The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1869-05-13
Manual Labor.

SlClou 10 SHun iaoOT, cSpecIaiiy VIM
distinctively called manual labor. Gu
cities are becoming thronged wit
young adventures from the country
hoping to escape the common lot o
man, and the professions arc becoming
greatly overstockcl from the same I'm
worthy motive. That such an erro
leads to the neglect Of useful industry
to the promotion Of fraud through ex
cessive competition, to spirit OF spec
ulation akin to gambling, and to de
moralization Of the community, ar
sorrowful truths, but unfortunately o
too general nature to change the pur
poses ofthe individual. What is thel
the personal consequences to each ON
of shaping his life on the ruling prin
ciple of avoiding manual labor? Gu
subsection to the physical laws o
hunger and cold necessitate a constan
conflict with the material world
Could men, by their will, so temper
the elements that they should produce
only grateful sensations, and make
vegetation SO exuberant as to antici
pate every want. and the minerals SC
soft as to offer no resistance to the viii
of men, they would become lethargic
insipid and contemplate race. So fal
from eSerting our unspent energy il
mental development, they would have
no consciousness of power, no motive
to the endurance, perseverance, OF
steady effort, essential to every mental
pursuit. In all countries where ma.
tureis most lavish, the mind Of man is
most feeble, fer ali Il growth and energy
is derived from that conflict with din.
Guilty which we call effort. Easy work
seldom produces robust mind The
material world does much for lis by
what it yields, and a great deal Of the
resistance of its vast forces, which
nothing but patient toll can turn to &C,
count The energy Of purpose and
character, without which there can be
no true manhood, is best obtained in
the school of manual labor. Let no
one think, therefore, t,at by escaping a
life of daily toll, he can best distinguish
mental pursuits. This is an
error that is sure to disappear, and
leave him in the hopeless condition of
one who has contemptuously kicked
away the only ladder that could raise
him to the point he desires to reach.
Difficulties are more important to the
human mind than assistances, and work
alone can bring out and perfect mems
natures, for it is the essential founda
ton of all Improvement, and, therefore,
Of all true happiness and success. He
who has never learned to work, or
having learned, cndeavors to live with
out it, and affects to despise it, is truly
y pitiable object. He depends on
others, and can make no return for the
support they give. The enjoyment he
seeks will ever elude his grasp; for
ease and rest eve all their delicious
ness to toll, and are themselves the
greatest burdens to one who seeks
them for themselves alone. The ex-
cess of manual labor may do harm.
The degradation of the laboring classes
N Europe comes not from the nature of
their toll, but from the absence of al,
other elements from their daily life
Man has various nature, requiring
variety Of occupation, and his intellect,
heart. taste and Imagination are
,rievously wronged when his life is de-
;otcd 20 the one pursuit of earning
But in this country, none
ire thus debarrcd from cultivating
very part of their nature All are
within reach of a fair share of outward
rood. The great demand for labor
s uninterrupted. and the openings for
enterprise are far more numerous in
branches of manual industry than in
my other. Material wants rouse the
world to activity. Labor shows forth
IS true dignity when thought is united
Wit it-when the mind keeps pace with
be hand. When the farmer utilities
he principles Of chemistry, and the
Mechanic studies the laws of matter
nd motion, and both cultivate the per-
option Of beauty and taste, the best
pecimens Of human nature will be de-
eloped. The Introduction of drawing
ITO mechanical pursuits cannot be too
ighly priced. I" -"
1t is'not the quantity but the quality
Z knowledge that determines its value.
man ofgreat information. without
ideas, may be vastly in
srior in intellect to the laborer, who, |
,itb the energy Of strong nature, has
elzed on important truths. He, who,
, choosing or IN changing an oecupa-
on, throws out those that include
annual toll. either from . desire to
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