Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-03-16
Ole 9etald
The YaIue u AooompIlghments

tence and wealth, men OF Affairs
are very apt to underrate the rea
value Of those attainments whicl
are styled accomplishments. Ac
castomed to rate men according tC
their working power and pursuits
according to Zoe money return
they bring, these persons lool
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 life's
Journey, and to make the overbur,
nedforget fora time their OBJ
pressing cares. A life that is all
labor or one continued rouT.d OF
pleasure, becomes monotonous
the true mean is healthful labor fol
a good part of each day, with sen
sible 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 capability to
accomplish great tasks day after
day for q long period, buthis work
inc force would be in no way
lessened had he some accomplish
ment 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 tc
seek rest in sleep from sheer ex-
haustion, while the butterflies and
crickets fit and" chirp in the sun
shine without many serious
thoughts about any thing save how
they may best enjoy themselves.
1t is no easy matter to know ex-
actly 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 bet.
ter. They are frugal and indus
trious, and yet seem never to lose
an opportunity Of enjoying them.
selves, always including their fam
lilies with them in their merry
making. We would not, however,
advocate an increased number ot
lager beer saloons, and other Ger,
man institutions, but We would SEE
more music in tile family circle, anC
more of an effort On the part o.
each member to contribute to the
happiness Of every other one, VIZ
may be assured that those homes tc
which grown. up children look bach
with the foudest remembrance, are
those where music and mirth mos
abounded, and not those wherC
the old Puritanic spirit held sway
and where good hearty laugh was
unknown. Whittier, in SRou
Bound, draws a delightful picture
of a New England family, finC
characters all, yet if we were com
PEELED to choose one as q compan
ion for a solitary journey, or will
whom to while away weary even
ing, would 1t not surely be tbo
school-master, with his many sideC
character and varied accomplish
ments 2 At this winter season thC
possessors ofRceomplishments arr
most welcome visitors. The strains
Of the homely fiddle, inditIerently
played. sounds all the more charm
ing when tie wind outside i
moaning a wierd accompaniment,
A home without some musica
instrument, and somebody to pla,
on it, is a dull place indeed, Ever
though the performer be no grea
artist, and the tunes none Of tn,
liveliest, the music Is still accepta
bic. If the instrument be mutl
all the week, and only is heard OF
Sunday evening, as an accompani
ment to we'll known psalms anC
hymns it is of great value, Th,
children may not thoroughly ap
preciqte 1t at the time, but many
SAD moment in after life viii b,
cheered by the humming of SOM
of these familiar airs, and even il
old age we may take pleasure il
oroning over the times learned Il
childhood,
Music is one Of the most com
mon accomplishments, and whol
has been said Of it will serve tc
illustrate the entire class, What
ever viii make those about MS hap
pier and better, is worth cultiya
ting, IL only for the sake Of thu
pleasure it gives. In any ordinary
gathering Of educated men, it is an
easy matter to select a number o.
persons who can and will make
speeches on a large variety Of sub
ieets, but thenumber who can en-
tertain the rest by narrating some
humorous incident, or by vocal OF
instrumental music, Is compare
lively small. Yet these are Just the
men who ought 10 be able to con
tribute somewhat TO The pleasure ol
he others. and would be able to do
"a were Ii notfoi false idea about
the worthlessness of mere aceom-
plishments. imbided in early youth,
II is desirable that men should be
workers, but not dull, heavy plod.
ders-mere eart-horses, Martial
musiUpnd wnplike sports make sol
dIers hgat better and b due regnrC
f6r bleasinq accomplishments, viii
SOC letmcs Ia The least from th'
working force OF ultimate suceesi
Of the most eager asp'rant aftei
wealth, honor, or influence, =
hearth and Homo