The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-08-01
Melaneholy ana mIeh spIrlts.

world, hypoconurla IL ulsease OF
civilization. 1t cannot be said to be
a feature of savage life. 1t is true
the Maylay runs a muck. But he is
half civilized. Moreover, his craze
is not so much from depression Of
spirits as from desperate exalta-
ton. 1t is not easy TO understand all
the phases of savage life. The moro
familiar phases indicate joyous peo
pie. The savage of the tropics has few
cares. Nothing seems to him more
ridiculous than the thoughtf1lness
and earnestEess of civilized people.
In his estimation they are slaves to
conventional usages. Why should
they be forever ut work. Why
should they go through life carrying
tremendous burdens all their days,
when it is easy enough to recline nm
der cocoanut tree and let the fruit
drop down as from an opening
heaven? What is all this enigma of
store clothes, laees, broadcloth and
gloomy houses from which the sun is
shut as il it were an enemy2 Is
there to be no freedom from care in
the world? just as these men have
accumulated their millions, they die.
They could have lived happily with
out their millions; lived lives of
dreamy Incidence without thought
for the morrow, and lived longer by
many years than the average dura-
ton of civilized life. Then as to
the food Of civilized races. There
are no dyspeptics among savages.
Tbs sun and the free air of heaven
work wonders upon him. He can
cat food which would kill white
man, and that without inconvenience.
At the same time his roast pig in
plantain leaves, cooked by means of
hot stones in the bottom of a hole in
the ground, may be dish fit to feast
the gods.
Melancholy is the disease of civili-
zation. In its mildest form it is sim
ply low spirits, depression, undue
anxiety touching trivial matters.
There is the harassing desire 10 sup
ply the long list of artificial wants
which civilization has created. Aud
the worst phase of all is that civili-
zation goes on creating these wants.
It cheapens many commodities, but
it inserts new desires and creates new
articles which long time only the
wealthy few can attain. The ideal
standard of living for thousands is TO
attain as many luxuries as the rich
possess. In nine cases out Of ten the
attainment OF great wealth has been
made at too great cost. It has in.
volved loss of health, and the utter
capacity to enjoy it. What is chiefly
to be noted is the absence of high
spirits among the mass Of the people.
Civilization ought to bring more Joy
business OF life. The trouble, per-
haps, is that the very manner of liv-
ing is too complex. There are too
many secrets, too many burdens, and
consequently too many anxieties.
The insane asylums fill rapidly. Too
many die st just that period when
they have got ready TO live. They
break down just past the period OF
middle life, when the faculties are all
ripened and the individual ought to
be at his best.
This absence of high spirits is also
fatal to wit. 1t is not likely that
there will be an utter extinction oi
witty people. But they at times be
come 30 scarce that the poorest apol
ogy for wit is accepted in default oi
something better, A writer quoted
in the Nineteenth Century holds the
following opinion:
There is now no fun in the world
Wit we have, and an abundance o
grim humor, which evokes anything
but mirth. Nothing would astonisl
Us in the Midway Inn so much as /
peal of laughter. A great writei
(though it must be confessed scarcely
an amusing one), who has recently
reached his journeys end, used Il
describe bis animal spirits depre
ciatingly, as being at the best bu
vegetable spirits. And that is nov
the way with us all. When Charlie
| Dickens died, it was confidentl,
stated in great literary journal tina
his loss, so far from affecting 9Th
gaiety of nations" would scarcely b
felt at all; the power of rousing tear
and laughter being q suppose th
writer thought) so very common
That prophecy has by no means bee
fulfilled. But what is far worse tina
there being no humorous writer
amongst us, the faculty Of appre
ciating even The old ones is dyin
out. There is no such thing as big
spirits anywhere.
The melancholy of the educate
English is the topic of a leadin
article in the same publication
There are hints of over-educatjoI
It is said that when an Indian come
in contact with our civilization he
a sadder man. This may be the RI
suit of a contact with the vices {
ciYi cation. The wits of the worl
have been men and women Of big
spirits. Dickens, Thackeray, and tt
circle Of English wits who fourishe
a few years ago, were notably me
of great buoyancy of spirit. The
had found the secret zest of lif
: People will go night after night to
negro minstrel performance, not I
much for the music, which is gel
orally good, as for the jokes an
rama ,.toac IF fha ond man zffahav 70 |