Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-11-20
Misspent Energies.


remove a straw, nor attempt to run cot
ton factory with a foot treadle. No boy
would be so foolish as to use cable for
a kite-string, nor would his father ex-
pect to tether restive horse with cot
ton twine. But we are all wasting our
energies from day to day in divers ways,
differing from extremes like the above
only in degree. In ways which, if con-
centrated upon a few things, instead
of being distributed over all our activi-
ties, would make sufficient cause to send
us to mad-house.
In doing a thing there are several
points to be considered; as the resistance
to be overcome; the strength we have,
and whether, if we are able to do it, the
necessary exertion is not better reserved
for something else. A man may be able
alone to get a barrel of flour up stairs, or
heavy coal stove, or pull on pair of
boots a size too small, and keep bottle
of liniment by him a week after as a con-
sequence. A woman with an armful of
bundles, or heavy baby, may succeed
in overtaking horse-car ten rods ahead,
and pay for her triumph by the heart
beat" vertigo, or something worse, for
days after. She may take up, whip and
put down half-dozen carpets, in addi-
tion to the spring scrubbing and the gen.
eral housework, as some ambitious work
ers do; but it is probable that such mis-
spent force will result in the introduce
tion of a stepmother into the family be-
fore long.
We know a family that for two gener-
ations had drawn all the water for house
hold use by wellsweep nine and one
half rods distant, when there was no
good reason at all to prevent well from
being dug at the house and the water
drawn by pump. We have known a
skillful wall-layer, whose labor was in
constant demand, work by the week at
cutting up old stumps for his winters
fuel when he could have bought twice
the amount of good cut fire-wood with
the money he could have earned in the
time. Indeed it is easy enough to see
that most people, except ourselves, are
wasting much time and often doing much
damage by misdirecting their physical
powers. 1t is waste to use more force than
is necessary, as when man works with
dull tools; and it is equally a waste to
work till the novelty is gone, then leave
the thing to its own destruction, as in
tending a garden well for six weeks in
the spring, then letting the sprouting
weeds do the rest of it.
But it is not in the expenditure of
physical energy alone that there is q
waste of power. We are quite as prod
igal of mental and moral forces and have
fewer admonitions to lead to reform.
We waste words enormously. We sur
round what is important or proper to say
with little nothings, so that the main thing
is often lost entirely A gabbler is not a
good conversationalist; it is not by the
11cn Of Of nd hot ,e
vinced. Books are too wordy; sermons
are too wordy; public speakers are by
far too verbose. 1t may, indeed, be true
that in the cases cited words are largely
substituted for mental force; still a
waste is no less certain.
There is, too, much sound advice, good
argument and wholesome remonstrance
wasted. All these are useless unless the
mind addressed is in a receptive mood,
and mentally able to comprehend what
is said. A drunkard does not leave his
cups, nor prot1igate his debauchery, by
merely being advised to do so. A way
must be opened to the heart, then little
advice is needed. Argument, no matter
how convincing is vain with men buried
in prejudice or superstition. A skillful
exposure of an evil does more for its
abatement than the clearest proofs by
reasoning.
Is there anything SO utterly wasteful
of mental and moral forces as engaging
in religious controversies? Both parties
engaged in the conflict usually come out
of it badly demoralized. Bad blood is
stirred up, alterations are set afoot, and
the uncharitable side of the character
grows apace. If the contest is between
individuals, the waste of energy is the
least of the resulting evils; if it is be-
tween neighboring churches, the result
ing feuds are well-nigh Satanic; if be-
tween nations, rivers of blood is the
price of it.
So, from little things to great, from
the performance of our daily duties to
the great concerns of intellectual and
moral action, there is constant waste
or misdirection of power-a waste
which generally might be prevented by
studying how, where and when to use it.
-PrOpidence OR. ~ Journal.