Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-05-13
REPoSR

and the idler, whatever his external
advantages or his internal resources, Is
rightly despised. But u enthusiasm
for labor sometimes blinds our eyes
equally to the necessity and the value
of repose. In stunning the pernicious
doctrine that would degrade the life OF
noyerty and toll, and honor that Of in
action and leisure, we are apt to swing
too far to the opposite extreme, and to
esteem only the busy restlessness that
scorns or breads repose, and finds Its
only happiness in ceaseless occupation
It may be thought that the class who
err from excessive activity Is not nu-
merous, and that however they may
iniure themselves, they must ut least
benefit the world by their perpetual
industry. Such, however, IS not the
case. A wise economy should govern
work US we'll as time or money, and
that man most ef~fectually serves his
race and develops himself who most
fully recognizes this truth. The idea
possesses some men that labor is in
itself achievement-that 1t Is not a
means to some higher end, but itself
the final and browning end of life.
They toll unremittingly, grudging and
curtailing wen the necessary time con-
sumed in sleep, denying themselves all
recreation, and their friends all plea
sure and benefit from their society.
When they are checked or hindered,
they fret at the supposed waste of
power, and when occasional enforced
leisure comes to them, they find their
power of enjoyment gone, their social
nature contracted, their thoughts mea-
gre and life insipid. The truth Is,
there Is a natural and wise limit to our
capacity of laboring effectively, which
if we try to overleap We but hurt our
selves, and weaken future efforts. Any
one who watches the motion Of the
laborer as he plies his tool will see a
deliberateness about each act that seems
needless to the Impractical hand. But
were lie to do his work In half the
time, his strength would be exhausted
and nothing would be gained. Ills
repose comes In small instalments, but
it comes surely, OF his labor would be
defective. In proportion to the rapidity
or intensity of the labor, whether OF
head or of hand, must be the length OF
intervalallowed for repose, if we would
render work effective. All happiness
as necessarily includes the idea of re-
pose as that of activity. The powers
that always crave exercise, that can
not subside at the proper. time from
action to rest are unhealthy in their
nature and irregular in their action
The happy child enjoys his play with
keen avidity, and then, tired out, fall:
into needed repose. If either element
fail to give him pleasure, we say thai
he Is unnatural, or deficient In some
portion of a healthy organization. Sc
the mar who can only be satisfied
when his powers are in active exercise
who chafes at every hindrance, and Il
restless and uneasy when circum
stances enforce quiescence, Is lacking
in character and forfeits much natura
and rightful happiness. There Is {
rcpose of mind which Is even mor t
be desired than rest for the body. The
restless mind, ever on the alert, swayet
by every influence, and ruilled by every
adverse circumstance, can never &c
quire tho strength or supremacy thai
marks the calm, self-possessed spirit,
observing tho laws Of alternate action
and repose. Equanimity and the power
of self-control are essential to great
ness Of mind, and these are impossible
where uneasy restlessness banishes re
pose. No character Is reliable without
this element. 1t is the tranquility o
the captain in the fearful storm tina
inspires all on board with confidence
and hope. 1t is when passion Is asleep
and emotion subdued, and impuls'
controlled, and the spirit calm ant
steadfast, that the greatest mental tri
umphs are achieved. He who enter
life with restless excitement, and fol
lows his pursuits with feverish impa
thence, makes but slow and irregular
progress, and wastes much of his ener
gies. Let 1t not be thought, however
that the repose we would cherish is II
any way equivalent to inactivity, o.
can be any plea for Incidence. On tn
contrary, it is chief element Of power
and can never exist In its true etl
cheney except as coupled with energeti,
action. They are twin sisters, eacl
needing the other for her own perfec
ton. The idle can never know tn
value Of repose. 1t is labor that make
rest sweet. But one Of tho most i'm
portant works Of life, and one demand
ing all our energies, Is that Of holding
in repose the passions and appetites
He who can so control himself as t
. maintain a firm ascendancy over hi
own desires, has learned to measur
his powers and to assert his dignity
Let us, then, while bringing ever.
faculty into exercise and developing
all our powers, also cultivate repose
Let US "learn to labor and to walt y
so shall we find the true happiness
efficiency and dignity Of life.
WHEN In Savannah. Nilsson, at the request o
leading citizens, sang, for the frst time In he
life, The Conquered Banner. A local paper say
there was not a person In the audience, cult
waited or uncultivated, whose heart did not thrill
to the wall with which she told the story OF tn
past, aud echoed the cry OF "a people who's
hopes are dead."-Erchdnge Paper.
The noise must have sounded like