The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-05-02
DIGNITY OF LABOR,

why There Can BE No Honest Life in the
s1ssss- worldaWithout Work.
There is no doubt that as people gro W
wiser and older they have more re-
gard for matters Of use and te'affh imifofe
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 failure to recognize
the true meaning Of liberty -confound-
ing OF lawlessness with liberty-which
has zengendered in this country the
scorn OF work too often found among
ignorant people. The ScripttEeA is
even quoted: to- prove We are al
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 Bran hes carrying
out the symbolism of servitor and
served. There is too much work done
in this country in 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
zdividual and-.sheald -be-respeeted.
Respect for the honest workman, hon.
or for fine craftsmanship, should be
taught the Young, that the Nation may
be able to raiseup 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 tho Queen S
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 vulgaroor or
binary classes of women who must
everywhere compose the majority OF
theland. In this country tits begin
ming to be an exception to find work
man who was born in this country.
Our craftsmen and craftswomen are
generally foreigners, who work for
their fee only, and yield 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 personals mere be-
cause they believe that by some mys-
FERROUS way education will overturn
thelaws-. Of HeaXen, and they can by
this means reap, without sowing. 1t
is royal way to wealth. They do not
care for education for itself, because
it clevates 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 host fitted
and in which, as sf'uca :ien they
might make nebleanes.sss.G -. le..-ica-
tion." says Ruskin, Tin its deepest
sense, is not the equalizer, but the dis
coverer of men::'-N. Y. Tribune.