Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-13
Aailp 4en,rebef yonrnal.
Augusta. MondaJ Morning, Eov. ID.
The Gospel of Relaxation.


At q banquet in New York, Thursday
evening. to the great English philosopher.
Herbert Spencer, that gentleman took for the
subject of his after dinner speech the evils
OF over work by Americans and the necessity
of frelaxtion from labor. in order to have
healthy bodies and transmit healthy bodice
to posterity. The Subject is so important
that we copy his remarks upon it and seom-
mend them to the special attention Of our
readers. Mr.. Spencer said:
And now that I have thanked you, sin
cerelv though too briefly, / am going TO
and fault with you. Already in some re-
marks drawn from me respecting American
Affairs and American character. have passed
criticisms, which have been accepted far more
good naturally than could reasonably have
expected; and 1t seems strange that | should
now again propose to transgress. However,
the fault | have TO comment upon Is one
which most will scarcely regard fault.
Il seems 10 me that in one respect Americans
have diverged too widely from savages. ]
do not mean to say that they are IN general
unduly civilized. Throughout large parts Of
the population, even in longsettled regions,
there is no excess Of those virtues needed for
the maintenance of social harmony. Espec-
tally out in the West, mems dealings do not
vet betrsy too much Of the ''sweetness and
light" which we are told distinguish the cul-
tured man from the barbarian. Neverthe-
less, there is a sense in which my assertion
is true. You know that the primitive man
lacks power Of application. Spurred by hum
ger, by danger, by revenge, he can exert him
self energetically for time; but his energy
il spasmodc. Monotonons daily toll IS i'm
possible to him. 1t is otherwise with the
more developed man. The stern discipline
of social life has gradually increased the APP
titude for persistent industry until among Us,
and still more among you. work has become
with many a passion. This contrast Of ma
ture has another aspect. The savage thinks
only of present satisfaction, and leaves flu
ture satisfactions uncared for. Contrariwise,
the American, eagerly pursuing fu-
ture good almost ignores what good
the passing day offers him; and, when
the future good is gained. he neglects that
while striving for some still remoter good.
What have seen and heard during my
stay among you, has forced on me the belief
that this slow change from habitual inertness
to persistent activity. has reached an extreme
from which there must begin a counter
change-a reaction. Everywhere | have
been struck with the number Of faces which
told in strong lines of the burdens that had
to be borne have been struck, too. with
the large proportion of gray haired men and
inquiries have brought out the fact that with
you the hair commonly begins to turn some
ten years earlier than with us. Moreover, in
every circle have met men who had them
selves suffered from nervous collapse due to
stress of business, or named friends who had
either killed themselves by overwork, or had
haas aptl, tal i,a1
wasted long periods in endeavors to recover
health. l do but echo the opinion Of all
observant persons have spoken to, that
immense injury is being done by this high
pressure life-the physique is being under
mined. That subtle thinker and poet whom
you have lately had to mourn, Emerson,
says, in his essay on the gentleman, that he
first requisite is that he shall be good
animal. The requisite is general one-it
extends to the man, to the father, to the
citizen. We hear great deal about ''the
vile body and many are encouraged by the
phrase to transgress the laws of health. But
nature quietly suppresses those who treat
thus Unexpectedly one of her highest
products, and leaves the world to be peoped
by the descendants of those who are not so
foolish.
Beyond these immediate mischicfs there
are remoter mischiefs. Exclusive devotion
to work has the result that amusements cease
to please; and, when relaxation becomes
imperative, life becomes dreary from lack Of
its sole interest-the interest in business.
The remark current in England that, when
the American travels. his aim is to do the
greatest amount of sightseeing in the short
est time, I find current here also; it is
recognized that the satisfaction of getting on
devours nearly all other satisfactions. When
recently at Niagara, which gave us a whole
weeks pleasure, l learned from the landlord
Of the hotel that Tost Americans come one
day and go away the next. Old Frois-
sart, who said Of the English of this day that
.'they take their pleasures sadly after their
fashion," would doubtless. if he lived now,
say of the Americans that they take their
pleasures hurriedly after their fashion. In
large measure with us. and still more with
you. there is not that abandonment to the
moment which is requisite for full enjoyment
and this abandonment is prevented by the
ever-present sense of mutitudinous rcspon-
sibiities. So that. beyond the serious physi-
cal mischief caused by overwork there is the
further mischief that it destroys what value
there would otherwise be in the leisure
part Of life.
Nor do the evils end here. There is the
injury to posterity. Damaged constitutions
TcdpHtM III auu th ttiVib ihi
more of i'll than good fortune Yields them of
good. When life has been duly rstionalized
BY science, il will be seen that among man 5
duties care of the body is imperative, not
only out of regard for personal welfare, but
also ont of regard for descendants His con
etitution will be considered as an eutailed
estate, which he ought to pass on uninjured,
II not improved, to those who follow; and it
will be held that millions bequeathed by him
will not compensate for feeble health and de-
creased ability to enjoy life. Once more.
there is the injury to fellow-citizens, tax
ing the shape of undue disregard of conf
petitors. hear that a great trader among
you deliberately epdeavored to crush out
every one whose business competed with his
own; and manifestly the man who, making
himself slave to accumulation, absorbs an
inordinate share of the trade OF profession he
is engaged in, makes life harder for all others
engaged in it. and excludes from it many who
might otherwise gain completeness. Thus
besides the egotistic motive, there are two
altruistic motives which should deter from
this excess in work.
The truth is, there needs revised ideal of
life. Look back through the past, or look
abroad through the present, and we find that
the ideal of life is variable and depends on
social conditions. Every one knows that TO
be q successful warrior was the highest aim
.~our al apr,apt raorlas ~ motto q II is still