The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-17
The Right to Live.
Views Of Rev. Thomas B. Gregory, On
"Endess Toll and Shorter Work Day."

~ Wv NV V>S'SSCSNSV>>4VSSS
he washes up, If not too tired, swial-
lows some more food, smokes his pipe
and goes to bed.
The man, maybe, has a family, a
Wife and little ones that he loves, but
he Is too tired to pay much attention
to them, and before he realizes it he is
dozing.
BY and by Sunday comes, and on
that day he gets q littlerrest. For just
a few hours the burden is. lifted from
his soul and he IL a. free man. For
just few hours he has breathing
spell. 49,
But Monday morning will not walt;
1t comes around with the precision 81
fate and the rapidity Of lightning and
the poor slave must begin another
week Of toll s<*:%E.S
And SO it goes on, until death the
"oeggar's nurse and Caesar's-steps in
and sets the prison free.
And this is life-the life 81 the
average American citizen-the life OF
the great majority of men who have
built up the splendid wealth Of this
great country of ours!
1t seems like 4 nightmare and hid
eous dream'-but it is more than that
1t Is a shameful reality, fact that
Is enough to disgrace the age in Which
we live. =
The remedy for this barbarous con-
ditioE OF affairs is the universal appu-
cation OF the :eight-hour rule.
Eight hours for work. eight hours
Tor sleep and eight hours for recrea-
ton and personal improvement.
IN this sign we conquer! Eight
hours day is long enough for any
human being to toll; for it should be
remembered that toll is for life. not
life for toll.
Eight hours for work and eight for
sleep will leave eight hours for living
Tor happiness-happiness for the eye
the ear, the mind-beauty of field and
gallery; music, books, the thoughts and
inspirations of the choice spirits OF
all the ages.
Are these things Of no consequence !
Character, manhood. intellectual exal-
tation, the perception and enjoyment
OF natural and moral beauty, the Joy
OF thinking, Of loving and of hoping
Az GAL IAAS LII HOtnlIR De
thrown among the rubbish?
Let 1T be clearly understood tina,
these are the things that make TO,
life, that constitute all that is worth
having in this world
10 know these things Is to live; ant
not to know them Is to be dead-dead
as the deadest thing on earth.
1t Is a blasphemy upon us that we
should be so busy making a living
that we have no time left in which
to live.
If there Is anywhere an "unpardon.
able SIM it Is this slavery of man t.
commercialism; this degradation Of
human nature. this boycott. of humal
natures highest and hottest possibili
ties. =.
Merchandise is a great thing, but
manhood ma. .is:;a greater, and it is *abou1
time .thatS.this manhood had received
some slight recognition at our hands.
: Not mere human existence, but hui.
man life-the mind, the affections, thu
spiritual instints, reaching out ant
bringing in unto themselves rich
harvest Of thoughts of love and Of
hope.
Heretofore, with few exceptions, WI
have had dwarrs; before the twentieth
century passes we will begin to have
men.
Heretofore wehave lived to labor;
soon we will be laboring to live.
Emancipation from his drayhorse
existence the man of the future i.
going to enjoy himself. His life will
be to him a joy, something to be prout
OF, something to, be thankful for.
Instead Of spending all Of his ener.
gies trying to keep soul and body to.
gether," the coming man will find tim.
IN which to let his soul rejoice and b<
glad.