Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-25
The Dignity of labor.

The Dignity of Labor.
Theoretically the dignity of labor is
universally accepted, but practically
it is treated like a tradition, and not
an existing fact.
In the cities of the East this is es.
pecially the case. With the stand
ards Of the cities of Europe the dem
ocratic mind has nothing to do. 1t is
to Mrs. John Sherwood, whose article
on "The Chaperon" has recently been
followed by a remarkable composition
upon "The Proper Introduction OF
Guests" to whom such complex ques.
tions must be referred. In the West
it is comparatively easy for the gentle
man OF birth and education, nomattter
what his occupation may be, to find
his true level. The spirit of migra-
ton broadens the social horizon and
sweeps from the path of progress the
weak but tremendous obstacles, which
in the more settled sections OF the
country have so much significance.
1t is no surprise in California, Dakota
or Colorado to hear man in a blue
shirt and overalls talk eloquently, or
to learn that the horny-handed,
sun-burned miner throws aside
his shovel or his picE to read
by the light Of the campfire, Carlyle
or Ruskin. Men with good heads
and brave hearts come West not
merely to make their fortunes, but
because weighed down by poverty
and competition, they are eager to
breathe the pure air Of social as we'll
as national liberty. The time may
come when the hot bed system Of re-
fnement will make its way into the
pioneer regions OF the Union too; but
as yet there is too much unoccupied
territory to admit of such
an innovation. Work is mans
heritage. Why, then, should he
despise it, no matter what garb it as
sumes? The only thing he should
despise is not doing his work, what
ever it may be, we'll. Does it not re-
quire skill to make a shapely, COM
Portable shoe; to build a wagon or
erect house? Yet he who does these
things is so subject to social disregard
that rather than learn trade, gen.
tleman's son will wear away his life
and squander his energies in some
petty Office, or in some profession for
This is essentially race of dudes
of patent-leather boots, button-hole
bouquets and mincing mannerisms
disgusting enough to roll the scions
away from revolutionary graves and
to awake from their long sleep the
accusing spirits of the sturdy past
Perhaps the mental deformity OF these
latter day ornaments Of society car
be traced back to the mashers o.
modern times; for if tight lacing will
hopelessly paralyze an otherwise per-
fectly healthy girl, and French heels
will necessitate the use of glasses OF
the disuse OF the eyes, it is
quite likely that the same form
OF vanity will produce mascu'
line malformations more pitiable
than lameness, deafness or even
blindness. Beyond donbt, brair
work of every description allows Of
less margin for mixed associations sc
repugnant to the educated and cul
tured; under all circumstances thi:
must be the case, for hands not heads
will always be in the majority. Bu
under the existing and tyrannical rule
oil custom, the dignity OF labor is vel
nigh lost in its inequality. Worl
ought to be as free as air and sun
shine, for like them it is part OF 1h'
Creators munifcenoe to man. So
clety has no right to label it eleva
ting, genteel and vulgar. 1t is no
like shape and color, thing to-da.
in and to morrow out OF vogue; it il
in all its attributes immutable.
Gems for the Cook.