, 1880-01-25

CONCERNING THE DUTY OF PLEASURE.
In his latest work, "The Data of Ethics" :"
Mr.. Herbert Spencer presents some very
strong arguments to show that the cultfva-
tfon Of pleasure is one of the prime duties Of
life, and, as mankind naturally seeks for
pleasure In preference to sorrow, his argu-
ments will undoubtedly receive very general
attention. Mr.. Spencer's first position is, that
pleasure is desirable because it is useful
and life preserving function, and that the CO.
incidences of pleasurable and life-preserying
activities are necessary condition Of per
manent existence, since it is q natural law
that we should seek pleasure and it is con-
dition Of self-preservation that our actions
should tend toward the highest standards of
organic efficiency. His second position is,
that q rational pursuit of individual enjoy
ment Is preliminary to an effective rendering
OF services to others, which, Of course, em-
phasizes the duty of pleasure by making it
an obligation not only to ones self, but to
Others
It would seem at first sight as II it were
unnecessary to urge pleasure upon mankind
as duty, since all mankind chases after it
IN various ways. While accepting 1t, how
ever, as duty, it would have beeh more to
the purpose had he pointed out those rational
methods OF pursuing 1t which do not involve
an ultimate burden not only Of safety, but
also Of physical and mental pain. For In
stance, there are men so constituted that at
the commencement Of business-life the ma1s-
ing Of money Is the highest possible form of
enjoyment. They find keen pleasure in
accumu lating it, and, even If they do not
deyelopinto misers, who perhaps are the most
satisfactory persons to themselves and the
least satisfactory to the community of all.
people living, they soon become so engrossed
in their golden pleasure that they abandon
one after the other all their natural impulses,
emotions, and tastes which would give them
healthy pleasure and increase the general
fund OF others enjoyment. At last they
concentrate themselves so completely upon.
this one object that what commenced as
pleasure ends as mania that shuts up every
other avenue Of enjoyment. Worse than
this, such mania always ends in positive
discomfort and pain. The money-maniac
loses confidence in his kind. He is kept in
constant anxiety for fear he will lose his ac-
cumulations. notwithstanding his satisfac='
tlon with his money and the position 1t gives
him, he feels that he cannot enjoy what
other people are enjoying, and he ends by
being angry with people for enjoying things
that he cannot obtain with all his money.
dwelling upon this great want In his life, l1e
becomes sour, gloomy, and misanthropieal;
and this condition of temperament always
reacts, UPON the body"until he becomes an
actual physical sufferer,-the result of his
chase after pleasure. -,
Take another instance, There are women
50 constituted. that they find the keenest
pleasure amid funereal surroundings. There
Is no possible view Of the world that gives
them 80 much comfort as the assumption that
it Is yale of tears, and that we are all poor,
Wretched creatures jou1neying to the grave.
Such an one would hang the heavens with
Grape, II it were possible, change every rose
to black turn every gay-colored bird into
crow, and supplant smiles with sobs,, and at
the same time take pleasure in 1t. She finds