The Red Cloud chief., 1878-07-18
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Investigation tina, should hunSA6 lighs
Just bow far the comforts and plea.urps
which are 80 easily desired end sought
for really snswer their ~cxpertrd ends
and where they result In fsilurs snd Dis
appointment That Their. is such olamit
u very 'esidcut. That money. cell
earned and well spent. brings red han
pinrss Ia many people. 10 undeniable.
The gradual ascent Of q family frosn
poverty To substantial comfotb nccduI.
panied by q keen sense IL e,nyunent,
and the gloomies. ascetjo an hardly
close his eyes 10 the pae1Dge sstisfsc-
ton aud innocent gis' mess which ensue
from the temporal benefits which he
processes 90 dcspise.
On the other hand. il Is no less man.
fest tina, wealth. with its accompany
log social system. Is often a source ~
c're, anxiety. WEAKNESS aud disappoint
ment The very things that have been
ardcntly wished for have. when obtain.
ed, brought perplcNity and suffer.
ing. The painful cravings. instead Of
being allayed by possession, have sim
ply changed their base. and AR. felt with
even greater intensity for further luSu-
rics. Frequently the most bitter COM
plants fall from the lips ~ those who
have all hat money can bcstow. The
capitalist Is harrassed by the fear of
unsafe investments, II oyerwurked by
the constant attention his affairs de.
mand. is yeSed with the opportunities
OF those who would prey upon him.
ne woman Of fashion, with the amp
lest means nj her command, Is wearied
with the constant round Of ceremoni-
Gus forms which her position demands,
- burdencd with the cares of an eSpen-
sive household. and worried by the con-
slant shortcomings of "A rctinue Of ser.
wants. Thus, much of the life Of wealth
and fashion that is so greatly longed for
IS passed mot in being happy. but in
playing ut being haprv."
How Is IL that the same cause can
produce such dissimilar results. Clear
ly II is not the amount Of gain that
draws the line, for we find discomfort
in every grade, while some Of our veal.
thiest citizens are undoubtedly among
the happiest. II is rather traceable to
certain principles of human nature
which can never be uprootcd. but which
prosperity inrlines us To overlook. One
of these is that the full exercise of the
faculties ~ necessary To happiness.
Those who regard labor only as u means
OF gain are naturally disposed To lay il
down rs o 10 rs the end Is fulfilled.
They have striven hard To become rich,
why should they continue to strive
afterwards Thus a large part Of the
nature remains inactive. and the hap
piness Of life is to that extent diminish
ed. The efforts that are put forth in
the pursuit Of pleasure will not answer
this end. The appetite pals, and leaves
us still unsatistied. Pleasure. to pre-
serve its zest, must be ministered 10
only occasionally, and must bc IN strong
contrast to the major part Of life. Like
food. II clogs and disgusts. unless the
proper intervals Of abstinence have been
observed.
Besides this, happiness requires a
sense Of personal value. Hardly any,
thing is more essential tn the true en-
jOyment Of life. He who IL forever
chasing pleasure, and seeking his own
interest. must forego the satisfaction
which comes from worthy achievement.
Though he labor hard in the search.
though he succeed in each endeavor, he
has no significance in the world; he has
"'iN ~ NV NiNVs SlNtu IL IO luStTt.
and when he departs he will leave no
trace behind. Unless a man live for
something out Of himself, unless he per-
ceives that such a life alone Is honor
able, and that il is really disgraceful 10
produce no more than he consumes,
and to pursue pleasure as an end. he
must forever forfeit the highest and
only permanent happiness that life has
To offer.
1t is not. then. the effect of prosper
ity, as such, to produce discomfort,
WEAKNESS and nnhappiness. 1t is the
spirit which sets up prosperity as the
one aim of life, which recognizes moth
ing higher, nothing nobler, nothing
worthier-which sees no other use in
labor, no better employment of the fac
ulties. no grander outlook of the soul.
Ii is this spirit which will turn cCm-
forts into discOmforts. pleasure into
WEAKNESS, delight into ennui, opportu.
mites for good into instruments of evil.
On the other hand, he who regards Pc
higher end, who values labor for its
developing power, as well as for its inn
mediate gain, who scorn to enjoy at
%another's expense, or to be u mere con-
sumner of others produce, who purposes
To make his life worthy and valuable to
the world, and his influence a blessing
to those around him, will reap. from
whatever prosperity may fall to his
share, the true and permanent happi-
ness that is its rightful result. -Pfila-
delphia Ledger.