Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-11
Success In Labor.

Mr.. George w. Childs, of the Philadel-
phia Ledger, is one of the most successful
newspaper publishers in the laid. He is a
friend of the laboring man, and practices
himself the precepts which his paper ad-
vOcates. The following editorial from
recent issue characteristics the MANTLE
publisher:
There is nothing more essential to pros
perity than the establishment in the popu-
lar mind of the intimate connection he
tween efficient labor and true success. In
one sense they are synonymous. Success
consists not SO much Of the reward a man
reaps from labor as the value of The labor
itself. He who, by honest work OF hand or
head, is constantly enriching the world is
inIrinsically the successful man, whether
riches or poverty fall 10 his lot while he
who amasses millions by speculation or
fraud, leaving none TO bless his memory
when he is gone, has made his life disas-
trous failure. We trust the time may al
rive when this shall be the common accep-
tation OF the word success, but at present 1t
is not so. We usually measure 1t by what
is gained, not by what is given by The re-
tTinsic value of the labor itself Even by
this gage, however, the connection is still
closely preserved. Eventually each ones
personal welfare is strictly dependent upon
his value to others. There may seem to be
exceptions to this. Idleness aud unfaith-
fulness may occasionally appear to reap
the fruit that belongs Of right only TO hon
orable industry; but in the long run it is
not so. The cheet is discovered, character
is siiled, and justice is indemnified for her
dishonored claims. Faithful, patient labor
of some sort that benefits mankind, is the
only road to personal prosperity, aud the
success that seems to follow quicker and
easier methods is short-lived and illusory.
Few, however, believe this in their
hearts. To many, work is only Disagree
able necessity, to be taken like medicine,
in as small quantities as possible and dis
pensed with as soon as may be. They do
not lovo it for its own sake, they do not
care for its importance to mankind, or its
reflex influence on their own characters.
They do not specially desire 10 attain ex-
cellence in it, anG they only put enough
energy into It's performance TO accomplish
immediate and necessary results. Their
hearts are not in il they are ever looking
beyond and over 1t to find objects of inter-
est. Other things excite, stimulate, and
inspirit them their work alone is dull and
irksome. Labor thus performed can never
be OF superior quality, can never greatly
add to the happiness or progress of man
kind, can never bloom into true success.
1t has no soul to animate, no hope 10 in-
spire, no vital power to develop 1t. A life
spent thus, in unwilling and compelled
LABOR, in which the heart has no place, is
surely one of the saddest of failures. There
are others again who fail in their life work
because they are ashamed of 1t and think it
beneath them. They blame fortune or cir
cumstances for having condemned them to
a toll which they conceive degrading. II
their lot had been cast differently, they
think, they might have made some mark
In tie world If their work had been of a
higher grade, they could have pursued 1t
with energy and zeal; as 1t is. they only
follow 1t from necessity and with no more
assiduity than they are compelled to exert.
Such persons make a fatal mistake. 1t Is
in them, not in their work, that the fault
lies. For if they do not perform what is
committed 10 them with fidelity and zeal,
how can they be lifted for higher post?
Besides, this separation of work into ranks
and grades is altogether artificial aud un-
authorized. Who can decide which labor
is higher or lower than another, which is
Of more or less value 10 mankindH It Is
not the kind of work, but the manner Ia