St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-17
The Gospel Of Relaxation.

Herbert Spencer, the English philOs-
Opher, was entertained at dinner at
DelmOnico's, New York, by over two
hundred prominent men of New York.
VIM. NJ. Evarts presided. After eX-
pressions of thanks for the honor done
him and expressing his gratitude for
his kindly reception in this country, he
spoke as follows on what he termed
the gospel of relaxation: 1t seems
to me that i'll some respects Americans
have diverged too widely from saw
ages. | don't mean to say that they
are in general unduly civilized.
Throughout large parts of the popula
ton, even in long settled regions, there
is no excess of those virtues needed
for the maintenance of social harmony.
Especially out in the west, mems deal
ings do not yet betray too much of the
Sweetness and light which we are
told distinguish the cultured man from
the barbarian. Nevertheless, there is
sense in which my assertion is true.
YOu know that the primitive man lacks
power of application. Spurred by
hunger, by danger, by revenge, he can
exert himself energetically for a time,
but his energy is spasmodic. Monoto-
nous daily toll is impossible to him; it
is otherwise with the more developed
man. The stern discipline of social
life has gradually increased the apti-
tude for persistent industry until
among us, and still more among you,
work has become with many IA passion.
| This contrast of nature has another as
pect. The savage thinks only of pres
ent satisfaction and leaves future sat
isfactiOns uncared for. COntrarywise
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 re,
mOter good. What l have seen and
heard during my stay among you has
forced on me the belief that this slow
change from habitual inertness to per
sistent activity has reached an extreme
from which there must begin counter
change reaction. Everywhere | have
been struck with the number of fact:
which told, in strong lines, of the bur
dens that had to be borne. hav,
been struck, too, with the large pro
portion of gray haired men, and inqui
ries have brought out the fact tha
with you the hair commonly begins Il
turn some ten years earlier than will
us. Moreover, in every circle / hav,
met men who had themselves suffered
from nervous cOllapses, due to stress o
business, or named friends who ha,
crippled themselves by Overwork, o
had been permanently incapacitated
or had wasted long periods on endeav
Ors to recover health. | do but ech,
the opinion of all the observing per
sons | have spoken to, that immens,
injury is being done by this high-pres
sure life. The physique is being un
dermined. That subtle thinker ant
poet whom we have lately had t.
mourn, Emerson, says in his essay ol
''The Gentleman" that the first requi
site is that he shall be a good animal
The requisite is a general One-it ex
tends to the man, to the father, to tn
citizen. We hear a great deal abOu
''the vile body" and many are encour
aged by the phrase to transgress til
laws of health, but nature quietly sup
presses those who treat thus disre
spectfully one Of her highest products
E and leaves the world to be peOpled b.
the descendants of those who are no
] so foolish. Beyond these immediat
e nischiefs there are remoter mischief,
: Exclusive devotion to work has the re
= suit that amusements cease to pleas,
s and, when relaxation becomes impera
/; tive, life becomes dreary from lack {
:. its sole interest-the interest in busi
n ness. The remark current in England
that when the American travels hi
e aim to do the greatest amount of sight
: seeing in the shortest time, find cul