The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-08
The Talent Of Happiness.

The Talent of Happiness.
Among the extraordinary paradox
es of human nature is the desire for
happiness-which is universal-side
by side with the deliberate choice of
course which lead not to happiness
but to misery. Man longs to be hap
py. He complains if he is not, and
yet by his conduct seems to prefer to
be miserable and to make others mis-
cradle.
a vast deal of the unhappiness ofthe
world springs from Ignorance of the
means necessary to obtain it. The
prevailing idea, that if some things
were only different with us, if we had
but wealth, health, genius, leisure,
or better climate, or What-not, we
should he happy, is, of course, falla-
cious. The truth is, that this precious
possession is not fiift to be bestowed
or withheld by fortunes whim. 1t
is not gift at all, but an attainment.
Circumstances contribute towards it,
but in manner and proportion widely
at variance with the common notion.
Indeed, so uncertain is the influence
of circumstances towards the attain
ment of happiness. and so subordinate
to other considerations, that, except
ing in rare cases of extreme af1lictlon
or adversely, outward conditions may
be regarded as nOn-essential. Wretch
edness is not uncommon in palaces,
and happiness may be found in hoy
els.
And yet, in another and true sense,
happiness does depend on outward
things, but only in so far as there is
power to appropriate these things to
its enrichment. Blind eyes, deaf
ears, insensate bodies, and dull souls
can make no use of the wondrous re-
sources which lie all around them.
But to those who have eyes to see and
ears to hear and hearts to enjoy, life is
marvellously rich in provision for en-
joyment. Novel writer's have some
what to answer for in unduly eXalting
love and marrige in this conneXion.
1t is quite true that they are most i'm
portant elements, but the most propie-
tious marriage may turn out disastrous
ly, if there be not mutual exercise
of those graces which make for happi-
ness; while q very poor one may be
made quite tolerable, if not absolutely
happy, by the same means. Love is
indeed life's greatest sweetener,
though it is not alone the love of lovers
or of husband and wife which fulfils
this end. The love of parents for chill
dren, of children for parents, Of sisters
and brothers and friends, are all in
their own place capable of yielding in.
comparable pleasures. Even the love
Of dumb animals is not to he despised.
Bacon observes that "there is no man
that imparteth his joys to his friend
but he joyeth the more, and no man
that imparteth his griefs to his friend
but he grieveth the less" And who
is so poor that he cannot have at least
one friend? The sympathetic, loving
unselfish man need ordinarily only
limit his friendships by the time at his
disposal for cherishing and cultivating
them.
Fortunately, one of the largest fac
tors in human pleasure is usually not 4
matter of choice but of necessity
| Few persons are so situated as to be re-
quired to decide whether they shall
work or not, as their daily bread in
IuOSt CASES ucpelIuS upou lHCli ittDoi
One of the first conditions of happi
ness is self-respect, and nothing con
duces more surely to self-respect than
the ability to do something thorough
ly well, even though it be but the
sweeping of room or the turning of :
furrOw.
( Work we'll done affords a satisfaction
which seldom pals. 1t brings sense
of conquest which eXhilarates and en-
ergises, whereas futility and defeat at
tend the idler. Excellence in work
also brings the same kind of aprrova
of conscience rs honesty of purposes
of purpose and integrity of conduct
Moreover, work secures the rich re
ward of rest. The indolent man does
not know the luxury of rest. If he is
rich, he may experience "the rest Of
the stalled OK over his fodder" bu
not the exquisite refreshment of
of repose after honest toll
If labor be not immoderate, if it be
performed cheerfully and thoroughly
and especially if it be done as unto
God and not unto men, it is u large
ingredient in the cup Of human hap
ness.-Presbyterian Review.