The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-07-04
The Joy of Work.
To the Editor of the Standard

To the Editor of the Standard.1
Work is the blighting curse pronounc
ed on Adams posterity, and this is to
hold through all time. From eight to
sixteen hours time Of most men are pass
ed in work, while many women toll some
hours longer-their husbands and sons
resting or rowing the meantime.
The primeval curse is thus crushing
and wearing away the greater part of hui
man existence.
Work is ever attended with care and
anxiety, often with disappointment, and
sometimes with despair. Any alienation
during the accomplishment of such a
destiny is seized with eagerness To live
without work, is the acme of human de-
sire. Power and wealth have for their
chief end exemption from the general
doom-work. To save children from the
weight which has crushed or oppressed
the parents, is the chief end of human
affection, an admitted apology for the
fathers avarice and a mothers exhaust
ing toll. The young man who is obliged
to support himself is excluded from the
best circles of so called of society. The
young lady whose father is unable to sup
port her in idleness is too often spiteful
at father and fate, and feels still more
degraded if dire necessity drives her to
teaching or other self-sustaining effort
In the face of all these foregone conclu-
sions, drawn from SO many sources, l
wish to state my text-it is That work
is the most blessed boon conferred on
man-his only salvation. In the sweat of
thy brow shalt thou eat bread, was pro-
nounced by the same voice that declared
to the old serpent, the grand seducer to
all business; it shall bruise thy head,
but thou shalt bruise his heel
The harmonious activity of every fac
ulty is the highest state of happiness
God made the world, and made it right
1t is almost universally assumed that the
devil has defeated the plan from the first,
by bringing on man the curse of work,
and all we have to do is to out-wit the
devil and escape the curse if possible
Nothing pleases his internal magisty bet
ter than this assumption, unless it is its
Nothing else has given
him the political and priestly control of
the world thus far. and nothing else will
continue it.
l now propose to show that work can
be made and Of right ought to be con-
sidered, not only necessary and desirable
but enjoyable; nay, the chief joy, and
that the individual who succeeds in max
ing it so, need not wait thousand years
and more for the joys of heaven. Heaven
is already begun within him, and around
him.
l want the man that labors with his
hands to be paid and that well, for l am
one of that number. l recollect hearing
my Uncle say, when I was boy, that |
there was only ninepence difference be-
tween them that worked and them that |
played, and the one that played got the
ninepence. Now take that for granted. |
They can't rest of night like the man
that works for his living.
Now l want TO say word in regard to
the men who fill the various offices in
the county, and state that their salary is
too large by one third and l care not |
whose toes the shoe might pinch. If they |
don't like it let them step down and out,
and see how soon their places will be fill
ed with men for one-third less taxes for
the taxpayer of the county. Now if we
can save one hundred dollars out of every
three, why not do it? There are plenty
of men-good honest men, who will give
bond and security that they will perform
the duties in the various offices through
out the whole county for two-thirds of
the money that we are paying.
Yours, NOTTINGHAM CLAIR.