National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-09-17
The PhiiOsOphy Of LirinD.

He who works stated number |
of hours daily, for stated price,
and who regularly receive his wa
ges and lives within his income is
said to be the most independent
man in the world. With his tools
he lays aside his care, and in his
family or with his friends spends a
happy life-with nothing whatever
to perplex him, and every thing 10
give content. This is one view OF
the matter, and is probably enter
tanned by those who are wearieu
and perplexed with the cares ana
RESPONSIBILITIES of experimenting
LARGE business. OF conducting intrl-
cate operations. People are always
inclined to imagine any other posi-
ton better in some respects, than
their own. The happy man above
described envies his employer, and
wishes that instead of being the
mere agent. bound to move at an
others direction, he would change
places with his principal. For he
knows his own embar1assments and
cares. and if he has not the burden
of the direction of great affairs, he
has the daily anxiety of contriving
how he shall make stated sum
meet unexpected eXigencies. 1T
NAV be a daily puzzle to him to keep
down the demands of pride or neces-
sity. He has, moreover, the contln,
gencies of business to fear, as well
as employer; for if the principal IS
unsuccessful, the employed suffer,
and he may on any day receive no
ticc that his services are no longer
required. And as to dismlsslng all
care and thought about his employ
cr's interest, if he can do that, he
is precisely the person whose labor
can be most easily dispensed with.
The service of no man so purely
mercenary is worth much.
True independence, SO far as ont
can be independent, is accessible
both to employers and employed
The secret is, to undertake no NOR
than can be managed and to deter
mine that you acilt have hours o
relaxation, when you can dismls
the cares of business from you
thoughts. AS Poor Richard has II
'Drive your business, and not 1t
your business drive YOU" In cage
competition, men give thcmselvt
too little rest, and undertake to
much. Some one asked an Eng
lish statesman and jurist, how h
could get through the amount
labor which he performed. "As
thief gets through n horscpond
was the answer-"I am dragge
through it." There is too much
this 'dragging,' both among tn
English and among ourselves
Sometimes men make solid gam
and secure wealth, when too niue
fatigued to enjoy it. But too oite
they make shipwrcck. hudson, Il
English protector, whose popul'
designation n few years ago WI
sthe railway king" is now so redd
ed in pocket that his friends a
raising a subscription to purchase
small annuity Tor him, that bio Ii
nav not close in absolute penur
The true philosophy is to regard IL
as a thing to be pushed moderated
and enjoyed as it passes. 1t shou
never be treated, as too many q
as great game of hazard. \
should we fancy that all in wh
we are interested depends entire
upon ourselves. Other people,
must be conceded, can do somethll
The best business results are
tanned by finding out trustwort
people and coniiding in them. i
experiment of entire direction OF
grand scale has been tried by t
Emperor of the French, certain
one of the strongest men that
world has seen; but even he is
ginning to learn that one man is
competent for every thing and
we suspect, may envy the conten
laborer, who has only to do his di
work and receive his daily wac
There are thousands like h
Their empires are narrower,
their experience is the same: toe
success; morrow, disappo
ment.-Philddelphia Ledger.
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