Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-04-19
PUBLIC LEDGER.
RATHER pROMIscUoUs.

Utilitaranism is a very useful ism.
In the administration Of government 1t
can't be dispensed with, nor in great or
small commercial houses, nor in the
Kitchens of the humble-nowhere. The
applicationeof principle to fact must
proceed from a sound common sense.
When Jimmy is told to weigh a side of
bacon, he must not 60 off on April
showers, nor pause to deliver an apos-
trophe to the key Of the wine room.
And when Bridget is requested, in ac-
cents all gentle, to scour the kettles, she
must not stop to smell new-blown rose,
nor pause in her scrubbing to look at the
picture of Patrick sticking fast to her
heart. No. Things that smell, not OF
flowers, but of business, cold, caicu-
lating business, must claim our
first care. 1t is very nice to listen
to the April showers, and watch the
flowers as they come back to the gar
dens; but it is indispensable that we
harden our hands with toll and teach
ourselves to throw cold water on sent-
ment There is no sentiment in banks,
and there is no poesy in the counting
house. We start for sentiment is want
ing there. And it is all right; is it not?
These men that grind their teeth and
count interest in their dreams, are the
men who turn the crank of business and
keep the mangle going. If they detest
a standing-eollar, or chignon, they love
TO beam in business and unlock the
gates of wealth. That cold look
ing man standing there with a
brow bent and forbidding, may have
paradise at home, and be to some soul
the great soul Of the world. There may
come, dancing in from the doll room, a
little thing empowered in hair brighter
than gold, and underneath that little
brow there may be an eye that outshines
a star, and makes a whole household
happy. We do not wish to hear the man
OF business abused, nor accused of heart
lessness. We know little of each other.
If we could read the souls of men as we
read newspapers, We should find good
the predominant sentiment Of the world.
Much evil we should find, tbs true, but
where it exists we should find it darkling
over good that had been imper-
fectly rubbed out. What in the
world are we driving at? We have
not the least idea. We began para
graph, and here we have made an article.
Dear readers of the LEDGER, forgive US,
for we know not what we do. As We
came to our office this morning we saw
the great business houses opening, and
heard the rising hum Of the noisy day.
Looking into Court Square. and over
the river, we thought We had never be-
fore seen nature put on so green green,
and the lords Of trade wear counteHances
so solemn. We could not help con-
trasting the breaking out Of one with
the breaking in Of the other And now
they are in full blast, one with roses and
bowers and the songs of birds, and the
other with ten hundred thousand
things that could not be chalked
on the sky if it we're black
board. The bird carols on yon tree,
away up so high that boy cannot hit
him with stone, while the poor plodder
murmurs and frets and dives down into
the depths Of care. That bird has only
to pick up worm for his breakfast. We
human worms must SOW, and plant, and
reap That fine, feathery tenant Of the
forest never knew war, nor oppression,
nor care. 1t never stands by the side Of
dying friends, nor weeps at woe. Sorrow
cannot come near It. Still it is not un-
feeling. Unlike cultivated humanity, it
follows the infallible suggestions Of in
stinct and faithfully serves the purpose
of its creation. 1t will sing as cbeeriully
upon grave as upon the roses Of a
bower. 1t sings but one song, and that
was put into its throat when the Eden
birds first went auttering and singing
from the hand of the Almighty. Still
we maintain tina. utilitarianism is a very
useful ISM and cannot, must not, be dis.
pensed with for all the birds and bees in
the world. Sentiment must down before
business, but there will remain in the
heart Of the toiler little corner where
child may play. bird may sit anC
sing, and a flower may bloom. That il