Evening star., 1898-07-25
DON'T WORRY.
Excellent Advice to Those Who Wish
to Accomplish Nothing.


to Accomplish Nothing.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
1t is amazing how little value most theo-
ries have when you come to put them into
actual practical use Just at present there
is a kind of reaction and protest against
the unrest and dissatisfaction of the world,
and we are continually advised, whatever
else we do, not to worry, Don't worry
clubs have been formed in many places
and there Is an honest effort to establish
kind of American Niryana, where We shan't
worry any more about our own affairs, or
those of our neighbors. The chief apostles
of this interesting movement are people of
Enimpaired degestions and good incomes,
who write entertaining books about the
folly Of troubling about, the future. AS
theory, not worrying is a peach. We are
all willing to admit that it is foolish to
worry about what we can help, or what
we can't help; but then there is the unas-
sailable fact that the people who never
worry never accomplish anything. Content
ment is an admirable virtue, but an over
supply of it will land q man in the poor
house. The absolutely contented man sits
down and lets well enough alone. The dis
satised man gets out and hustles and
pushes things along. The ideal of perfect
cCrt tent with today, with no worrying about
the wants or needs of tomorrow, is a beau
tiful one. We have all known families
who practiced it all summer during water
winter during the flannel and coal season.
As matter of fact, it is the don't wor-
ry clubs that are the stumbling blocks to
progress everywhere. 1t is the people who
don't worry about their children's educa-
ton who fill up the country with ignorant
and illiterate citizens.
1t is the people who don't worry about
sickness who spread contagious diseases
1t is people who don't worry about the
future and who spend every cent they
make as they go along, who become bur-
dens on the friends who have to take care
of them when they lose a job or get sick
The don't worry club will never build a
fine city. What's the use in worrying about
always gotten along somehow What's the
use in cleaning EN-? 1t will rain some
time. What's the use in worrying about
tearing down old buildings and putting up
new? What is the use in building new
and beautiful and clean and comfortable
| theaters? they say. The old traps on st.
Charles street were good enough for Ben
DeBar and Dave Bidwell, forty years ago.
They are satisfied. Any old thing Is good
I enough for them. OF course, there is no
| use in worrying about our neighbor's trou-
bles Nobody contends there is. The don't
worry clubs are strong on this point. But
| the heart that feels no grief but its
| own. that never aches but with its own
| pain, the eye that Is never dimned with a
| tear for a sorrow not its own, knows only
half of life. 1t Ia case-hardened, petrified.
| tmpenetrable selfshness that never wor-
| ries about other peoples affairs. The truth
he would be miserable If he couldn't.
| The example OF the placid clam, and the
| untroubled oyster, who shut themselves I'm
| In their own shells and don't worry about
| anything outside. will never seem to him
| to be the highest type Of usefulness or hap
| piness. The don't worry theory don't work.
The man who never worries gets covered
with moss.