The Osceola times., 1881-02-26
4 tireut Truth.

There is a great deal Of truth in the
assertion that Americans are becoming
ruinously and absurdly genteel, that the
drift of mind is away from those employ.
ments which involve hard manual labor
that sons and daughters of farmers and
mechanics are seeking TO raise them.
selves above the conditions of life in
which they were born, striving for more
genteel employmonts, for something that
gives an air of greater respectability, and
at the same time greater immunity from
toll.
Comparatively few from the ranks Of
men and womef rise to high postionsor or
attain anything beyond fair average on
the plane Of social eminence. The great
majority must I'LL humble places in life;
work must be done and some one must
do it, and therefore the training and
education should not be such as 10 unfit
them for their work, or make them dis
contented with it, but should rather be
in direction to help them 10 accept the
conditions of life which seem TO be Their
portion, be cOntented with it and find
their best happiness in brayely perform.
ing the labors Of the station tn which
and We should not seek escape from it,
as it is wholesome and desirable; for the
daily labor which brings cur daily bread,
if not exaggerated by artificial demands,
brings satisfying and lasting happiness
BY labor we do not mean that intense
concentration Of the mental powers upon
narrow and sordid cares which drive all
ennObling influences from the daily life
and bring such . dun monotony with ii
thata oncsided developments is produced,
but that labor which while securing a
fair competence makes life useful 10 our.
selves and others Earning living,
either for man or woman, is not degrad.
ing neither sholld the choice of the
way for earning it be 50, and the proles-
siOs which involves manual labor is
oft2ner better adapted for selfdcvclop-
ment as wei! as more remuncrative than
many Of the so-called genteel employ
ments. The idea that one kind of labor
is more gentecl than another is q very
erroneous one and has been the means
of driving young men and women into
positions for which they have no natural
fitness, and las filled 10 overhowing
some particular avenues of employ.
ment, leaving dearth in Others.
mus we iind young men, brOad-shoul-
dered and sinewy, standing behind
counters, when they might better be at
the plow or the plane, and young ladies,
croWdlng into the shops and stores, dis
dainlng houscwork, sewing or any other
employment which does not seem quite
SO genteel. How many homes need just
the help which sons aud daughters could
50 well and easily give, if they were only
taught to make up the duties of life as
they come, without leaving their per-
iofmance 10 others, and were not de-
TERED by ialse ideas of respectabilty.
Many sight for broader fields of useful
ness, and look hugingly across the
threshold Of home where their duties
lie, into the various avenues of employ
ment, waiting for some golden opportunity
which shall enable them to step into
higher sphere Of activity, without recog-
hlzing the fact that the faithful perform
ancc % the common and homely duties
oi ne IS the best preparation for any
and every field Of usefulness. There is
no place or position in which men and
women are called TO labor that has not
It's disadvantages and discouragements,
even where there is special fitness and
adoption for the work. Very few people
md the labor TO which they are called
wholly congenial to their tastes and de-
sires, but II is possible to adopt oneself
to the circumstances, and while 10 every
man and woman should be given the
fullest exercise Of all their faculties, the
most unlimited use and improvement Of
all their talents, the utmost freedom of
choice of occupations and professions, is
honorable, and useful employments lie
at the base of national prosperity.