The Red Cloud chief., 1882-02-23
The Secret or Happiness.

The following observations relate TO a
subject equally interesting to all; but a
subject on which the young are partlcu-
larly apt to form absurd theories and
visionary hopes. which, frequently. are
not diSSipated till it is too late to repair
the errors to which they lead.
The word happy is a relative term;
that is. when we call a man happy, we
mean that he is happier than some
others with whom We compare him.
than the generality of others. or than
he himself was in some other situation
thus. speaking of one who has just
compassed the object of Il long pursuit;
NOW we say. "he is happy; and
in a like sense. compared with the gen
eral lot of mankind. we call a man hap
! py who possesses health and compe-
tency.
In strictness. any condition may be
denominated happy, in which the
amount or aggregate Of pleasure eN-
ceeds that of pain. and the degree of
happiness depends upon the quantity of
this excess. Happiness does not con-
SiSt in the pleasures of sense, in what
V p%rofusion or variety they be en-
joyed. BY the pleasures of sense. |
mean as well the animal qualifications of
eating. drinking. and that by which the
species is continued, as the more re-
fined pleasures of music. painting,
architecture. gardening, theatrical eN-
hibitions; and the pleasures, lastly. of
active sports, rs of hunting. shooting.
fishing. etc. These pleasures continue
but a little while at n time. This is
true of them all. especially of the
groSSer sort of them. Laying aside the
| preparation and the expectation. and
computing strictly the actual sensation.
we shall be surprised TO find how incon-
siderable a portion of orr time they Oc-
cupy, how few hours in the t~wenty-four
they are able 10 fill up.
These pleasures, by repetition. lose
their relish. 1t is = property of the ma
chine for which We know no remedy,
that the organs by which W. perceive
pleasure are blunted and benumbed by
being frequently exercised in the same
way. There is hardly any one who has
not found the difference between gratifi-
cation when new and when familiar. or
any pleasure which does not become
Indifferent as it grows habitual. The
truth seems TO be. that there is q limit
at witch these pleasures soon arrive.
and from which they ever afterward de-
cline. They are by necessity of short
duration. As the organs cannot hold on
their emotions beyond a certain length
of time; and if YOU endeavor TO COM
penSate for this imperfection in their
nature by the frequency with which you
repeat them, You suffer more than You
gain. by the fatigue of the faculties, and
the diminution Of S~ensibility.
These pleasures. after all, have their
value: and as the young are always too
eager in their pursuit of them. the old
are sometimes too remiS>, that is, too
studious of their ease. TO be at the
pains for them which they really de-
serve.
Happiness consists in health. By
health l understand. as freedom from
bodily diStemperS. as that tranquility.
tirmneSs and a~lacrity of mind. which
we call good spirits. and which may
properly enough be included in our no.
ton of health, rs depending commonly
upon the same cau>eS, and yielding TO
the same management, as our bodily
constitution.
Health, in this sense. is the one thing
needful. Therefore no pains, expense,
self-denial or restraint TO which we sub
ject ourselves for the sake of health IS
TOO much. Whether it requires Us to re
EaQuish lucrative situations. 70 abstain