The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-17
NUMBER 40.
DYING Ar THE Tor.

1t was q mournful exclamation of Dean Swift,
as ne looked upon o noblo tree, whose top,
struck by lightning. had withered, deoayed
and was dead, II. too. shall die first tops"
and, after many years OF bodily and mental
suffering, this great wit aud satirist died as he
had predicted, ''in a rage, like o poisoned rat
in q hole" There was, possibly. some heredi-
tary taint in him through which he caught D
glimpse of this dreadful end. Bot dying at
the top ID great malady which 10 steAithily
making it's way into the whole machinery of
American life. In the highwrought state of
our civilization there is no occupation, profess
sonnl or business, which is not carried on I'M
der a mighty and exhaustng pressure which is
sadly telling upon the faculties of our people.
The pro ftssious are full of men overworked,
and with half their vital energy gone, at a time
of life when the whole powers of their being
should be only folly developed, and in pristine
strength and Vigor. In every sphere Of labor,
from the highest to the lowest, and on every
hand, we sec men whose time and strength are
com pletely exhausted in tho daily endeavor to
get q living for thems slves and families.
Especially in cities like onrs, where the COM
petitive forces are such that only intense and
ontinuous labor can stand chance OF sucoeas,
the strsin of special faculties in the direction
Of special work is t)o great to be borne even
by men Of iron frame and nerves of sseel. The
results are paralysis, mental intrnity, and
early death. The few who survive above three
score, survive to an uge of decrePitude and un-
happiness.
TIE over er.weEked lawyer acts as if he were
wild over his own thoughts. The critical and
never. ending work ofthe editor leaves SO little
vigor in his body, that the few moments he
takes to himself furnish but mesgre enjoyment.
The merchant cannot leave his counting room,
and leave there, also, his business. 1t 10 con-
tinually on his mi nd, even when surrounded by
those dom estio pleasures which ought to bar
thought of else but home and freside oon forts.
The epeculator on Change looks haggard and
fretful. The whole line is wearing ont
with never cessing. activity. Dean Stan
ley compared, few days ago, the
rest lessness Of the American people,
derived from his present tour of obseryA-
tion in this country, to the continuous frettiDR
and whirl of Niagara. We are fast destroy
ing ourselves, and something must be done to
check it. Dame Nature isindulgent for time,
bat rigid u her exactions after ssason. She
may postpone for while tho debt we are pilinR
up against ourselves by this too great haste,
bnt she only post pones, and will eventually ex-
act every part to be paid with interest. We
can point ont cause for all this and remedy.
The cause lies in this fac;-t1st every one is
trying to vie with bis neighbor in luxury. The
ma ority are living beyond their means. The
extravagauce of onr life compels excess in the
strife to sustain it. Let US look well to 1t that
this grasping after position and wealth shall
not leave ua without tn o powers to enjoy II We
finally succeed in getting what is str1ven for