The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-02-15
The Law OF Industry.

IToUauly III no Otner country Is
honest labor so much resrected and
esteemed as in our own; and yet as
wealth increases and becomes concen-
tlated there is danger, especially in
our cities, lest we may share in
the opinion, so common in other
lands, that there is something Of deg
radiation or of reproach connected
with the idea of toll. 1t is most
insidious notion, creeping unawares
into the hearts Of many, who would
despise and abjure it as q theory, and
silently diiiusing its poisonous influ-
ence over their lives. To be able to
live without exertion is looked upon
rs Il privilege worthy of almost any
present. effort or sacrifice to obtain.
Men who have arrived at that desired
haven, by whatever steps, are ad-
mired, tlattered and envied, and pub
| lie opinion encircles them with O.
dignity and honor which are often far
| beyond their real deserts. Some who
would scorn the imputatiOn of de-
spisiDg labor or hOnOring iGleness, do
yet, perhaps almost uucousc iously
regard men, not according to their
personal endowments or characters,
but chiefly their external circumstan-
ces. The sinpIe ability to be idle is
too often q passport into society,
where character, energy and education
alone would fail to find admittance.
Half the excuses and apologies in the
world are made for being busy; u
strange sort of shame seems to accom-
pany the fact, when in reality it is the
ldler who owes the world an apology
for his very presence; his own exis-
tence ought to fill him with continual
shame.
1t is, however, not so much labor in
itself which we thus secretly dishonor,
as the necessity for labor. The rich
man may engage in any work his
taste prefers without fOrfelting the
worlds applause; but if his circum-
stances change, and he continue the
same labor, not because he chooses
but because he must, though his whole
nature and character remain unaltered,
he will be first pitied and then forsaken
by those who once cOurted and envied
him. Now it is just this necessity for
labor ithat gives it at once it's high
est dignity and its greatest Importance.
The most obvious reason for working
is to supply our physical wants. We
all need food, clothing and shelter,
and we labor to obtain it. Having
done this our wants still multiply, and
we work on to procure comforts and
luxuries Of every description. Our
houses must be furnished, our chill
dren educated, our minds informed or
amused, and our tastes gratified. All
this is right. For these and similar
objects, the large majority Of the people
are toiling, and in so doing are bene-
fitting not only themselves, but soci>
ETY. at large There lies, deeper than
all this, necessity for labor but little
recognized, u law Of industry seldom
fathomed, which is that exerton is
the basis OF all human improvement
or happiness. Every one who has
watched an infant, knows that its
ceaseless activity is the chief means
by which it acquires knowledge or Sc
cures pleasure. Deny it liberty OF
motion, and you have destroyed its
happiness if not its very life. All ed
ucatiOn Is but the awakening Of the
powers to their full activity. If this
be not done, instruction is useless.
Our senses only convey knowledge or
pleasure in the proportion 10 which we
exercise them. The entire mechanism
of the body shows its adaptation for
work, and if We impose idleness on
any member it becomes useless. The
whole world of matter is open to man,
but unless he work it up into form by
his labor, it is for him shapeless, un-
meaning mass.
1t is not alone that man must use
his powers in order to procure certain
outward results, but by this means
only is he able to enjoy them. Could
any one by q miracle be at once alb
solved from this law;!could he have all
his wishes instantly gratified without
personal effort, he would soon cease to
enjoy, then cease to desire, and final
| ly, cease to live, from the misery and
weariness Of intertness. Labor is, in
fact, the very essence of true dignity,
and superiority. The animal is high
er than the tree, because Of his volun-
lary motion, aud the man is higher
than the animal only as he puts forth
|
for noble purposes. The distinguish
ing glory of man is his ability to I'M
prove; but this is dependent upon his
willingness to work. The idler, be
he poor or rich, degrades his manhood,
and forleits bis tllle to life or happi-
ness. Labor is indeed a necessity, but
one which, instead Of being ashamed
of, we may well regard as our chief
honor. If we rightly apprehend it we
shall prize 1t, not only rs a means to
procure material benefits, but as the
channel through which all improve
ment of mind, all stability of chaIac-
ter, all virtue and all happiness must
flow. 1t is, in fact, the Foundation OF
all that makes life worth living, the
basis OF all that is sacred, noble or
progressive. None are exempt from
this law. Is binds alike the rich and
the poor, the Old and the young, the
man and the woman. "If any man
will not work, neither shall he eat,'s
is unfaiingly true, in far broader
sense than is usually thought Of
Though he may eat of food which he
has not earned, he can never eat OF
the tree OF knowledge or OF the tree Of
life. He cannot develop his mind,
his heart, or his character, he must
live unbiessed and undressing others.
Who then dares to say, 81 have no
need to work?" A deeper necessity than
any poverty can impose lies on every
man and woman to engage with en-
ergy and devotion in some worthy OBJ
ject-the necessity OF the nature
which God has given them, and which
can only thus develop into true man
hood and Observation-Disclosures
Ledger.
Washington dispatches state that Q
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