The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-28
Quality of Pleasure.
Philadelphia Ledger.

Philadelphia Ledger.
It is a crude and imperfect idea of
pleasure that gauges il only by its guam
tity. The distinction between one
pleasureand another is not merely one
Of degree, but Of kind. just as by com
mon consent we give rank TO the various
parts Of our nature, calling some higher
aud some lower, so the pleasures which
follow from their satisfaction must fall
under a similar classification If we would
estimate them correctly. This is mani
fest when we compare those at widely
different extremes. Mr.. Lecky says
truly: mo multiple of the pleasure of
eating pastry can be an equivalent to
the pleasure derived from q generous
action" 1t is not that the latter is
necessarily more keen or intense; that
may or may not be, according to the
character Of him who experiences it..
To the selfish epicure the former would
convey a much greater amount of
pleasure than the latter; while the be-
neyolent man's experience would be ex-
actly the reverse. But in both cases,
and under all circumstances, the pleas
ure of a generous deed, however faint,
is of far higher and nobler kind than
Lilht VI blt EiAblnbAkAVi vi b1tb pAtdANy
however intense; thus its quality which
is permanent, not its quantity which is
variable, should constitute its claim for
preference.
This, however, is in direct opposition
to the ordinary practice of many per-
sons. The question Chow much pleas
ure will such a thing afford me?' is a
more frequent one than Is the proposed
IL. ..f and aiauafinfr
tureY Contrast the pleasures of health
and vigor with those Of dissipation and
excess. They are of an entirely differ
ent order. The devotee of the latter
chooses what will oring to him the most
immediate qualification, and thus de
grades himself lower and lower. Bat
could he be brought to choose, instead,
the higher kind of delight-that of the
free step and the clear brain of bound
ing health, the lower kind, which wars
against it, would soon become distaste-
full. So with the pleasures of idleness
compared with those of industry, OF
wasteful expenditure with Jddici0us
thrift, of dishonest gains with an unsul-
lied honor. of crimes committed under
the misnomer of liberty, with the life
which finds true freedom in obedience to
Just laws; on the ohe hand the pleasure
is degrading ard ruinous, on the other
it is uplifting and progressive.
AS a general thing, we may place the
pleasures of the mind above those of the
body. and those of the moral character
on a still higher plane. None, however,
are to be despised or sacrificed, except
as they interfere with and destroy those
or a higher type This it is which
teaches moderation in their pursuit.
For directly any pleasure, however law
full in itself, becomes excessive, 1t sacri-
fees those which are above it, and, in
doing so, pronounces its own doom.
Real enjoyment consists far more IN the
proper balance of all the faculties than
in the larger development of any one
alone. For instance, the ardent pursuit
of knowledge, valuable though it be, If
carried on ID the exclusion of due regard
for health. or TO the neglect of practical
duties that press upon the conscience,
not only defeats what is superior TO it
n self, but digs away the very foundation
a upon which it is standing, and leaves ITS
4 victim a wreck and a failure.
The same is true of all pleasures when
n followed for their own sake, to the ex-
! clusion of other and important matters.
/ After all, the highest, the BEST, the most
4 permanent pleasures, are those which
n are not sought, but which come from
n the faithful fulfilment of life's duties
and obligations. Indeed, the eager
search after pleasure in any direction
IA is always fruitless, because it implies a
M condition of mind to which enduring
NV happiness is a stranger. Selfishness and
"a enjoyment may dwell together for
"a brief season, but the latter will soon
wither away under the scorching intu-
Nh ence of the former. Itis by recognizing
" and respecting the quality of pleasure
rather thar its quantity, its kind rather
< than its degree, its source rather than
# itself, that we learn TO appreciate the
VIA truth that the purest and most endur
" ing happiness is but the natural effect OF
81 the wisest, worthiest and most noble
n life, and is always inseparable from it.