Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-05-05
THE PERFECT9LIF
BY G.. II. W. COOK.

What is the object of life? Toward
what should all our efforts, our industry,
and all our learning be directed
This is the great question that has been
repeatedly asked by the profoundest phi.
losophers of all ages, and it is a question
which interests all shades of philOsoph-
ers. The atheist and the theologian, the
business man and the politician, the So
cialst and the professor at the univer-
sity, all of them have inquired into the
problem, and all have offered their YER
sion of it to the world.
But all of them seem to pursue diff
ferent object in life.
The theologian says, BE ye recon
cled to God and prepare for the fu-
ture life the business man says, w DIRK
and get money; live in abstinence and
make fortune,' the professor says,
Learn and acquire knowledge;' the
! politician says, "Get power and Doodle.
But,what does the Socialist say? What
| is his version Of the question
Here it is: Life is not for learning,
nor is life for working; but learning and
working are for life. Industry, be it
mental or physical is but means; and
it is as irrational to pursue industry to
the exclusion of the true object, which it
subserves, as it is for the miser to acCu-
late money and make no use OF it. Hence
the Socialist says, Live perfect life.
Make the best of yourself and Of the
world be good to your fellow man and
to yourself; make this world the place of
your devotion, and d" b. as hdpJy as you
can.
The object of socialism, then, is to en-
able all men to live the perfect. the ideal
life.
Let us now consider in what this per
feet life consists, and see whether it is
possible, under the present cnndtion of
society, for all men to lead such life.
Man consists of body and mind, and
has two kinds of wants, viz, physical
and intellectual The first requirement
of the real life is bodily perfection
Those who keep their object Of life in
view, i. e., those who strive for happi
hess, will readily understand that it is
the first duty of every one to care foi
his health, for nothing will so surely de
stroy happiness as bad health, 1t is a
duty to care for our bodies, not only fol
our sake, but for those who are to follow
us. Those who live under favorable So
cial conditions can have but little eXcus,
for chronic disease or defOrmity. for il
they be not due to heredity or caused by
accident, they doubtless indicate lif,
not lived in accordance with the laws o
nature and morality.
) But how many under the present SO
Cial and educational institutions are en-
abled to know the laws of nature and o
health: How many of those that know
them are in a position to live in accord
ance with them: Can the man who
stands before his machine, the engine o.
the furnace in contaminated air and boil
ing heat, desert his post when his nerve
and muscles require a rest: Can thu
wage slave, whose strength Is eNhauSte,
= through continual OverwOrk. employ thu
, proper means to restore his powers with
out losing his bread Can even our chill
dren, who are compelled to work in fac
tories instead of going to schools. de
: velop their physical faculties and retain
their health until they are grown up:
Alas no. No amount of moral strength
or knowledge of the laws of health Wi
help them. The first requirement of
= perfect mode of living cannot be attaine
p by them. Nothing but change in tn
social condition. i. e.. the reforms of st
cialism. can procure this for them.
The other part of man is the intellect
e and hence the second requirement of tn
$ ideal nfe Is intellectual perfection.