Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-12-17
.sTHR HAPPINESS OF LIFE.

trials to which we are tNuie ate W
some persons a constant source Of de-
preston, and even despair. II Of a
disposition, they distress their
friends by useless and~exaggerated
complaints; II given to speculation,
they perhaps even doubt the beneyo:-
enoe Of a Providence that can permit
the preseace Of any gall In the cup OF
happiness. Indeed few Of US dc not a'
times suffer rom some such reflections,
and become moro or less the prey Of
discomfort or doubts. 4 thorough ek-
animation will show that these evils
occupy but a small proportion OF
human life. and that n vast prcponder-
ance of happiness exists. Whenever
we perceive the marks Of design III ma
ture, Its purposes are always found to
be beneficial. and pleasures arc liber-
ally added. that are not even necessary
to the mlalment Of those purposes.
The natural operations OF the senses
are all sources of snjoyment-there is
satisfaction In performing the COM
monest functions Of life. Breathing.
sleeping. sight, hearing and taste, all
bring with them their own peculiar
enjoyments, while ven the conscious
ness Of life Is 80 precious that the most
persistent murmnrer would resent the
idea Of parting with 1t. Nature also
Is ever exciting within us emotions Of
pleasure. Her beauty and delicacy
charm and refine the sight, while her
grandeur aud sublimity find an appre-
ciative voice In our minds. These
pleasures Of nature are In no way es-
scntial to the useful functions she per-
forms. but are something added. and
show the benevolence that thus pro-
vides for more than necessities. Har-
mony. fragrance and beauty might
have been left out Of existence and its
utilities have been still fulfilled, but
what a void In our happiness would
there have been! Rising above the
enjoyments Of sense, the affections Of
the mind are constantly causing hap
pines,. The love Of kindred, friends
and country are sources Of incalculable
enjoyment, with which none who have
partaken would consent to part. The
dutle, which these relations Involve
continually strengthen the affections,
and increase the pleasures that flow
from them, so that the more sedulously
We guard the happiness of others, the
more plentifully is II own cup filled.
None are so Isolated rs to acknowledge
no kind and social ties, and the joy
thus derived is infinite in its nature.
The affections also support and
strengthen each other. B~enero!ence
calls forth gratitude; parental af:ec-
ton Is repaid by flial love; good feel
Ing and q courteous bearing ripen
into friendship. and every kindly emo.
ton finds Its counterpart. The wide
diffusion Of h~appinessis another proof
OF natures benevolent designs. All
may enjoy the brightest and best of
earth's pleasures If they will. They
are not dependent upon wealth or sta
ton or favor, but r rs free as they
are pure, aud even more enjoyable by
peasant than by monarch. We are
disposed to measure happiness by our
and to pity those who DO not
reach it-not recognizing the endless
variety Of tastes. nor noting how gen-.
orally they are grntitied. The desires,
rs soon rs they are strongly felt, lead
naturally to their own fuliilment, and
most, of Us succeed in obtaining that
which we most fondly crave. Not
only Is happiness the maximum Of life.
while sorrow l. the minimum, but
even that very sorrow j. designed In
pure benevolcnce and love TO promote
n more enduring joy. Pain Is never
an ultimate object Of nature, bu, only
Q necessary means Of affecting some
good design. We may not always be
able to trace this. but that we can do 81
In the large majority Of cases Is sufi-
cient proof of the truth Of the princi-
pie. Natures purposes are merely
benevolent. Most troubles are not
positive, but negative ; not the pres
ence of actual evil, but the ~privation
Of blessings we have one enjoyed.
Often our happiness Il heightened by
the c~oirtrast.- Health is doubly priced
after illness, our friends become dearer
by separation, and we learn to appre-
clats our best pleasures when called
upon to resign them. The real evils
Of life are those Of our own making.
When we forfeit sense of right,
stife our best emotions, or Ignore the
voice Of conscience, It4en IL is that
We suffer the worst thing that can be-
fall us-moral deterioration; then 1t
Il that we truly deserve to be, pitied.
Tor we have then voluntarily spurned
The purest joy of which our natures
ire capable-that Of an approving con-
Much Of the sorrow Of life Is
intended for the repression of
he worst Of all sorrows sin. II we
ldmit that virtue is the chief good. and
will produce the highest Happiness.
hen the pains and trials Of life indi-
ate a benevolent design, as clearly as
10 its dearest joys. Everywhere may
we discover the marks Of loving be-
ievolenee, showering benefits with a
liberal hand, and only i~nflicting pain
when necessary to effect good.
JoHS II. SURR.rr proposes to tell
The tale Of Lincoln's assassination to
public audiences, at 80 much a head
fee. OF course he has sense
enough left to pick the neighborhoods
where 10 proposes to talk. We believe