Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-11-20
HAPPINESS A HABIT.
To be Cultivated Like Other VIrtuOns
Ways of Feeling and Acting.
philadelphia Ledger.


When we think of good habits, the ideas
of industry, economy, order, truthfulness
and many other desirable qualities natur-
ally arise in our minds, but probably the
thought of happiness as habit is an un-
familiar one to us. We usually connect
the idea of happiness either with the
possession of the various advantages which
we covet or with the tendency of our con-
stitution some people we know being
born with sunny and glad temperament
and others with a sombre cast. In both
cases, however, it is, we imagine, an invol-
untary effort for which we can hardly be
held responsible. To be sure, we are often
admonished to lead good and righteous
lives, and assured that happiness will fol-
| low, and in that way an indirect obligation
may be incurred; but as for considering
| happiness itself to be something which it
| is our duty to pursue and attain. many
persons shrink from the idea.
One reason for this is that they confound
the idea of happiness with that of pleas
ure Now, pleasure is a transient feeling,
excited and banished by turns by thous-
| and different causes, while happiness IS a
permanent state of mind, far less dependent
upon any special incident of fortune or
circumstances. There are pleasures Of all
grades. from that of the drunkard in his
glass or the thief in his booty, to that OF
an astronomer who discovers new planet,
or the philanthropist who rejOiceS IN the
gladness he has given. But happiness is
an equable condition unconnected with
any special excitement; and, though the
happy man has many pleasures, the mere
pleasure seeker rarely has true happiness.
Every permanent state of mind is large
ly the effect of habit Just as we can per-
form an action so continually that it be-
comes habitual, so we can encourage con-
ditions of mind till they, too, come to be
habits of thinking and even of feeling.
Every thoughtful parent or teacher recOg-
nizes this In the training Of youth. The
child constantly thwarted or scOlded, or
ridiculed, has constantly aroused within
him feelings of resentment, or discourage
ment, or misery, and these grow to be ha-
bitual, and character for ill-temper or
moroseness, or dependency is formed. On
the other hand, the child who is wisely
treated, whose faculties are brought into
action, who is encouraged to do well, who
is surrounded with cheerful faces and
orderly arrangements, becomes accustomed
to corresponding habits Of thought and
feeling. The exercise of self-control, of
truthtulness, of honesty, and other essen
tial qualities, not only result in habitual
actions of the same nature, but in habitual
feelings or states of mind that induce those
actions So the condition which we call
happiness is likewise acquired to con-
siderable degree. 1t involves within 1t
many things, but they are not impossible
to secure, and when we have discovered
them, it rests with us to encourage or dis
courage them. Happiness is not only a
privilege, but duty not a mere outward
good that may perhaps come to us, but an
inward possession which we are
bound to attain. When we remem-
Der the contagious character of happiness,
the strength, courage and hope it excites
by it's very presence, and the power for
the good it exerts in every direction, we
cannot doubt our obligation to attain as
much of it as is possible.
Let us not however, mistake the means.
Wealth, station, applause, luxury, so often
sought, are not necessary. They often min
lister to it, but it can flourish without them.
Health is more essential, though there are
some happy invalids. A moderate supply
of the physical comforts of life seems need
ful, though happiness and poverty have
dwelt together. The exercise of our facul-
ties in some useful and, if possible, congo
NAL direction is a large contributor. Idle
ness and Overwork are both disastrous to
happiness. So is wee in all lis forms, what
ever be the glittering pleasures it holds
out. Successful endeavorS of every right
ful kind, obedience to the voice of con-
science and reason, the love and help we
give, even more than that we receive, are
all ministering influences to happi-
ness. Still we cannot deny
that there are people who appear to fulfill
all or most of these conditions who yet
can not be considered happy. They look
upon the dark side of things, they hope
little and fear much, they shut out the
sunshine of life and live in it's shadow.
1t is this class of people who have special
need to be convinced that happiness Is
duty and may make a habit. They are
conscientious. but their consciousness needs
enlarging. The plant courts the sunlight
for its gladnening influence, and in SO do
ing fultils the law of its being and ex
pands into the fullest and richest life of
which it is capable. So if we court the
sunshine Of our lives-if we dwell in the
happiest surroundings we can command,
and spread around us the most genial in
f1uences-if we cherish hope, courage, ear
nestness and effort, our lives will become
full and rich, and our powers for good will
strengthen and expand. Passing shadows
will sometimes come over us-paSsing
clouds will sometimes darken our sky-but
we shall emerge from them every time in
to the natural atmosphere of happiness, in
which alone we can fulfill our highest pos
sibilities.
What Puzzled Her.