Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-10-06
WHOLE NO. 2766.
Value of Mental Work.

Those whose employments are
/ largely manual in the capacity of Ordi-
nary iaborers, farmers or mechanics,
are sometimes tempted to depreeiate
other than physical toll. They can
understand the value of muscle better
T. an that of brain. That man em-
/ ployed to dig garden, reap a grain
held, to make a wagon, to build
house, or to shOe a horse, should be
paid for his labor is simply a first
principle of morals. Shall he 90 tired
TO bed for our benefit, and reap no
advantage himself? But that thew
/ should be called upon for mere thought
and talk and writing, is by no means
clear to their apprehension. What is
easier than all that? Men cannot
help thinking, and when they think,
it is natural to speak and write. Why
I pay them for it? They will wantpay
next for breathing!
As to going tired to bed, the most
wearied men who lay head upon pill
| low are not those who have wrought
in manual labor; though these latter
gain the sweeter and surer repose.-
Every farmer knows this in seasons of
pecuniary trial, when crops fail, stocks
die, mortgages with unpaid interest
are about to be foreclosed, and after
days of untold perplexity he retires
with aching head and heavy heart to
toss sleeplessly upon his bed. And so
the mechanic learns in some deep
affiietiOn that mental anguish is worse
than bodily pain, while he daily sees
his bright boy, who has poured over
his books at school, and spent his eve
nings at home in study, drop as sleepy
head upon the breast, at nine or ten
O'Clock as does he himself No man
tolls so hard, to the exhaustion of both
mind and body, or use up vital energy
so fast, as those who do simple brain
work. If weariness then be any claim
to compensation, these stand at the
head of the list.
But now as to the direct money
value Of thought, as compared with
muscular exertiOn, let us look at the
facts. Here is a farmer well satisfied
to pay a man two dollars a day to
NOV, or reap, or dig. Suppose a
shrewd, intelligent person could give
him information which would add
twenty-five per cent. to his annual
crops, or would double the value of
his farm; could he afford to pay it2
Yet it would be only thought and
words, and might take an hour, or
perhaps only five minutes. His child
is apparently dying, and away he flies
to the physician who has been reading
and thinking about diseases and rem
edies for many years, and begs him to
come to his relief. He does so, and by
his knowledge saves the ehild's life
Does he deserve to be paid for his
brain work? The farmer is about to
purchase a farm for five thousand dol
lars from a man who is leaving the
country; but before paying the money
he wisely eOnsults a lawyer, who
shows him in ten minutes that the
title is worthless, and that his money
would be thrown away. Has law
yer's brief thought fairly earned as
much as an Irishman's ditch digging?
A mechanic has happy idea, some
day, as he goes to his labor; a useful
and much needed invention occurs to
him. Has he any doubt whether that
mere thought has value, and ought to
be so regarded and treated by others?
Let his speedy application for patent
be the answer.
But if this lightly esteemed brain
ministers to higher uses; if it legislates
with the statesman, sings inspired and
inspiring songs with the poet, lays at
1ur feet the treasures of the past with
.he historian, sways popular decision
with the orator, settles great princi-
pies of morals, reasoning and social
md political action, with the philOso-
Dher, plans victorious campaigns with
the general, discovers and utilities the
secrets of the earth and of the heavens
With the man of science, originates
md conducts vast enterprises of trade
md commerce with the, capitalist,
rains in mind and heart the youth of
he nation with the educator, instructs
md directs public opinion with the
'ditOr, or breaches Gospel of light,
owe, and salvation with the clergy
nan, has it not some right to its lofty
ImbitiOns of honor and its high peeu-
liaTy claims? Must not mere muscle,
haired by the OK and the horse, yield
t precedence? Is it not in truth the
moving source of the world I'D
dDce.