The Evening critic., 1883-05-30
The Curse of Idieness.

Boston Journal.
That several Of tho officers OF the Army. who
spend most of their days in idleness In WASH
ington, have fallen Into vicious habits and
criminal practices, for which they VIII be dis
graced, should not occasion much surprise.
That two young men In New York city, the
sons Of respectable and enterprlslng NOR
chants, have been dlsgraclng themselves is
ment. me That tn the son Of one Of the most sue sue
cessful railroad managers the country has
known should lose 100000 In single stake
natural results Of lives which are not devoted
TO any useful avocation or employment. II
these army officers had full occupation, or IL
profession of war TO mako 1t study,
they would not have become professional
gamblers. II the two young men In New York,
like their fathers, had been obliged TO devote
Themselves TO business day after day, they
would have been equally respectable aud
would have had neither time nor inclination
TO get into quarrel at n public place and to
connect their names with Idle and disreputa-
BILE gossip. Such young men are doubly I'M
iortunate because ,sy they are not only the vic
10 make that idleness tenfold more disseputa.
BILE than 1t would be II they were simply street
corner loaters. Indeed, those who make
study OF the matter will come to the conclu.
sion that II idleness was not the primal curse,
1t has since been the cause of much of the
misery and crime which exist: And yet
VIII not be obliged to toll or to be hampered
by responsibility. All the experience OF mon
mas not taught the human race that O life or
full employment is not only tho freest from
temptation, but affords the most solid salts
faction. The man or woman who has never
had regular employment has never enjoyed
true, are compelled to toll so early and so late
all their lives that they seem to have no time
for enjoyment; s.ill, the feeling that happl-
ness can only be found In idleness makes EN-.
ployment irksome and toll servitude. And
yet such O life Is a hundredfoId better than
one OF aimless Incidence, since In the former
harp m ra brfa faf 90 xrb a1
can enjoy with keenness TO which the profess
sional loafer is stranger. Idleness and indo-
lence are vices from the punishment of which
there is no escape. Through Incidence, the
most brilliant genius falls into decay through
disuse as well as misuse, while the steady,pur.
poseful plodder, with meagre talents, is sure
10 reach respectable position IN life and to
realize something Of reward. We have no
better illustration OF this than in the case
OF thousands of men who have achieved sue
cess and fortunes In our large cities and
towns. Born in poverty, by courage, perse-
verance and tact they have not only acquired
wealth, but power and influence. The fathers
of the young men to which reference has been
made, an exchange says, were men Of re-
spectabilty, who acquired fortunes and
position by character and industry. They
other hand, they allowed their sons to grow
up in idleness, without aim or purpose In
life, except to have "dooced good time"
Their punishment has been sure and great.
They are lacking in every attribute Of stalwart
manhood; their heads are full of conceits and
notions which the fullgrown man despises,
people at large make them the objects OF ridi-
cule. Had they been put TO the serious pur-
suits in which their fathers became respect
bility have been equally respectable and in.
fiuential, but having been inspired by no pur-
pose, they have become In the parlance of the
day "dudes." These are the most striking H.
lustrations Of the curse Of idleness, but 1t is
sure to fall upon those who give themselves
up 10 It, whether they live in palace or hovel