 form in our public schools, 50 as to give the
children less study and more play. Do not
the parents need similar arrangement
IL rests with those who are wealthy, and
who control the time Of others, to accomplish
a reform. Selfahness might find sufficient
inducements to it, not only in the personal
relief and benefit, but in the better quality Of
service It would ensure. Bat there are
higher considerations than these. Those
who are in subordinate business positions
suffer most with the least power Of redress.
If they are to support themselves and their
families, they must conform to existing busi-
ness regulations, no matter how exhaustive OF
time and strength. To complain is to starye.
But there is q silent protest seen in shortened
lives, in crowded asylums, in the rage for
speculation as a desperate means Of escape
from long aud painful struggle, which,
were it comprehended by those who are res
ponslble in the matter, would touch their very
hearts. Economy, reason, religion, all coun-
sci moderation in work as well as in recrea-
tion. We think ourselves wise nation
let US not be found fools.-PymoUtb Sentt.
mel.
The Richmond Examiner does not believe
because General Grant honors the President
with his comdany that he is a convert to the