Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-23
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

Extracts from a Recent Sermon by Prof David
Swing, Of Chicago1
Pleasure or happiness is the aim of
nearly all human effort. In the hottest
moments of self-sacritice and selfiorget
fitness there may be found in the heart a
certain looking toward the reward such
moments will bring. There is an abstract
philosophy chat can separate between con-
duct and this set.nterest and can find
man acting from the simple impulse of
right but out of the philosophy it is diff
cult TO find the veritication of the theory.
AS simple fact, the actors on the great
human stage are all seeking pleasure, or
that more quiet condition of the soul
called happiness. There may be here and
there in the broad world some one mortal
that has learned to see only the right and
TO do it without caring for the results to
his own spirit, but these persons, if exist
ing at all, are so rare that they cannot en-
ter into such general popular statement
of facts as meets best the demands of Il
practical essay or sermon or address
which aims notat the exactness of science.
The Scriptures from which we all draw
the purest forms of truth everywhere
place ,he highest interest of self before
nun &C ''taai- lIlN llloSb DoNtllul llloilNt
Of virtue Even the Golden Rule. that
most divine Of all laws, contesses the mo-
tive found in self interest, for it asks man
TODD TO Others az he would have others do
70 him-a law that makes one think of
providing carefully for self in all possible
contingencies. But if the ethics of inter
est were not clearly seen in the Golden
Rule, surely it lies upon all the other
6 81 III T..
inducements held out by the pictures of
heaven and in all the alarms sounded by
words about hell. When Christ repeats
the word blessedn in His discourses He
shows that blessedness is the largest and
most conspicuous motive in the philoso-
ply of the common people. How to live
most happily would therefore seem to be
the lawful and large inquiry of you all.
AGod's right hand stands pleasure, great
motive OF action
Itwould seem obvious that the pursuit
otpieasure should be along the best paths
If education and mental and physical
health. The pleasure that taxes the body
Is only a delusion; it is a robbing of the
,,ulure that the present may be rich.
1t Is the living beyond ones incomes the
rapid outlay of the invested capital and a
preparation for speedy bankruptcy. When
me sees the majority of the race, the
great crowds in cities, seeking their hap
pness by overtaxing all the powers of the
body, from the lungs that must breathe
Dad air to the brain that grows active
through poisonous stimulants, and to the
heart that struggles with impure blood,
one can see in an instant that the pursuit
" happy life is off its path and, like a
railway engine off its rail, is hurting all
.lle and beauty to ruin. In much of the
worlds pleasureseeking it is smiles to-
lay, tears tomorrow; and hence the pur-
INT j, a cheat God Himself beng hap
p.ness, and His children possessing The
instinct OF pleasure, pleasure must be
part of health, and life, and progress, and
never final injury. Hence the only hap
Nness We dare seek is a happiness that
ADDS 10 health and that becomes a part Of
ING progress Of the body and soul. The
public parks should displace the saloons,
ma outdoor games and walks and ram
3.s> the Card-table and chess board Of our
MONIES. By reasoning over these things,
maj which advances the body and mind
would at las, become the only evident
1Ausement. 4 play ceases to be such the
moment Il shocks reason. 1t then be
.'Ae> labor, Wemustnot permit our rea-
s.n 90 he shocked.
., Ii speaks better things for the future
.--l The external world is becoming more
gear ana beautiful to each generation. 1t
+, ala with truth that the classic scholars
-- not appreciate nature; that Homer
ana Virgil spoke Of grass only as being
'@.-ao.e pasturage. Always to some dc.