The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-07
lFrem the Philadelphia Ledger. ]
t0 Doing Nothing"

Many young persons are growing up
with the idea that industry-espec-
ially manual industry-is not quite
respectable. There is no modern no.
ton that more completely cuts at the
root of wholesome sentiment and of
national or individual prosperity than
this. Whether idleness takes the form
of street lounging and gossip that be-
gets more active vices, or of the
dreamy sentimentalism that tritters
away life in vague fancies, or the busy
idleness that occupies itself In hum
dred Weys to avoid the steady, ener-
getic pursuit of regular duty, it is
equally eulpable in its character and
pernicious In its effects. To some de-
gres, circumstances may tend to pro-
duee this evil.
Some climates and some seasons of
the year, induce lassitude; some con-
situations have less energy and power
of will than others; many dis
eases deprive the body of its strength
and the mind of its elasticity. Even
in these cases, the complete surrender
of such influences is the surest
method of increasing their power.
while a steady resistance will grad
ualIV
of the cause. In by far the larger
numberof instances, the vice of idle
ness results from the indulgence of
luxurious habits, which breaks down
| the native energy of the character.
The person who regards momentary
qualification as the chief good, will
soon lose the vigor and enterprise
necessary to undertake, and the per-
severance to carry through, any
scheme requiring industry and self
command. Some, from paucity of
ideas, lack enterprise and become
| torpid, being unable to see the utility
of proper undertakings; while others,
overwhelmed with a vast conception
of what is to be done, sit down in the
inaction of despair. Others there
are who begin with earnestness and
hope, but, lacking perseverance, are
| intimidated by the first difficulty, and
accomplish nothing because they have
not the courage to face obstacles.
The want of method and habit in
early life is largely answerable for this
evil. Those accustomed In youth to
regular and industrious employment
/ will seldom lose such habits in after
/ life; while those who have been suf-
| fered to pass a desultory childhood,
/ will require an extra fortitude OF char
acser, to become persevering, en-
ergetic and industrious in after
| lite. A resolution of character,
a frmness of principle, which seeks
| to do what is right, rather than
| that what is temporarily agreeable, is
the great safeguard against this dam
gerous evil. Impulsive exertions may
| produce magnificent deeds; but with
out methodical and steady resolu-
| ton, without system and habit, and
strength of will, but little that is per-
manently useful will ever be accom-
! plished. Our natures are so construct
| ed, that it is only in the cultivation
and improvement of all our faculties
that we can properly enjoy any OF
| them.
The listless letlsqrgy shown by many
young people is productive of many
evils. To tke body it is predispos
ing cause of many forms of disease ;
the want of healthy excitement and
occupation leads too often to intern
perance in eating and drinking to
pass away the time" and this, in its
turn, brings fever, indigestion and de-
preston, and makes the frame less
able to withstand the attacks of any
disease. A large proportion of the
drunkenness and dissipation of vari-
GUS forms, so common, may be traced
directly to this source. Its effect on
the mind is quite bad. While pro-
ducing instability of purpose, it is in
time followed by humiliatiug sense
of inferiority. No man has a right
TO go through life, whatever his posi-
ton may be, without honest, useful
and regular employment of some kind.