River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-09
Education vs.. Labor.

Education vs.. Labor.
The proportion of people who arc con
tented with their daily avocation is, we
think, small IS compared with those who
ara not. The difficulty of procuring other
employment; s distrust Of their ability to
make themselves useful therein, or a Ian
guild clinging TO the bird in the hand
rather than pursuit of the bird in the
Uush, prevents many from abandoning
their present occupation. which they may
I detest, for another which they fancy
would prove more agreeable. There are
others who, from species OF ditfidencc
which seems always to deter them from
I turning passing opportunities 10 any per
sonal advantage, plod on from year TO
yea. IN pursuits very distasteful, and
for which they are by nature quite I'M
I suited
There is still another class whose con-
ceit Is far more prominent han their nier-
its; who, in their own estimation, are
never appreciated; who receive but cruel,
neglectful treatment on all sides; who
whine at the degredati) N of the drudg
cry to which they seem TO grayitate, and
who are choked with regrets that mlstor
tunes have placed in other fields the mas
terly efforts of which they affect to be-
lieve themselves capable. There Is still
another cIass-the Rolling Stone-the
Jack of-all-trades. Happy and useful
while there are odd jobs TO be done, the
doing of which reflects credit upon their
ingenuity miserable and useless when,
having tinkered the tea-kettle, repaired
the pumps and the pillow. there is naught
remaining but the steady, hard work of
the farm. There are other classes, which
need not be particulariZed, that, IS con-
Wet expiates In prison his crime against
the law, can find in labor only the deles-
table means Of procuring their bread and
clothes.
Since man Is so constitut that he
must labor q considerable share of his
time in order 10 enjoy leisure, it is pity
that he can not so interest himself in
such labor IS To render it also source of
enjoyment What We call pleasure is,
after all, only the privilege of selecting
our labor and of disseminating It when
We choose. As soon, therefore. as per-
son is assured that his occupation is not
suited to his tastes OF capacities, let
him hasten 10 change il at almost any
present sacrifice. The first and earliest
sacrifice will be found, in the end, TO be
The least.
We need not ever b . pursue busi-
ness a. an amusemer' and amusement
pursued as a business, IL fatal to every
manly impulse. But ye need not, there
fore, conclude that the vigorous employ
meEt Of our hands or Grains i inimical TO
enjoyment. Our first concern should be
"a perform vigorously the task which Is
before IS. and in order 10 accomplish
this, w must be interested in the work.
This faculty OF interesting ourselves IN
the work before u depends. in a great
measure. upOn early education.
Children can we'll comprehend why
lLev should 20 to school or study hard
Tor few hours al home. They know
that nobody else can study or acquire ed
ucatiou fur them. Il reluctant to learn
,heir daily lessons, they should sternly be
obliged 10 DO 80 They should be taught
alike. that from this there Is no possible
escape--aud that beyond il. nothing is re-
auired Of them. The rest of the day Is
theirs, and they should be permitted in
al innocent ways TO pass Il as they list
"a fFolic and 10 play, the perogatlve and
Necessity OF youth, whether in the lower
IF higher animal creation.
But through fear Of creating habits OF
Iaziness. parents TOO often exact labor OF
their children sitter study hours and thus,
while warming for play AMI needed recre-
alton: while ye9rning for the absolute
freedom which children hold 50 dear,
they arr tied 70 tasks in which they can
feel no interest-which are sometimes be-
yond tllei. f, eble powers Of endurance. and
which are more repugnsnt ia that they
consulnc the precious hours OF their lib
ertv. This il the way to make Jack 4
dull l,sd and TO establish the very habits
that il was intended to avoid-for a boy
who works reluctantly, j. only happy
when that work is finished, and he Is thus
tempted to slight and skim it over, that
he rlav the sooner be released. In this
Hav not only are habits Of laziness Gre
ated. but OF negligence and of deep
seated dislike of work which often cling
through life and form the several classes
10 which. in the beginning, we have re-
ferred
The education Of children, if properly
conducted. i not, in after life, valuable
alone a. a reservoir of isolated facts, but
as nucleus of mental power, ever lncit-
ing "a original Investigations and con
illusions, rendering the humblest labor
not destitute Of an interest which the IN
disciplined, uncultivated mind that plods
on ike q horse or an OK, with little other
aspiration than that of sleeping, can but
imDerEectlv experience.