Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-04-11
DIGNITY OF LABOR.
why There Can he No Honest Lie In q
World without Work.

Why There Can He No Honest Lie In the
World without Work.
There is no doubt that as people grow
wiser and older they have more re-
gard for matters of use and learn more
respect for any useful tasks, however
humble. 1t is only the parvenue who
looks with scorn on those whose rank
in life has made them servitors instead
OF served. 1t is a failure to recognize
the true meaning of liberty-confound-
ing of lawlessness with liberty-which
has engendered in this country the
scorn OF work too often found among
ignorant people. The Scripture is
even quoted to prove we are all
branches of one vine, and to draw
from hence conclusions anarchical to
the existing laws of society. All the
branches of a vine are useful. Some
bear fruit and make brilliant showing,
while others simply serve to bear the
sap to these higher branches, carrying
out the symbolism of servitor and
served. There is too much work done
in this country in a grudging way, as
if the worker were offering a perpetual
apology to the world for so demeaning
herself. Any work done with
regard to the fee only is de-
meaning, slavish work, but any work
done with regard for the work in
obedience to the immutable laws of
Gods universe, is ennobling to the in
dividual and should be respected.
Respect for the honest workman. hon.
or for fine craftsmanship, should be
taught the young, that the Nation may
be able to raise up in future generations
a race of men and women skilled in
handiwork such as we now are sadly
in need Of The British matrons have
met this problem frankly. The de-
teriOration of hand labor in England
has not been as marked as in this coun-
try, but the royal ladies of the Queens
own household have joined cooking
schools and sewing classes and inter-
ested themselves in skilled handiwOrk
of various kinds in order to make such
work popular with the vulgar or Or
binary classes of women who must
everywhere compose the majority Of
the land. In this country it is begin
ming to be an exception to find a work
man who was born in this country.
Our craftsmen and craftswOmen are
generally foreigners, who work for
their fee only. and yield a grudging,
slavish obedience to orders as though
they were in continual rebellion
against the law of Heaven that by the
sweat of their brow they should earn
their bread.
The great clamor for education in a
certain class of persons is more be-
cause they believe that by some mys-
teriOus way education will overturn
the laws of Heaven, and they can by
this means reap without sowing. 1t
is a royal way to wealth. They do not
care for education for itself, because
it elevates them, makes them wiser
and capable of being better. but be-
cause they think that by this means
they can achieve life without work.
There is no honest life in the world
without work. This is the reason
why so many college-bred men may
be pointed out as failures. Education,
instead Of widening their field of
work. has narrowed it. They are
ashamed of craftsmanship, and scorn
the task for which they are best fitted,
and in which as educated men they
might make noble Roadway. ''Educa-
tion." says Ruskin, ''in its deepest
sense, is not the equalizer, but the dis
coverer of men IN Y Tribune