Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-02-05
WORK VS.. WORRY.

DtCh lttIlilE Nlbh W Jul BAdlAl
iaborers ana is replete with dreadful prog
nostications if they persist in the suppos-
ed imp osition on that wonderful and deli
cately constructed organ whose Office it is
to secrete thought. However widely the
so-called Spiritualists and Materialsts may
differ on some points in psychology here
they 'clasp hands over the bloody chasm"
and all are ready to acknowledge the in
innate connection between mind and
matter.
Such Il happy coalition of such diamet
rically opposing factions we are glad to
see; it leads us to hope that the time for the
lying down together of the lion and the
tendency is evident.
In this case the combined hosts of the
Spiritudlc and the motcridLe raise the hue
and cry against excessive brain work, and
if one were inclined to listen he might al
most be persuaded that Americans and
American journalists in particular were
fast thinking themselves into an early
tomb. We take this opportunity to
raise our voice against all such err
roneous views, for we certainly do not
think they have any foundation in fact.
We are confident that careful examine
ton into the facts will show the fewest
number of suicides from excessive cerebral
ton.
The truth is, it is not work that wears
men out, or kills them-it is 1cOrgy
Take well constructed steam engine,
whose parts are all accurately adapted;
whose screws kept frightened; whose
piston works are smoothe. with no leak
perfect unison-no perceptible jar or irreg
ularity anywhere-that engine will run
for years, and at the end of that time be
almost rs good as new. But let screw be-
fore loose, the steam box spring a
leak, the pistons become rusty
from the want of oil. or
non use, the movement become, irregular
in some part, and soon of its own inherent
power that engine will tear itself to pieces.
The same law applies to this human ma
chine of ours. If we don't burn out our
copper and loosen the screws with mean,
or indeed any other kind of whisky or
other alcoholic drinks, nor destroy the
equilibrium of the vital force by filling our
stomachs with all sorts, and any quanti-
ties of stuff that eXhausts all the energy of
the economy for its digestion, nor debli-
tate the general powers of the system by
indulgence in various other designations,
nor create a friction in the running gear
by giving too free play to the pass
ions or emotions, this. engine that
was wooded and watered for three score
and ten year trip, will be pretty apt to go
through to the terminus of the line with
out having very often to lay by for repairs.
Let no young man whose ambition impels
him onward to the goal reached by Gree
ley, Raymond, Bennett, Franklin and
others, have his hopes disturbed by any
visions of early decay-premature imbecil-
ity or mad houses. To accomplish what
these men have requires work, and work
of hardest and most intense and persistent
kind. There is no royal road to positions
such as they attained. "But,r say our
dolce far niente friends: "Yoar life will
pay the forfeit Well, what if it does "
Wouldn't you be willing to die at the ear
ly age Of siXty-two to have accomplished
the work that Mr. Greeley has? fla few
more of our young men would try to kill
themselves in the same manner, it would
be good thing for our country, and we
are hard-hearted enough to wish most sim
cerely that this mode of suicide woul be-
come epidemic.
The question is, did Mr.. Greeley uork
himself to death, or did he worry himself
to death? 1t is as plain "a case of death
from worry and emotional causes as can
be. Work had nothing to do with it. In
deed, he had not been working as hard rs
usual for several months previous but the
anxieties and excitements of the canvass,
severe domestic atfiiction, the disappoint-
ment and chagrin following defeat, and
the uncertainty of his political status, all
combined to ambulance his mind and
his intense mental machinery soon shook
itself to pieces. Like causes were in ope-
ration after the defeat at Manassas, but
not being so intense he rallied from the
attack, but in this last case the causes
were so numerous and intense that it was
impossible for him to Withstand them.
We say these things a. an encourage
ment, and to quiet the fears of any con.
scientiOus workers who recognize the de
nands OF the times, for earnest we'll direct
ed mental labor. Such labor Is greatly need