The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-05-09
NO. Z.
What Do We Work For?


in the Scientific American, as follows -
The question we desire briefly to ask is
t"Why do we work 2" but"W hat do We
work for 2" Some may answer at once
For money-wages or salaries" We
do not think this is correct and full re-
ply to the question. Labor may be the
Adamite cause, but if se the innate de-
slres of man and his restlessnes and ambi-
tlon for mprovementEhave changed the
curse to positive blessing and made the
earth-thorn thistle cursed-to bloom and
blossom as the rose. We work partly be-
cause we need it. We need it for health
of mind as well as body. Idleness leads
to decay to death. He who through years
of active e1ertien leaves his employment
and retires from business usually signs
his death warrant. He vegetates for
while In idleness aud dies, unless he has
sense enough to discover his mistake in
time and return to the paths of active use
fulness. There are few more pitiable OBJ
Jects than the man who after many years
OF active service in business is deluded
into belief that happiness and a reward
for his labors are to be found in with
drawing from all participation in the work
of life. Old age is an excuse for idleness,
but the possession of money is not. We
do not work for money alone. The me-
chanic who would be content to do the
work OF an apprentice, merely because he
could earn more wages, would be hardly
worth the name of mechanic. The
amount of wages or salary is recognition
of ability and value for services perform
ed, but not the onl y incentive to exertion
A workman feels pride in his work-in
the results of his skill-entirely uncon-
nected with the amount of money receiy-
ed for it.. If be did not, one very strong
motive of improvement would be lacking.
Almost every mechanic will agree with
US, that he has done jobs which afforded.
him more qualification in their success
than he derived from the possession of
the pecuniary compensation therefore
How often a man will undertake job
which he knows beforehand will not ''pay"
in cash what it costs, but mainly for the
pride of performing successfully. 1t is
true that "the laborer is worthy of his
hire" but to agree that the hire is the
only, or even the principal incentive is
unreasonable, not sustained by facts, and
derogatory to the dignity of labor" a
phrase often misued, but perfectly cor
rect one. To be sure, if the efforts Of the
werkman-and by this term we mean all
who do-are not appreciated by adequate
compensation he seeks other employers
who have proper appreciation Of his;
value.
We work for progress for progress in
dividually and for the progress of the race.
One means to that progress is the pay
ment for services rendered, as it will en-
able the skillful workman and the inyen-
tive mechanic to carry forward their plans
of improvement in manual labor or in Ia
boz, saving machines. We work for the
godlike pride of creation. The machine
which is an offspring of the brain of the
mechanic is as much, and more, his than
that of his lons. If he is lily paid for
his labor, mental or PHYSICAL, he has the
compensation of satisfaction in his sue
cess which cannot be assured by money
only, but which must be felt in the know
ledge that he has succeeded where others
failed, and has secured an impregnable
position as one of the pioneers In the
grand march of improvement.
There are few pursuits which demand
more hard work-of the brain-than that
of the mechanic. In no sense can he be
considered an exempler Of Bunyans
"Muckrake." He must live in order to
work, but he does not work merely that be
may live. He is always striving that he.
may mount the next step on the ladder,
and never does he mount but that he car
ries with him the living, moving world.
1t is his pride to excl; never satisfied
with mediocrity, but always striving for
superiority. From the workman to the
inventor is but step-a long step it may
be-yet not beyond his powers if he en-
ploys them properly and the inventor,
not mechanic, is often dependent on the
mechanic for the success Of his improve
ment.