The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-12
DEFENDING THE LAZY MAN,
A HARMLESS Individual Who Il Too Often
Abused by tho Busybodies,

AOuDc0 ny eu0 00Sy OOxAeSS
It is the custom Of this world busy
bodies to speak slightingly of the lazy
man. This custom is due primarily
perhaps to the fact that the energetic
soul is ever on the lookout for objects
upon which to expend its superhuous
force, but it is also largely referable to
the inability of the active tempera-
ment to see matters from the lazy
mans point of view. This looking
down upon the indolent Is, after all,
but a matter of convention, and no
doubt if the truth were known-for the
slothful mind is not given.to bragging
it would be found that the lazy man
has as good reason for Conforming the
busybody as has the busybody for
pointing the finger of scorn at the lazy
man. The Boston Transcript sees rea-
sons for thinking that the indolent
man is actuated by motives pure and
altruistic in refraining from undue ex-
ercise of body or mind, and if he had
his due the record of his virtues might
ever be clothed in the most eulogistic
language; for, like the lily of the val
ley, he tolls not. neither does he spin,
and there is Scripture warrant for be-
lieving that even Solomon in all his
glory was never rugged out like the
lazy lily.
The attributes of the inactive man,
even Of negative quality, are help
and blessing to his energetic contem-
poraries. BY refrai ming altogether or
doing as little work as possible. he
thereby creates scarcity in the labor
market, thus giving others an oppor-
tunity to earn their bread; whereas, if
all the lazy men were to turn to and
work, thousands now regularly en-
ployed would have nothing to do, and
unprecedented misery would be the
consequence. But it is not just to de-
eide off-hand that the lazy mans at
tributes are negative. Very likely he
aims to be what he is, a friend of hui
mainly. He perceives undoubtedly
how eager the majority of his kind is
to be ever busy about something, and
in the goodness of his heart and with
q disinterested devotion which is de-
serving of the highest praise, it is fair
to suppose that his only concern is to
increase the happiness of those about
him. He not only gives others an OPP
portunity for physical labor by his
amiable self-denial, but his persistent
and consistent idlepess furnishes all
who know him with perennial mental
exercise. His laziness gives others the
means whereby they can earn a living,
and it also and at the same time makes
those others happy and in love with
themselves by having him as a sort of
antithesis, which by contrast adds
force and luster to the qualities which
in their. self-conceit are regarded as |
superexcellent.
The lazy man, therefore, not only |
does no harm in the world, but, on the I
contrary, does much good. This fact |
never will be appreciated unless the
lazy men should all at once forsake /
their 1aziness and become workers. /
But lack of appreciation does not /
worry the lazy man; he is not given to /
worriment. In his unselfishness he is .
willing others should monopolize that /
as well as tie carl1 and care of this 4
world, the exercise of body and of /
mind