The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-01-27
Pleasant Right.DOing.


The emphasis that is justly laid upon
self-denial as an important element In
right-doing sometimes leads us to under
rate all actions that do not include it.
The palpable exhibitions of selfish injus-
tice that casts all self-denial to the winds
and seeks only personal and present
qualifications are so repulsive TO the just
and generous that they are apt to divide
all actions roughly into two classes-the
one self-pleasing and wrong, the other
self-denying and right.
Such classification, however, is not
merely rough, it is absolutely erroneous.
The value Of self-denial does not reside
in itself as an end, but only as means
to higher state IN which 1t is no longer
needed. For example, greedy child
needs careful training In habits requir-
ing constant self denial-but years pass,
the habit Of restraint is acquired, reason
dominates, and in maturity he no longer
finds the need Of self-denial In this direc-
ton, for more intelligent self-loye pre-
fers the possession of health to the in
diligence Of the palate The right-doing
that was once SO painful has become
pleasant. So the child who selfshly
snatches the property of his playmate
violently away, presently learns by
teaching and experience the far higher
enjoyment of justice and sympathy, and
when he is man it costs him no pain to
refrain from snatching his neighbor's
purse, although his desire for money may
be even stronger than his childish desire
for the coveted plaything.
So, In every case, self-denial is like a
road which must be travelled to reach
some desired end, but which we gladly
leave behind us when the goal is reached.
1t is when right-doing no longer costs a
pang that it arrives at its best condition.
Moral progress is not simply the work
ing up to a self-denying condition of
mind, it is also working through self
denial to pleasurable well doing. While,
therefore, it is needful to insist on self
denial whenever right action demands
it. it is by no means just to limit our APP
prevail to those actions alone.
There is indeed a very large proper
ton of good and noble deeds that contain
no element of self-denial they are per-
formed with pleasure and avidity there
is no painful sense Of obligation, no
struggle, no collision Of motives. The
parent who truly and intelligently loves
his children does not pause to consider
his own case when their necessities de-
mand his exertion; there is no contest
in his mind between his duty to them
and his own happiness, for the two are
consonant; his heart springs to plan
and labor for their good, and in doing
this he best pleases himself. The hero
who claims our admiration by leaping
into the fire or the water unhesitatingly
to save anothers life has not been com
PEELED or driven to the act by a sense OF
duty, at war with, and finally overcom-
ing his desire of safety. It is, on the
contrary, his quick and ready sympathy
springing to action without conscious
self-denial which commands the homage
of every looker-on.
Not in extraordinary cases alone, but
in the everyday affairs of life, much OF
the right-doing is pleasant. It is not
self-denial that makes the lover of JUS
tice upright and honorable in all his
dealings he could not descend to mean
ness or unfairness in his business, OF
take advantage of poverty or ignorance
to enrich himself without personal
sense of degradation far more painful to
bear than any pecuniary loss. So the
generous and sympathetic man bestowa
his time, thought or money upon those
who need it, with pleasure to himself,
not with pain. The patriotic statesman
in securing the welfare Of his country is
fulfilling his own earnest desire. The
striver after excellence in any occcupa-
ton, while benefting the world, is at
the same time ministeriug to his OWL
happiness. And the best work in any
department is that which has been q
source of pleasure to the performer. =
Philadelphia Public Ledger.