The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-08-31
SPIRIT OF DISCONTENT.
Is 1T A FORCE FOR GOOD OR EVIL
THINK YOU?
7ost People are Discontinued. but
are They Improved or Fiindered
Thereby?-Two Views of the Ques-
tion and it Depends Upon Which
One You Take as to a Proper Solu-
tiOn.
Norfolk Landmark.)

''All his days also he eateth in
darkness, and he hath much sorrow
and wrath with his sickness. -
Ecclesiastes.
Somebody, in searching about for
bright thought, has said that the
spirit of discomfort is the greatest
force in the world for good. 1t is
not this spirit which makes men
strive after improvement and work
out new inventions9 1t is not this
which has kept the race of men from
remaining at standstill throughout
the ages, and prevented the human
brain from falling into Chinese
lethargy9
If we are to regard discomfort as
having so comprehensive a definition
as this, it may be that it has been a
force for good; but it is we'll to over
look the fact that the extension of the
words definition to include beneficial
progress will render it necessary that
it shall include harmful progress as
we'll. What criminal ever committed
dastardly act unless he was i'm
PEELED by this same discomfort? The
thief usually steals because he is dis
assassin usually follows his bloody
trade because he imagines that he has
not been fairly treated.
Any such Interpretation of discon-
tent must make it responsible for
nearly everything that can be con-
ceiyed of in human life. This is not
the idea that we have in mind in
using the word-our application of it
is much more restricted, and refers
more particularly to that sort of un-
happiness which is engendered by
constant growing and brooding over
the superior good fortune of other
people. We mean the dissatisfaction
that partakes of the nature of envy
rather than the dissatisfaction which
is concerned in the desire for pro-
gress. The feeling causes more use
less trouble on earth, we venture to
say, than any other which flesh is
heir to.
1t is perfectly proper for men and
women to desire to improve their
own condition and the condition of
the world in general. When one is
in such state of torpor that one
would not stretch out hand to bet
ter himself, he may be contented, but
he is also wretchedly indolent and
foolish, 1t is not fair to ascribe the
result of the combined Incidence and
folly to the influence of contentment.
| Everybody ought to do his best to
make progress by honest means; but
land here's the rub-a man ought
not to worry and fume, when he is
doing the best he can, because his
neighbor outstrips him. There is nc
reason why we should not enjoy our
humble turnips and greens as much
as our wealthy brethren and sisters
enjoy their be-sauced and beseasoned
pastries and puddings. In the make
up Of common cabbage there is a:
much toothsomeness as in many :
more expensive article of diet
Should we fret and pound our molar:
because cabbage, being cheap anc
plentiful, is regarded as too common
place a dish to appear on the table
of our friend who has had luck in th'
Klondike? Shall we crawl arount
and whine at the contemplation o
Jones' rapid advancement towar,
riches, protesting that we are toe
moderately comfortable in our in
come and yet work several time
harder than hep Should not glanc
be turned every now and again in tn
direction of uncomplaining Smith
who labors harder than we do anC
gets less remuneration for his toll
But it does very little good to reason
with the discontented man unles
you can catch him when he is youn;
and help him pick out a wife.