The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-28
THE STATESMAN wishes you one
and all A Merry Christmas aud the
most prosperous Of New Years.
IS LIFE WORTH LYING?


parhans the most difficult problem
for the close observr of the conuitlon7
RI which men and women are SUI
Iacted to in lie Is whether or not lie
confined strictly to this "orld, las
more of happiness or unhapplness'
more of Joy or sorrow, more OF the
glow and elasticity OF health 'nan
disease and pain. 1t is difficult simply
beoause no man can judge from MS
own stand point. His environment
has colored his whole thought ana ne
is either an optimist or pess mist
Riding down town with one oil oui
principal and most philanthropicpny'
sicIans yesterday, this very suoleo'
was suggested. lie has warm anu
svmnathetic heart, and he said: "Siri
INV heart goes out ia sympathy ioi
the sufferings of humanity ami L nave
often thought that FIR the pains Oh l'le
there mus be an exquisite elysiuln
bareafter. Unless there ia couiu
almost believe that the whole plan VI
oreetion was a failure; but / cannot
mink that could be the result OF the
work of our benificent Creator"
He was right from his standpoint
his environments acquainted him
with main aud suffering and he hau
onlv observed one side of the question.
All of the professions except tnat o.
the ministry have thrown arouno
them all the influences calculated 70
nooLa them pessimisls. The lawyer
goes deeper, and while ne witnesses
and ia often the unwilling cause OF
an ffarinO. he sees the meaner natures
of men in their broadcast development
4e too ia often the unwilling instru'
meut of greed, avarice and rascal'y'
and his estimate of human nature
gathered from the class with Which
he has professional business Is no.
,,kalv TO mike him an altruist, and
he will give you his opinion upon TINS
aubiect without charge, and that
10 that the majority OF meh
do not deserve the eiysium
that the more humane physician
thinks they are entitled 20.
The clergy look upon life with inc
calcium light of the gospel promises
thrown upon it. They regard suHer'
ing trlbulation and adversely as
schools in which men and women ore
nurified and ennobled and prepared
for higher duties that await them IN
the next life.
Statistics show thaG 90 out OF every
100 of the merchants fail in business
and we are not likely to find among
them many advocates of the IDEA mat
happiness predomina'es over unhap-
nlness. AS O general thing man has
more confidence in himself than he
has in anything else, and he thinks 1t
he fails in attaining happiness the
whole plan of life is failure.
III we go to the laboring classes 10
solve this question we find a more en-
couraging view of life, for the labor OF
the day brings them au appetite that
relishes the plainest food and fatigue
that assures them the sweetest and
most dreamless sleep, but this Inc
esthetic would say Is mere amman
endowment. No, 1t is not that
alone, but animal enjoyment is not TO
be despised. 1t is animal pain that
has touched the deepest sympathies
of our philanthropic physician. Ami
NAL enjoyment cannot exist unless IN
,nerfect state of health and a perfect
state of health unless the british
looks out upon the beauty ofthe earth
clothed In the verdure of its seasons,
the green of spring, the yellow of au
Humn and the diamond studded frost
of winter, and it unconsciously affords
exquisite pleasure, even to the unedu'
Gated.
There is one special class of our
people only that we know OF where IL
would be decided, at least, that life lie
worth living, and that is our farmer
class. Although their prosperity has
been clouded by system OF unfair
taxation and although in this repuo-
Iican government formed on the
theory of equal rights and fair field
for all, they have been compelled to
contribute to the prosperity OF the
manufacturer; evel under all these
expressions they are the happiest OF
all classes of people. They are assured
under most any circumstances OF
plenty to eat and a comfortable
home, and they have independence
leisure and tine for thought and read
ing. They are an intelligent class and
they take advantage of their oppor'
tunities and are the best judges OF any
particular occupation to settle this
question whether life has in it more
of good than evil, more of pleasure