The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-01
Ole messrnger.
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.

No one ought to be ashamed Of labor.
It is probably a pity for individuals
and for the world that all men are not
forced by circumstances Ito abor n
to wait" Toll is honorable and recon-
penses the worker whether he be "the
man with the hoe or with the pen.
Labor is not degrading. It depends
upon the man. 1t has a certain self
respecting potency when 1T is seriously
undertaken and in obedience TO the
Divine command to earn bread by the
sweat of the face"-not brow as ordi-
narily quoted. The man who consci-
entfously and bPavely meets the call
upon him to work for others, with
hand and head. and make any sacri-
flee that circufstancese may demand,
is of nobler build and more heroic soul
than the drone. the daudling rich fel-
low without anything good and noble
to await him. He spends his years in
luxurious ease and when he dies he has
done nothing whatever Tor himself or
for the world. His life has been empty
and the deadest of failures.
Labor is good for the body. 1t brings
vigor and health and happiness often,
ard even alleviates the pains of the
mind. Excessive labor is unfortunate
and unfayorable. and the laws of a
country should be a protection against
greedy demands and oppressive Ia
tons upon the toilers. Americans work
longer and more exactingly than the
English work. Labor was first given
as the primal curse. but as Cowper a y
it has been 'softened into mercy" and
made the pledge of cheerful days and
nj hts without a groan."
industry has been the theme of such
worldly, material philosophers as Frank
Iin and he contended not without wis
do that ''sloth makes all things diff
ficuI, but industry all easy 1t is bet
te- than protracted Incidence, and
greatly better than self-indulgence and
long embraced luxury. 1t is well
known that FESTIVE sloth finds the
down pillow hard"
But the point we would urge is that
labor is becoming, is honorable, is not
to be disregarded or looked upon as
simply mental and degrading. Nearly
all of the true great men of the world
have been workmen in some way. Prior
t. the war the south had unfortunate
d:sfavor for mechanics and men who
were skilled were regarded too often as
interior beings. In England the nobility
and royalty often have trades. Russia
and other European Kingdoms nave
had the children of rulers made skill
full In handicraft. In this country, |
both the north n the south, the ons
of the best born and cultured have been
trained in workshops. 1t is not de-
trade. No man can feel consciously a |
lowering of his self-respect who devotes |
himself to some technical calling and
becomes an expert a success. A young
woman would be wiser to marry a we'll
trained Workingman than to tie her
destiny to a milksop. a stupid fellow
without brains or energy or usefulness.
If We We're asked for advice from a
youth just beginning to meet the re-
s~ponsibilities of life. We would say, be
Industrious, do not -shirk work, be po-
lite always and wear good clothes. a
is so often estimated by his get
up" If a man car only see it there are
no little of dignity and s~elf-re-
spect in abor. True labor never yet
degraded any man. Many presidents
of the United States learned to be use
full and laid the foundations Of fame
and success by common toll John
Adams's father was a shoemaker.
Andrew Jackson had to scuffle for life
in his boyhood. Abraham Lincoln was
as Door as a church mouse and worked
with his hands in several callings. An
Johnson was q taller boy at Ra-
leigh. Garfield drove horses on a canal
route. So if you wou be prudent be
something first. Work and seek and
perhaps you may find.