The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-28
Value of Accomplishments.

Value of Accomplishments
In the active struggle for competence
and wealth. men of affairs are very apt
to underrate the real value of those at
tainments which are styled accomplish
ments. Accustomed to rate men ac-
cording to their working power and
pursuits, according to the money return
they bring, these persons look down
upon those things which seem to have
little practical value, because their office
is to throw light on many OF the dark
places in lifes journey, and to make the
overburdened forget their expressing
cares. A life that is all labor, or one
continued round of pleasure, becomes
monotonous the true means is health
full labor for good part of each day,
with sensible relaxation and harmless
amusements when the days work is
done and we gather with the dear ones
who nestle about the family hearth. A
laboring man may be proud of his capa-
bility to accomplish great tasks day af-
ter day for a long period but the work
ing force would be in no way lessened
had he some accomplishment with
which to beguile his hours of ease. As
a general thing, however, we find that
the workers each day make use of all
their powers until they are compelled
to seek rest in sleep from mere exhaus-
ton, while the butterflies and crickets
fit and chirp in the sunshine without
many serious thoughts about anything
save how they may enjoy themselves.
1t is no easy matter to know exactly
how to combine work and play, labor and
recreation, and we Americans have not
yet solved the problem. Our German
brethren seem to understand the matter
better. They are frugal and industrious,
and yet seem never to lose an opportu-
nifty of enjoying themselves, always in
Guiding their families with them in their
merry making. We would not, however,
advocate an increased number of lager
beer saloons and other German institu-
tons but we would see more music in
the family circle, and more of an effort
on the part of each member to contrib
ute to the happiness of every other one
We may be assured that the homes
to which grown up children look back
with the fondest remembrance, are
those where music and mirth most
abounded, and not those where the old
Puritanic spirit held sway, and where
good hearty laugh was unknown.
Whittier, in ''Snow Bound" draws u
delightful picture of a New England
family, fine characters all; yet if we
were compelled to choose one as a com
panion for solitary journey, or with
whom to while away weary evening,
would it not surely be the schoolmaster,
with his many-sided character and va
ried accomplishments ? In the winter
season the possessors of accomplish
ments are the most welcome visitors
The strains OF the homely fiddle, indit-
ferently played, sound all the more
charming when the wind outside is
moaning a weird accompaniment
A home without some musical instru-
ment, and somebody to play on it, is a
dull place indeed. Even though the
performer be no great artist, and the
tunes none of the liveliest, the music is
still acceptable. If the instrument be
mute all the week, and only is heard on
Sunday evening, as an accompaniment
to the well-known psalms and Hymns, il
is Of great value. The children may not
thoroughly appreciate it at the time, but
many a sad moment in after life will be
cheered by the humming of some OF
these familiar airs, and even in old age
we may take pleasure in croning over
the tunes learned in childhood.
Music is one of the most common ac-
complishments, and what has been said
of it will serve to illustrate the entire
class. Whatever will make those about
us happier and better is worth cultivat.
ing, if only for the sake of the pleasure
it gives. In any ordinary gathering OF
educated men it rs an easy matter to
select number of persons who can and
will make speeches on large variety
of subjects, but the number who can
entertain the rest by narrating some
humorous incident, or by vocal or in.
strumental music, is comparatively
small Yet these are just the men who
ought to be able to do SO were ii not for
false idea about the worthlessness oil
mere accomplishments imbibed in early
youth 1t is desirable that men should
be workers. but not dull, heavy plod
ders-mere cart-horses. Martial music
and warllke sports make soldiers fight
better; and due regard for pleasing
accompl shments will not detract in the
least from the working force or ultimate
success of the most eager aspirant after
wealth, honor influence.
A wILLrUL falsehood told, is a cripple
not able to stand by itself without some
thing to support it; it is easy to tell q
lie, hard to tell but lie.-Ihomas F"t
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