Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-14
Mr.. speace,,s speech.

Mr.. Spencer began by asking the indun-
gence of the company on account OF his im
paired health. He continued:
Mr. President AND GENrIEMEN-AIong with
ness from fate; for. now that, above all times in
my life. l need full command of what powers OF
interfere with them that feel l shall very made
quately express myself. Any failure IN my re-
spouse you must please ascribe in part at least to
a greatly disordered nervous system. Regarding
you representing Americans at large, feel that
the occasion is one which arrears OF thanks are
due. l ought TO begin with the time, some two
and-twenty years ago, when my highly valued
my books here. interested ON their half the
Messrs. Appleton, who have ever treated me so
detail from that time onward The various marks
and acts OF sympathy py Mhlen ! nave
for many years disheartening. But, init
mating thus briefly my general . indebted
known, on this side OF the a tiantic, 1 mus; name
more especially the many attentions and prof
fered inequalities met with during my late tour,
as well as, lastly aud chiefly, this marked ex-
preston of the sympathies and good wishes which
cost Of that time which is precious 10 the Amer
lean. l believe may truly say that the better
health which you have SO cordially wished me VIII
be in a measure furthered by the wish since all
pleasurable emotions is conducive TO health, and,
as you will fully believe the remembrance OF inls
able emotion, exceeded by few, II any OF my re-
membranee.
though too briefly. l gong to find fault with
you. Already, in some remarks drawn from me
respecting American affairs and American charac-
ter have passed criticisms which have been ac-
copied far more good naturedly than could rea-
sonably have expected, and it seems strange that
should now again propose to transgress. However,
the fault have TO comment upon is one which most
in one respect Americans have diverged too wideIl
from savages do not mean to say that = .,a
in general undnlyI t gylized' ..,uzhoSt are
gions there is - sxess oi ihos Wins nsa re
iot W. ss,atnteHanee of social harmony. Espcci-
tray 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 kneN mat Tie primi
tive man lacks never OF Duplication. Spurred by
hunger. by cspger, by revenge, ne can exert him
self ensrgetically for time, but his energy is
spasmodic Monotonous daily toll is impossible
&c MIN. 1t is otherwise with the more developed
man. The stern discipline of social Life nas greatly
increased the aptitude for persistent Industry
until among US, and still more among you, work
oas become with many passion. This contrast
of nature has another aspect. the savage thinks
only OF present satisfaetions and leaves future
can, eagerly pursuing a future good, almost lg-
nores what good the passing day offers him, and
while striving for some still Iemoter good
What l have seen and heard during my stay
among you has forced on me the belief that this
slow change from habitnai ineTtness TO persistent
activity has reached an extreme from which there
where have been struck with the mum Der of faces
Hhcn told IN strong lines OF the burdens that had
70 be borne. l have been struck, too, with the
large proportion of gray haired men, and inquiries
nave brought out the fact that with you the hair
commonly begins to turn some ten years earlier
tnan with u.s. borrower, in every circle have
met men who had themselves suffered from ner-
yous collapse due to stress of business or named
work or had b=en permanently incapacitated or
had wasted long periods in endeayors TO recover
servant persons have spoke to- that immense in
jury has been done by this high pressure life-the
thinker and poet whom You have lately t had to
mourn, Emerson, says in his essay ON the geE tie
man, that the first requisite is that he shall be a
good animal. The requisite is a general one-it
extends to the man, 10 the father, to the etizan.
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 di.respecttuly one OF her
highest products and leaves the world to be co.
pied by the descendants of those who not 50
foolish.
remote nischiefs. Exclusive devotion to work has
the result that amusement ceases to please and
when relaxation becomes Imperative life becomes
dreary from lack OF its sole nterest-the interest
in business. The remark current in England, that
when the American travels his aim is to do the
time find current here also It is recognized that
the satisfaction of getting devours nearly all
which gave a whole weeks pleasure I learned
from the landlord of the hotel that most AIneri-
who said of the English OF his day that
they lake their pleasures sadly after their
lake their pleasures hurriedly after their
ashton. In large measure with us, and still
more with you; there is not that abandonment to
he moment which is requisite for fun enjoyment:
and this abandonment is prevented by the ever
present sense Of mulntudinous responsibilities |
So that, beyond the serious physical mischief |
caused By overwork, there is the further mischief
hat II destroys what value there would otherwise
Je in the leisure part of life
Nor do the evils end here. There is the injury |
% posteriy. Damaged constitutions reappear in |
and entail on them far of III Than
sreat fortunes yield them of good When life has |
oeen duly rationalized by science it Will be seen
hat among mans duties care of the body is i'm
,erative not only out OF regard for personal wei
are but also out OF regard for descendants His |
constitution viii be considered as all entailed |
state which he ought to pass uninjured If not |
TO those who follow and it viii be held |
hat millions bequeathed by him viii net com pen
ate for feeble health and decreased ability to ell
0y life Once more, there Is the injury to fellow
itizens, taking the shape of undue disregard OF |
competitors. hear that a great trader among you |
deliberately endeavored to crush out every one |
testify the man who, making himself the Slave to
absorbs an inordinate share Of the |
rade or profession he is engaged in, makes life |
larder for all others engaged in it and excludes
rom it many who might otherwise gain com
here are two altruistIe motives which should deter
rom this excess in work.
The truth is, there needs q revised ideal OF life
,ook back through the past, or look abroad
trough the present, and we find that the ideal OF
ife is variable and depends on social conditions.
VERY one knows that 10 be a successful warrior
vas the highest aim among all ancient peoples OF
When we remember that in the Norseman s he wen
ne time was 10 De passed N daily battles; with
Magical healing OF wounds, we see Row deeply
Dotted may become the conception that fighting is
mans proper business and that industry is only
1 for slaves and people of low degree. That is TO
~, when the chronic struggles of necesState
erpetual wars, thers is evolved ideal OF life
dapted to the requirements. We have changed
II that in modern civilized societies. especially in
ngland, and still more in America. With the de-
line of militant activity and the growth of indus
nal activity, the occupations once disgTaceful
ave become honorable The duty to work has
.ken the place Of the duty TO eight, and in the one
use as in the other, the ideal of life has become
} well established that scarcely any dream of
it. Practically, business has been sub
ituted for war as the purpose OF existence.
Te tn STfTU ~ 4