Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-07-15
For the SPECTATOR.
ON HAPPINESS.

It is not more true that cne mans mea
is poison to his neighbo-, than that VIVA
constitutes this ones happiness wo1ld o
does make that ones misery.
Given a man whose meat and drink is
to collect, to accumulate, to be careful Of
be ii a museum or money bag, and ten t
one his heir will fad his pleasure, or hi
pleasures, necessitate the dispersion Of tn
same, piecemeal or wholesale.
This cne finds the drama of life insuper
tably dull unless he is tearing through tn
scenes at a hand gallop: while that on
shrinks from the slightest exertion, as if
shake would shiver the tender fabric of hi
existence.
Here is nan rising early, aud SO lat
taking rest, eating the bread of carefulnes
in order to have the satisfaction of provid
ing shelter for his Old age; and thera
man too resolutely bent on indulgitg hi
own delight in idleness to exert himsel
even to provide to morroW's meal for hi
little children.
At one period, man of genius tells u
that happiness is our BEINGS end and aim
and men believe him; at another period, 9
new prophet arises who tells US that mef
are not-because they are not meant to b'
happy; that the fulflment of duty is thei
only legitimate aim; and he in his turn il
believed.
In effect, there 10 but little fundamental
difference in the philosophers recommend.
alton OF duty in order that peace may en-.
sue, and the poets communication of Writ II
as the Only sure path to happiness.
1t is singular but unquestionable fact
that happiness is 80 difficult of recognition
while present; we feel that it has been,
most acutely when, like health, we have to
support the want of it.
! "Ah, happy, if your happiness ye know, "
is as true On the one hand, as, on the other,
is the unconscionsness which too often ac.
companies brief season of happiness. And
yet nothing can be more destructive of hap.
piness, as a thoughtful writer assures US,
than the self-seeking of a conscious search
after happiness.
Watch little child at play, and you see
an unconscicusly happy human being. But
not all childhood is happy. Every mother,
or nursery governess to large family,
knows the sulky, sullen member of the
nursery, who has already discovered that
life is not worth living, ard who does his
utmost to compel his otherwise happy lit.
tie brothers and sisters to be one with him
on this point. But even this misanthrope,
if he come to old age-though he may re-
sent the idea of being willing to live his
life over again-will probably be ready to
live, say, six months longer; and this at a
time of life when he Can scarcely antici-
pate, reasonably, more ease of body, less
inertia Of mind. A very triumph, this, of
hope over experience.
To be able to look back on weil.spent
day cheers and calms us for cur approach.
ing rost; while to be able to look back on
well-spent life is to possess 10 the evening
of our days source of content which Fate
itself cannot snatch from our grasp.
Bacon places the purest of human pleas.
ures in garden; but beyond this pleasure,
pure and lasting as we acknowledge it to
be, we must reckon the souls calm sun
shine felt in ole approving hour, when by
our conduct we have been enabled to con.
1uce to the comfort of a single human be-
ing.
Wealth, honor, love, obedience, troops of
friends, all these, and a thousand other
good gifts that help to make man happy,
be rejoices over, but with trembling. know
ing full we'll how fragile is his tenure of
Them; when our souls content is not abso-
tute, then follows most surely haunting
fear of what shall succeed in unknown fate.
But let us take courage. ''To bear is to
,onqner our fate;" and after all, men can
i We OH q very small modicu Of happiness,
for they can survive and smile after ''con-
shame, in the profoupdest desc.
lation of mind and soul, In abjsct poverty,
in noisome dungeons; BY nobly psrsevering,
they live on, and live through i5 ALL"
Moreover, it is the body that warns the
clothes, not the clothes the body; and in
tho words Of one of our great teachers,
''the spirit of man makes felicity and con.
tent; not any spoils Of rich fortune wrapt
about sickly and uneasy soul.'
As Burns tells US, if happiness have not
her seat aud center iu the breaat, We never
caa be blessed.
1t behooves Us to lay hold of every offered
lhanee of happiness, whether it bs in
and tending the growth of rose.
a lily, tree, or better still, human soul; !;
counting ourselves happy if We can help
forward any Of the beauty and goodness in
this world;happy while We possess the pres
ent moments actual power to perceive an
universe of consummate beauty, if
Of inscrutable design; and to apprehend an
inward world of love and reverence.
Fesl Marine.