The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-02-23
MANUAL E.AROR.
An Admirable Article for the Rcn'!inK
of Young Saen.
From, The Philadelphia Ledger.

of Young Tsen.
From The Philadelphia Ledger.
There is Mt the present time among
| large class of persons general dlsposl-
| ton to shuA labor, especially what Is
distinctively called manual labor. Oar
cities are becoming thrOnged with
Young adventures from the country,
| hoping TO escape the common lot of
| man. and the professions arc becoming
greatly oYerstocked from the same un-
| worthy motive. That such an error
leads TO the neglect Of useful industry,
to the promotion of fraud through ex-
ceSsiVe competitions to II spirit OF specu-
latiOn akin to gambling, and to the de-
mOruliZdtiOn of the community, are
SOrrOwful truths, but unfortunately OF
too general a nature to change the pur-
poses of the individual. What is then
the personal consequence TO each one
of shaping his life on the ruling prin-
ciple of avoiding manual labor? Our
subsection TO the physical laws of hum
ger and cold, necessitate constant con.
flict with the material world. Could
men, by their will, SO temper the ele-
ments that that they should produce
only grateful sensations, and make
vegetation so exuberantas to anticipate
every want, and the minerals SO soft rs
to offer no resistance TO the will Ofmen,
they would become q lethArgiC, insipid
and contemplate race. So far from
exertiDg our unspent energy in mental
developement they would have no
consciousness of power, no motive TO
the endurance, perseverance,, or steady
effort, essential to every mental pursuit.
In ali countries where nature is most
lavish, the mind of man is most feeble.
for ali growth and energy is derived
from that conflict with difficulty, which
we Gull effort. Easy work seldom
produces Il robust mind. The material
world does much for US by what it
Yields, and great deal by the resis-
lance of its vast forces, which no. h
ing but 1utient toll can turn
to account. The energy of pur-
pose aud character, without which
there can be no true manhood, Is best
Obtained in the school of manual labor.
Let no one think, therefore, that by
escaping Il life of daily toll, he can best
distinguish himself in mental pursuits
This is an error that is certain to dis
appear, and leave him in the hopeless
condition of one who has cOutemptu-
Uusly kicked away the only ladder
that could raise him to the point he de-
sires to reach. Difficulties are more
Important 10 the human mind than AS
siSiances, and work alone can bring
out and perfect mems natures, for it is
the essential foundation in all improve
ment and, therefore, of all true happi-
ness and success. He who has never
eudeAvore to live without it, aud effects
to despise it, is truly IA 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 anu rest owe all ILei:
Righteousness to toll, and are themselves
the greatest burdens to one who seeks
them for themselves alone.
The excess of manual labor may do
harm. Tue degradation of the laborinH
classes-in Europe comes not from the
nature of their toll, but from the alb
sence of all other elements from their
daily life. Man has various nature,
requiring II variety of occupation, and
his intellect, heart, imagination and
taste are erievously. wronged when his
lite is devoted to the. one pursuit of
earning a subsistence. But in this
country, none are thus debarred from
cuitivIting every part Of their nature;
outward good. The demand for labor
is uninterrnpted. and The openings for