Connecticut western news., 1882-11-15
THE GOSPEL OF RELAXATION.

 thereon Is prima rsce evidence of its acceptance as correct
 THE GOSPEL OF RELAXATION.
 A complimentary dinner was given to Herbert Spencer at Delmonico's, N. Y., on the eve of his departure for England, last Thursday evening. Wm. M. Evarts presided, and Prof. Sumner of Yale College, Prof. John Fiske of Harvard, Henry Ward Beecher and other distln- guished scholars and professional men were present. MT. Spencer made characteristic and interesting address. He proceeded, after some remarks of a personal nature, to say: Already III some remarks drawn from me respect ing American affairs and American char acter, I have passed criticisms, which have been accepted far more good-natur- edly than I could reasonably have ex- pected; and 1t seems strange that l should now again propose to transgress. However, the fault I have to comment upon is one which most will scarcely regard as fault. It seems to me that in one respect Americans have diverged too widely from savages. l do not mean
  civilized. Throughout large parts of the population, even in long settled re- gions, there is no excess of those virtues needed for the maintenance of social harmony. Especially out in the west, mems dealings do not yet betray too much of the sweetness and light" which we are told distinguish the cul- tured man from the barbarian Never theless, there is sense in which my assertion is true. You know that the primitive man lacks power of appllca- tion. Spurred by hunger, by danger, by revenge, he can exert himself ener- getically for time; but his energy is spasmodic. Monotonous daily toll is impossible to him. It is otherwise with the more developed man. The stern discipline of social life has gradually in- creased the aptitude for persistent in- dustry. until among us, and still more among you, work has become with many @ passion. This contrast of nature has another aspect. The savage thinks only of present satisfaction, and leaves future satisfactions uncared for. Contrawise, the American, eagerly pursuing future 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 I 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 counter change-a reaction. Everywhere I have been struck with the number of faces which told in strong lines of the burdens that had to be borne I have been struck, too, with the large proportion of gray haired men, and inquiries have brought out the fact that with you the hair com, monly begins to turn some ten years earlier than with us. Moreover, in every circle I have met men who had them selves suffered from nervous collapse due to stress of business or named friends who had either killed themselve: by over-work, or had been permanently incapacitated, or had wasted long pc riods in endeavors to recover health. do but echo the opinion of all the ob servant persons have spoken to, tha immense injury is being done by this high pressure life-the physique is be ing undermined That subtle thinke, and poet whom you have lately had tt mourn, Emerson, says, in his essay o1 the gentleman, that the first requisite Ii that he shall be good animal. Tht requisite is general one-it extends tt the man, to the father, to the citizen We hear great deal about 'the will body;" and many are encouraged by tn phrase to transgress the laws of health P,-%, o&1 l,. treat thus disrespectfully one of he highest products, and leaves the world to be peopled by the descendants o those who are not so foolish.
 MT. Spencer spoke of other evils con nected with too much devotion to work in the injury to posterity He though that the business ideal now so prom nent in American life was not to con tinue He said: The modern ideal i appropriate to ages in which conques of the earth and subjection of the pow CTS of nature to human use is the pre- dominant need. But hereafter, whe both these ends have in the main bee achieved the ideal formed will probabl differ considerably from the present one May we not foresee the nature of tn difference? I think we may. Som twenty years ago good friend of min and 8 good friend of yours, too, thoug you never saw him, John Stuart Mil delivered at St. Andrews an inaugurs address on the occasion of his appoin ment to the lord rectorship. It contain ed much to be admired, as did all h wrote. There ran through it, howeve, the tacit assumption that life is for lear1 ing and working. I felt at the time tha I should have liked to contend life not for learning, nor is life for working but learning and working are for life.
 Hereafter, when this age of active m, terial progress has yielded mankind ii benefits, there will, I think, come
 better adjustment of labor and enjo, ment. Among reasons for thinking thi there is the reason that the process evolution throughout the organic worl at large brings an increasing surplus energies that are not absorbed in fulfil ing material needs, and points to sti larger surplus for humanity of the fl ture. And there are other reasons which I must pass over. In brief,
 may say that we have had somewhat to much of ''the gospel of work" It
 time to preach the gospel of relaxation
 And now I must bid you farewell When I sail by the Germanic on Satu
 day shall bear with me pleasant r, membranes of my intercourse wit many Americans, joined with regre
 that my state of health has prevente me from seeing larger number
 MT. Spencer spoke in a rather feeb
 voice. Indeed, he had been in bed a day, and undertook the fatigue of u dinner with anprahnpsioD Cordia1 n, plause interrupted and followed h