The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-01-02
IDLENESS.

| other tradesmen, as well as the upper
ranks of business men, generally look
forward to the dav-the happy day as
they fondly dream-when they shall
! have made enough money to retire
from work. and can enjoy their otiurn
cum diynltate. There is something nat
ural about this. They are then self
| pensioned. They have earned the right
to repose. They have fought the battle
cunary sense Whether they can cast
aside their old habits with ease and
| find enjoyment in new ones, is for their
own consideration only. Anyhow, they
are entitled to make the experiment.
And were the matter to rest here, little
or no mischief would ensue. Un!ortun-
ately, however, the success Of the par
ents usually begets a particular ambi-
| ton in the minds Of the children. The
daughters desire to be ladies', the sons
to be gentlemen. This, of course, would
be praise orthy if connected with some
useful career. When, however, as is
too often the case, it means simply to
live an idle life, squatting lazily upon
ers, it becomes u calamity for all con-
cerned. But when it also leads them
to be ashamed Of their origin, and Of
the honest methods by which their
affluence has been secured, it is little
short of depravity-mean, despicable,
repulsive.
| Such false views Of life and Of what is
becoming, must needs lead to disaster.
Because to make up for want of birth
or breeding, they launch out into
vulgar extravaganza, endeavoring to
dazzle where they cannot convince.
Yachts, racers, and hounds, expensive
establishments. gambling and volup
tuous living, are few of the means by
, which the carefully gathered wealth of
successful merchants or professional
| men is dissipated by their heirs. Very
few of these care TO walk in the steps
| of their fathers. or 20 engage in the oc-
equations which made them rich. And
probably the first lessons in wild
expenditure on the par. Of these prodi-
gal sons were learnt at our Universities,
where, for long period, generations
Of vain or weakminded youth have
been hopelessly corrupted.
1t is is sad to reflect how often the
methods by which successful man en-
deavors to advance the position of his
children become the means of their
ruin. He reflects, it may be, or his own
scantv education or other disadvantages
in early life, and determines that his
sons shall fare better. They shall go to
some great Public School, or to Oxford
or Cambridge. They shall learn all that
may be learnt in these homes of the
Muses.. They rhall mix with gentlemen
and noblemen, make superior acquaint-
ances, and catch their tone. And, that
they may not be prejudiced by his Stat
US, he supplies them most literally with
pocket-monev, and encourages them to
shine in the display of wealth. After
a long course, during which parental
hopes have been excited, they often re-
turn to the old roof with only thin
veneer of scholastic requirements but
deeply engrained with all the vices
which, it is well known, these seminar
les are able to teach. Their ostentation
while there was secretly ridcnled by
their companions, their morals are
ruined, and they come back with APP
petites whetted for profigacv, despis-
| ing business, averse to useful OccuDa-
ton, and impatient Of their family and
| home surroundings.
In those cases, however, where these
| evils have been minimized or even
avoided, where they have really
studied and their habits and conduct
| have been fairly decent, they are still
as averse as the former to the occupa-
tlons of their parents, ana are OCCASION
| ally prompted to endeayor to disting-
uish themselves in fashionable society.
| This is ten difficult. Nevertheless,
youth. money, and perseverance, can
accomplish much IN time And if they
succeed. what is the result? \ more
| reputable mode of squandering than
| that of others, but a life Of greater use
| lessness. And the mistakes of both
! classes arise through the fault of the
! parents.
| For all true education begins at home
! Correct habits and thoughts must not
only originate there, but must there be
! quIckened into activity and be trained
to steady discipline. AS the tree is, SO
are its fruits and az the home is. SO are
! its children. In an atmosphere of hon
! our they will be onourable--surround
ed 10y deceit they will be deceitiu.
Where wealth is worshipped they will
! bow also. Where idlencss is tolerated
| they will despise work. 1t is worse
| than van-it is criminai-to send
youths with Uniformed or badly formed
characters into great schools and coll
leges, and expect them to profit by the
experience. Nothing less than deeply
rooted sentiments of purity, and habits
strong from daily use and correct from
conviction, can enable them to escape
the contamination inseparable irom
these establishments
The devout Anselm said that idle
ness is the sepulchre of a living man"
He who does nothing is nothing; he is
engulfed, swallowed up and obllterated
by the tenure of his existence He liz
worse off than if he had never been,
for he neeIects the opportunities which
God and his age have given him. The
are sworn friends" Idle men are the
devils playfeilows" "Idieness is the
greatest prodigality IN the world"
| The moralists from solomon to DR..
! Watts, have not only vented their stnie-
f,,r. I. L