Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-06-19
~BY THE SWEAT OF THY FACE
SHALT THOU,EAT BREAD"

SHALT fH0U'EAT BREAD"
is a Biblical mandate which, we think,
is distorted from its true meaning,
when considered rs curse-a punish
ment inflicted upon Adam for has dis
obedience. This traditional view of
the subject has done much to lessen
the dignity of Labor. BY encouraging
the mistaken impression that, as
curse. it has been more or less degra-
dation to all who, like Adam, have
titled the soil to obtain the necessaries
of life. But whatever the original in
tent in its immediate application to
Adam, the world ought to have learned
by this time that the assumed curse
was blessing in disguise, aud that
idleness, the root Of all evil, aud
the very opposite Of labor, Is the true
curse under which mankind suffers
most. The sudden transition from luxu-
rious idleness to untried toll. with allits
accompanying privations, Adam may
we'll have viewed Us curse, but con-
sidered in its relations to those who
were to come after him, it is clearly
blessing, except in the few cases in
which the muscles are taxed beyond
their powers of endurance and The
nerve forces broken down.
Labor, bodily and mental. is the
great force which impels the car Of
civilization aud, fortunately for man
kind, it is the true secret of content
ment. of health and prosperity and the
best security for social and public vir-
tue. likeness engenders the vices
which eliminate in crime, and to guard
against these, employment, in necessa-
nv and useful vacations, is more effec-
tive than the most stringent laws and
the reason is that idleness meets temp
tations more than half way, whilst
honest, earnest employment has no
leisure to seek them and less DISPOSE
ton than idle brains and hands. to
yield to the alluremeDts which lead to
dissipation and vice, to crime aud death.
The dignity Of labor is denied only by
those who look upon it as curse aud
by those wholly incapable of just ap-
probation of its importance as the mo-
tive power of all beneficial progress.
the life and soul of commerce and of
every vocation that looks to the anne
Iteration of mans physical condition,
aud the development Of all the noblcr
qualities of his head and heart. That
labor is not thus appreciated is due to
the want of proper education, and not
until labor learns its own paramount
importance will it stand upon its dignity
and exert its proportiOuate influence
as a moral, intellectual and political
power. Education, as at present con-
Quoted, fails in one important particu-
lar, and that is in not impressing the
youthful mind with the vital truth
that in the pursuit Of the useful lies
the secret of happiness and honor. And
as no calling is more useful than the
cultivation of the soil and as no other
opens wider field for the display Of
varied knowledge, for the exercise o.
enlightened judgment, energy and zeal
so is there 10 pursuit demanding ;
more thorough education, in ever!
L--.aL &c Iaa--:--- i;oahln ~ 81
important relations existing betweei
the soil we till, the vegetation it rear
and the miner,l wealth it has on de
post for the use of man. But we Otter
see highly educated men, vicious anC
degraded, cursing society by their ex
ample and presence. and ask ourselve
why it is that the tree of knowledg,
sometimes produces such deadly fruit
and the satisfactory solution is, that NJ
extent of mental culture can fit mel
for the highest usefulness unless tn,
more elevated moral attributes are de
veloped in an equal ratio. Knowledg,
is not virtue, but the two combined, il
equivalent proportions, impart all the
perfection man can attain in thi.
world. Nor can he advance thus fal
without labor and the sweat of hi.
face" If labor were degrading, i
would never have been affixed al
an Indispensable condition of success.
in every vocation of life.