The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-02-12
n jr the COURIER.
IDLENEss,


amongst a nation so Woodworking
as the English, idleness and gentil-
|ityshould be popularly synonymous.
1.-The butcher, the baker, the can
llestick-maker," and other trades
men, as we'll as the upper ranks OF
business men, generally look for.
ward to the day-the happy day as
they fondly dream-when they shall
have made enough money to retire
from work and can enjoy their otium
cum dignitate. There is something
natural about this. They are then
sef-pensioned. They have earned
the right to repose. They have
fought the battle of life aid come
off victorious in pecunialy sense.
Whether they can cast aside their
old habits with ease and find enjoy
ment in new ones, is for their own
consideration only. Anyhow, they
are entitled to make the experiment.
And were the matter to Test here,
little or no mischief would ensue.
Unfortunately, however, the sue
cess of the parents usually begets a
particular ambition in the minds OF
the children. The daughters desire
to be ladies', the sons gentlemen.
This, of course, would be praise
/ worthy if connected with some use
'Iful career. When, however, as is
too often the case, it means simply
Ito live an idle life, squatting lazily
lupon the hard-earned fortunes OF
'ltheir fathers, it becomes calamity
for all concerned. But when it al
SO leads them to be ashamed OF
| their origin, and of the honest
methods by which their afiluence
has been secured, it is little short OF
depravity-mean, despicable, repul-
! sive.
; Such false views OF life and OF
: what is becoming, must needs lead
l 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,
4 and hounds, expensive establish
Z, ments, gambling and voluptuous
: living, are a few of the means by
!, which the carefully gathered wealth
1 of successful merchants or profess
rIional men is dissipated by theil
l heirs. Very few Of these care tc
e walk in the steps of their fathers, oil
: to engage in the occupations which
: made them rich. And probably
J the first lessons in wild expenditure
on the part Of these prodigal sons
: we're learnt at our Universities,
where, for a long period, generations
= cf vain or weak-minded youth have
a been hopelessly corrupted.
Ii is sad to reflect how often the
! methods by which successful man
: endeavors to advance the position
(. of his children become the means
: of their ruin. He reflects, il may
r be, on his own scanty education OF
: other disadvantages in early life,
: and determines that his sons shall
n fare better. They shall 60 to some
great public school, or to Oxford
: or Cambridge. They shall learn all
4 that may be learnt in these homes
S of the Muses.. They shall mix with
e gentlemen and noblemen, make
; superior acquaintances, and catch
!, their tone. And, that they may
r not be prejudiced by his status, he
e supplies them most literally with
J pocket-money, and encourages them
: to shine in the display Of wealth,
y After long course, during which
y yparental hopes have been excited,
i they often return to the old rool
e with only thin veneer of scholastic
n requirements, but deeply engrained
with all the vices which, it is well
t known, these sein;naries are able to
e teach. Their ostentation while there
r was secretly ridiculed by their com
!, panions, their morals are ruined
J and they come back with appetites
d whetted for profligacy, despisine
e elbusiness, ,averse to neutrality-suspicious.
Y and inpatient Of their family and
home surroundings.
e In those cases however, where
It these evils have been minimised oil
s even avoided, where they have
/ really studied and their habits and
e conduct have been fairly decent,
! they are still as averse as the formel
# to the occupations Of their parents
Y and are occasionally prompted tC
:. endeavor to distinguish themselves
$ in fashionable society. This is
y often very difficult. Nevertheless
e youth, money and perseverance, car
It tlaccomplish much in time. And i
lt|they succeed, what is the result? A
more reputable mode of squander'
ling than that Of Others, but life 0
l. greater uselessness. And the mis-
takes Of both classes arise through
ltL. f.,,lt .>e tba IN wants