The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-10
TIE IGNITY or LIBOR.

Work of every kind is honorable. Brain
Work or manual labor is the general con =
d.ton of our existence. To fulfill such q
duty faithfully and well, to be trUe work
ia every condition ef life, eatitsesa a mae
to respect, no matter what hie allotted task
may be. 1t iG not the calling makes the
mar, but his conduct which gives dignity
to his calling. In teudal times tho bearing
of arms Was regarded as the oEly profession
worthy of gautlemaD. Even down to q
much later date, commercial pursuits were
spoken Of as derogarory to men of good
position, who would rather sue for sine
cures and pensions, OF hive burden to
themselve and friends, than embark in
commerce. THese false notions and vul-
gar pref udices are happily exploded. Con-
nections even of the Royal family do not
now think it beneath them TO pass east OF
Temple Bar to win for Themselves an hon
orable position in commerce. The learned
professions are already overstocked, and
as the progress of education is continually
raising men in the social sphere, OF at least
is stirring in them the ambition to rise in
the world, the rewards offered by an ever
extending commerce are daily inducing
men Of mental activity and of good educa-
tion to try their fortunes in business. Not
everyone snxions to earn fortune in the
city has, however, the means of starting
in business on his own account, consequent
ly subordinate positions in commercial
honses are gladly accepted by men who, In
former days, would have been qualified to
en ter the learned professions. This widen
ing of tire circle of pursuits and calliDgs
for educated men was not, as it ought to
have been, matter OF choice, but it ie the
Iesui' of Necessity, arising from an over
stocked market. Not the intrlneic worth,
Indeed, but the social value of commercial
pursuits and appointments, is raised by
the introduction into city houses of mon Of
higher education and standing. The effect
CT this change, however, as IL works out
its natural course, will be to add to the
efficiency OF the service, aid to increase it's
rewards. Trained and capable men are al
ways of value, ard it is but reasonable to
infer that the great commercial community,
whose profits and interests their skilled la
Dor and active energy do so much to pro-
n ote, will not forget or overlook such ser
vices.
In every calling thora is certain amoant
OF discontent failure rs often attributed
to tho wrong Cause, and mon impute tueir
want of success, not to their own inefclen-
cy or UNI eadiness, but to tho nature of the
sorvice in which they are engaged. Such
men are npt to believe that, had they fol-
lowed any other calling. they would have
risen 10 the top OF the tree, whereas, in re-
ality, had they been tried, they wcud still
have been found at The bottom. We are al
ways, it is true, inclined to- believe that tue
bardshps of uisfort1nes we lie under are
greater than those of any person or class
The worldly wise Horace makes the old
soldier, brokon with the fatigues Of war,
exclaim-"How happy the merchant !"
whilst the merchant, racked By fears for
the fate of his cargo caught in a storm, en-
vies the quick death or joyful victory of
the soldier. Addison, In the Spectator,
enlarges on thIs delusion, and qUoCes the
celebrated saying of a greater sage, "that
if all the mIsfortuncs Of mankind were
cast into a public etock, il order to be
equally distributed among tho whole epe-
cies, those who now think themselves tho
most unhappy would prefer the share they
are already possessed of before that which
would fell to them by such division"
But these wise saws do not apply to the
condition Of a man or a class exposed to ex-
ceptional burdens, as must be the case
with ary class, in these jost!ing days,
whose labor is unprotected aud whose in
terests are net specially guar ded. Mother
:e the want Of euccess, common to some il
all pUrsuits, a so oficent explanation for the
widespread inability of thuso engaged in
;he commercial service to maintain their
position in life. Whilst tie dignity of
In abor ls justly u2hcd, it should also not be
forgotten tLat tho laborer is worthy Of his
hIe.