Evening capital., 1899-10-21
OCCUPATION.
From the Annapolis Record.

From the Annapolis Record.
The main thought in occupation
is its need as means OF livelihood.
To advance in material possessions
is the most general principle of
progressive people, because the
physical necessities of life are so
incessant and insistent in their de-
mands that, without them, the pains
and penalties of living are greatly
augmented. Yet the mere secure
ment of the food and raiment that
one needs, ought not to be the sole
idea of occupation.
An honest occupation, however
humble, is a source Of public good.
Well employed the most obscure
craft adds to the general comfort of
a community. The street-sweeper
who takes the most dirt from the
throughfares, in a conscientious dis
charge of public duty, lessons the
chances of ill-health and minifes,
by the ratio of his good work, the
Inconvenience of urban life.
The mechanical, the inventive and
the professional occupations have
not only brought gain to the prac-
TONERS of these several arts and
employments, but they have added
TO the common store of happiness
of the entire world. Ramsey and
Fulton added a ponderous share
with their steamboat inventions to
the comfort of travellers; Stevenson
with his locomotive, Morse with his
telegraph, Bell with his telephone,
Edison with his electric lights have
contributed their need to the great
fund of human progress and con-
venience by their splendid ingenuity,
and wrought out, by their oc-
equations, these practical benefits
that lessened time, money and
physical effort. Marconi steps into
the worlds arena and offers it
another aid to effort and another
helper of work. His occupation, as
electrician, brought him up to the
perfection of invention.
The legal profession, both on the
bench and at the bar, enjoys, in its
occupation, the dual opportunities
for public and personal benefit. 1t
is an employment that brings the
laborer in it in contact with the
highest principles of ethics, govern
ment and law.
Occupation is an excellent re-
straining force upon personal
character. As idleness is the mother
of vice so occupation is the father of
good. Occupation gives little time
TO evil thoughts and evil deeds. 1t
is a consuming fire to injurious
meditations and, drawing heavily
upon the vital forces of mind and
body, devours that which, unused,
would expend itself in injurious
employment.
Occupation is honorable. From
no condition. the poet has said,
honor and fame arise, but acting
"well your part" is the highest sue
cess and greatest glory of man. A
HulHuiC OCSupdltOus well ShipiOg VI,
is as the widows mite-being all
that the hand and heart are able to
give, is far above, in the court of
highest iudicature, the slaughter
that wades through human blood
"to a throne" or beautiful songs
sung to vice, or great fortunes
made at the cost of bitter tears to
Others and the loss of the better in
stincts in those who amass them.
Good Bishop Oberlin was never
grander than when, on the rocky
paths of his mountain parish, with
pick in hand, he set his humble
flock the great example of doing
well the work of road-mender, and,
by it, bringing easier lines to their
lives and showing that the most
modest occupation is not tested by
its humble place but by the spirit and
manner of its undertaking and COM
Dletement