Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-03-04
A Martyr TO Leisure.

4
| .nuitler
A Martyr TO Leisure.
r Der DIE o ven in his Autobio-
,sra nv thn- describes one of b F.,
.'her's partners in business:
"a man of letters, educated 10
very classical attainmen and tn,
he,It,r at prlnrriy fortune, tbi>
An,lrmon had he' able TO gratity
ID wish his cultivated tastes. H.
marriage was fortunate, and hi,
hildren grew up around him with
he fairest promise. He bad hand.
ono town house in a f&shionabI,
qnare in London, and country
.eat six or eight miles off in tht
midst of ono of those magniHcen'
English Parks, the ideal of stately
rural elegance, with its trinity kept
avn and its wide spreading chase
dotted over with dumps of noble
I'D trees, where the deer sough
refuge from the MONDAY heat, and
a lair ct nightfall.
It's owner had travelled over Eu-
rome, and brought back as memen-
toes of his quincy, paintings and
statuarv nv some of the best mas
ters, ancient and modern, with which
Co adorn his favorite retreat. The
house itself in which | spent some
happy days, with its rich marble
columns and balustrades. was fine
specimen Of the purest Palladin man
ner. where all that luxurious refine
ment could devise had been unspar-
ingly laviahed
There my father--during a brief
interval in his own public life Of in
cessant bustie-found his friend with
no occupation more pressing than to
more over the trC asures Of his libra.
ry, and no graver care than to SUI
nerintend the riches of cnnservato.
ry, where wealth had brought to-
ether. from half the world it's
choicest plants and fpwers. They
spent some days Of undisturbed
Quiet, not an incident beyond
he conversation of sedate
and intellectual family circle and the
arrival and departure OF friend or
two to break the c. mplete repose.
Delightful my father though it, in
contrast with the busy turmoil be
had left; and one day be said to his
host, 'I've been thinking that if ev-
err met q man who has nothing to de-
sire, YOU must be be- You have
health. cultivation, charming fami-
ly. You have gathered round you
every comfort wealth can give, the
choicest Of all that art aud nature
can supply Are you not complete
" happy 2"
NAver, my father said to me.
would be f,rget he sad unexpected
reply: Happy An. Mr.. Oven, l
committed one fatal error in my
youth, and / dearly have paid for il |
started in life without an object, al.
most without an ambition. Ny fem
per- ment disposed me to ease. and
INDUCED it said to myself. Il
haze all that | see others contpn /
ing for; why SHOULD struggle ?" /
knew not the curse that light on
those who have never to struggle
tor anything | ought 10 have Great
cd for myself sepe definite pursuit,
literary, scientifc. artistic, political
no matter what, 30 there was some
thing to labor for and to overcome.
Then might have been happy
NY father suggested that he was
scarcely past the prime Of life, and
that in a hundred wa he might
siill benefit others. while occupying
himself Come and spend month
or two at Braxfsld,' he added. 'Ynn
have larger share in the Lansrk
mills than any of my partners SEE
for yourself what has been done for
the work.people there and for heir
children; and give me the benefit of
your suggestions and your aid
1t is too late was the reply.
The power is gone. Habits are be-
coming chains. You can work and
do good but for me--iu all the pro-
f lass years gone by | seek vainly
for something to remember with
pride, or even to dwell on with sans
faction. | have thrown away a life.
| feel. sometimes, as if there were
nothing remaining TO me worth liv-
ing for
And neither then. nor at any fu.
tnre time, did this strsnga martyr to
leisure visit the establishment in
which he had invested q hundred
aid fftv thousand dollars. '-AHdntic
Monthly fo~ March