Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-01
Sound Sense = The Philosophy of
Living.

/
Living.
From the Philadelphia Ledgsr.l
He who works stated number of hours
daily for stated price, and who regu-
larly receives his wages, and lives within
his income, is said to be the most inde-
pendent man in the world. With his
tools he lays aside his care, and in his
family or with his friends spends happy
| life-with nothing whatever to do to per-
plex him, and everything to content
| This is one view OF the matter. and is
probably entertained by those who are
wearied and perplexed with the cares
and responsibilities of experimenting 8
large business or conducting intricate
operations. People are always inclined
to imagine any other position better, in
some respects, than their own. the happy
man above described envies his en-
ployer, and wishes that instead of being
the mere agent, bound to move at
auother's direction, he could change
places with his principal. For be knows
his own embarrassments and cares, and
il he has not the burden of great affairs,
he has the daily anxiety of contriviug
how he shall make stated sum meet un-
expected exigencies. 1t may be daily
puzzle to him to keep down the demands
of pride and necessity. HI has, moreover.
the contingencies of business to fear, as
well as bis employer, for if the principal
is sunsuccessful, the employed must suffer,
and he msy on any day receive notice
that his services are no longer required.
And as to dismissing the care and thought
about his employers interest, if he can
do that he is precisely the person whose
labor can be easiest dispensed with. The
services OF no man SO purely mercenary
are worth much.
True independence, 80 far as any one
can be independent, is accessible both to
employers and employed. The secret
is to undertake no more than can be
managed, and to determine that you will
have hours of relaxation, when you can
dismiss the cares of business from your
thoughts As poor Richard has it,
Drive your business and not let your
business drive you. Ia eager compe-
tition men give themselves too little
rest and undertake too much. Some
one asked an English gentleman and
jurist how he ceuld get through the
amount of labor which he performed
" AS thief gets through a horse-pond,"
was the answer, :" am dragged through
it." There is too much of this drag
ging, Doth ameng the English aud
among ourselves. Sometimes men
make solid gains, and secure wealth,
when too much fstigued to enjoy it.
But too often thew make shipwreck.
Hudson, the English protector,
whose popular designation few
years ago was the Railroad King"
is now so reduced in pocket that his
friends are raising subscription to pur-
chase small annuity for him, that his
life may not close in absolute penury.
The true philosophy is to regard life as a
thing to be pushed moderately, and en-
joyed as it passes. 1t should never be
treated, as too many do, as a great game
of hazard. Nor should we fancy that all
in which we are interested depends en-
tirely upon ourselves. Other people, it
must be conceded, can do something
The best business results are obtained
by finding out trustworthy people and
confding in them. The experiment of
entire direction on grand scale has
been tried by the Emperor of the French
certainly one of the strongest men that
the world has seen, but even he is begin
ming to learn that one man Is not compe-
tent for everything, and be, we suspect,
may envy the oontented laborer, who has
only to do his daily work and receive his
daily wages. There are thousands like
him. Their empires are narrower, bat
their experience is the same; to-day sue
cess, tomorrow disappointment.