The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-03-03
manual L.abOr-An Admirable Ar.
tirlc fOx tho Heading Of YOuuv

AM epSSssll::lIA
M %ffoia tho Philadelphia" Ledger.
q Thorsis Sttht present time among
n |i.rpe cIIiS oIAcrsons general dispo.
Ea1tion tSSh iialabpr, especially what (.
|H,stiucttSDlS4iled manual labor Our
R,ucs are seomi"s thro"sed with
young Adventures from the country,
hoping to escape tho common lot OF
man, and the professions are becoming
greatly oycrstoeked. ro4 the same YIN.
worthy .mot!lve.' That 'sac Il %! % error
lead. to the neglect of useful indus.
try, TO the promotion offraud through
excessive compctition,' to 2 ipiriEof
speculation akin e gambling and to
the dem oralization Of the community,
are sorrowiuI truths, but unfortunately
Of too general nature to change the
nurposcs Of tic individual. What i.
then the PERSONAL conscquetcc to each
one Of shaping his life on the ruling
principle Of avoiding manual labor9
Our subsection TO the physical, laws Of
hunger and cold, nccessitatc constant
conflict with p. tho material world.
rould men. By their will, 20: temper
the elements that they should produce
only grateful sensations, aud make
so cxuberant as to ,aytjct.
nate every want, and the minerals 70,
so}t - 10 offer no resistance to the will
Of men, they would become \ Iethargie,
iusipid and contemplate race. SO far
from excrlin2 our, unSpcnt energy IN
mental development they would havc
no consciousness Of power, no motive
10 the endurance, perseverance,, or
steady effort, essential to every mental
In all countries where 'na.
,urc is most'laYi,h, the mind OF nan IL
most feeble, for all growth and energy
is derived from that conflict with dill.
Guilty, which We call effort. Essy work
seldom produces Il robust mind. The
material world docs much for us By
w hat il yields, and . xrc"t deal by the
resistance Uf its vast forces, which
nothin. but patient toll can turn to ac-
count. The energy vi purpose and
character, without which there can bpt
no truc manhood, is best obtained in
the school Of manual labor. Let no.
one think. therefore, that Dy escaping
u life Of daily toll; he can best dis,fnr
gllieh bim,c!l' in mental pursuits.
This is an .rrrVr Ihat.is .ccraainrlo ~dis.r
appear, and leave him in, the. HOPELESS
condition Of ono. who has ,c0ntcmptu-
Ously Kicked away TIC only ladder
that could raise him 10 the point ha
desires to reach. Difficulties nrc more
important TO the human mind than Gs-
and work alone cam brine
out and perfect mems natures, for II ID
the essential foundation in all i'm
provcmcnt. and. therefore. Of all true
happiness and SUCCESS. lie who has
never learned to work. Or having
learned. endcavors 10 live without IL:
and affects 10 drspiscr il. is truly a.
pitiabIc object. lled"pcmdS on others,
and can make no r"tGrn for tho sup
port they give. The enjoyment lie
seeks wiI! ever cludr his grasp: tor!
case aud rest Owe all their delicious.
ness to toll. and nrc themselves the;
greatest burdens to ono who .rck.'
them for themselves alone. ..r
The excess Of manual labor may do
harm. The degradation Of the labor
ing classes In Europe comes not from
the nature Of their toll. but from the
absence OF all other elements from
their daily life. Man has various
nature. rc4uiringa variety OF occuca-
ton. and his intellect! E"art. .'iniayinx-
ton and taste are grievOusly wron"cd
when his life is' devoted to the one.
pursuit OF earning - subsistence. But
in this country. none arc thus drh,rrcdF
from cultivMtiiig every rRrt' OF. tlmiri
nature. .All are within rcachUr.a Inir:
share OF outward good. The Illcman,l,
for labor il uninterrupted, and tire
openings for enterprise arc far imorei
numerous in branches OF manual: i'm
dustry than in any! other. , Material
wants rouse the world TO activfty.r;
Labor shows forth it's Aruc dignity.
when thought is united with it-wiien',
the mimi keeps pace with the rhanL:f
When the farmer utiiizcs tho principal
OF chemistry, aud the mechanic &tudies.
the laws.ot matter. and notion aud
bothicultivatc the perceptions orben,,->
ty and taste, the best specimens OF:
human nature will be Developed. ,Iho
introduction Of drawing into ,ncchani.
cni pursuits cannot be .!too highly.
priced. ...-. -. =" ,n..O. -,li or,'y:
; 1t is not the quantity bnt tho quality !
ofknowlrdSc that Determines its value.
a man Of great "iui;ormntiom, twithouti
comprehensive idcas, .ulayS be vastly.
inferior in intellect 10 tho laborcr, who. /.
with tho energy Of n strong nature, has
seized on important truths. Z He who. in /,
choosing Or. in changing All e.. oecupa.
ton, throws out. those that include |
manualtoii; either trom.a desire 10 e..
cape,2hardships,I orntrom;s mistaken
hopo :of'thus| developing his mental
powers. has made the :Grcatest error o {
lis .lifc. 10 fight against! ltl,oy il, TO !
oppose the condition" OF, alb outward
comforts: and improvement, aid TO-
resist the highest means sof !ministcpnl
ing 10 the :vigor, an ,;ssybwth ofilthk:i