The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-04
.a
CHARLES
MILLER
M0RALIZES
On the Various Occu>
patiOnS of
Mankind
Efforts to Reach the Heart
of the People With What
They Long
For

Ed. Journal: II is a matter of gener.
al interest to note the variety of oc.
cupations from which man draws his
daily sustenance. Upon what basis
many OF these occupations exist, and
what conditions are necessary to their
maintenance, is a matter OF vital i'm.
portance rather than mere interest.
How many professions and trades are
| depending entirely upon the moral ac.
tivity of mankind? We find the rellgi.
Gus world, including its many societies,
etc. resting upon this basis. In the
degree man persists In being active,
In that degree does the success Of
this more or less self-sustaining occu.
patton, depend. Here we see a bene.
cial occupation. because II is the fruit
of mans good intention, and its moral
influence guarantees it's sound basis
and establishes it's right On the other
hand, how many occupations do we en-.
counter which exist and depend en-
tlrely upon the weakness OF mankind2 ?
How many men live of the bad habits
the discouragements, the efforts to
find happiness sought through these
various means, of their fellowmen?
To illustrate: The professional gam
bier lives OF an ungoverable passion
exhibited by others for gaming. The
curiosity shows, 1.-Two off the engrounded
love OF seeing something different and
out of the ordinary. regardless of its
nature or influence. The more extra,
ordinary and foolhardy the exhibition,
the larger the income to the perform
ers, and the larger the gate receipts.
Thus the stimulus acts upon first, the
public, then. the performers. and sets
In motion an endless chain of efforts
To outdo the present features. OF
course, many OF these institutions
which purport TO reach the heart OF
man with what he needs and longs for.
are quite harmless, as our art gal
leries, standard books. nature. and
kindred considerations, but. many are
the ruination OF races. They declare
themselves the only soul satisfying
elements on earth, and lure many to
that field which we are pleased 10 de.
nominate experience. To live and ex.
list out OF. and from your work In le.
gitimate lines. Is certainly high pur.
pose; but should we not shame the
institution which hangs over its door
the sign Here is the Place TO Give
Way TO the Devil Here you can
wager your money. drown your dis
couragements in the flowing bowl"
get something for nothing. loosen the
myriads OF evil propensities, and come
out sadder and wiser man. But,
certain amount OF wisdom is first ne
cessary, and also a certain amount of
sadness has 20 be experienced. before
we are wise enough for our own good.
These men who furnish these oppor.
tunlties will tell you candidly that
there is nothing to be gained from
patronizing them, except the one
thing, experience. these disreputable
opportunities offered to our young.
and old. as we'll, may serve their pur.
pose; II. indeed. we an say. that evil
Is necessary that good may come.
When man will cease to live ON the
failings OF his fellowman. and help him
out of them. instead Of using him for
a source Of supply, then will the moral
standard OF happiness arise to its ze-
NTH But Il is as absolutely essential
that we rise above the laughs OF scorn
OF the world. as for us 20 decline in,
vitations TO indulge in its delusive
pleasures. Many men cen decline. but
few can resist the laugh. We can all
know wherein man fail, but they alone
know wherein they have conquered.
CHARLES MILLER.