The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-04
q & o o. 90 . 9 @ g g. %9%0
= WHY TAKE LIFE 50 SERIOUSLY, ANYWAY. 9
4 By Orison SWEET Marden in Success Magazine q
o%a>a>o%@>0%< %<0<v%o%0%e%

fectlve, botched work, interior pro-
ducts, because men do not keep them
selves in a vigorous, healthy condi-
ton. They do not play enough, d.
not have sufficient exercise in the
open air; they do not have that re-
creation that refreshens, renews, and
strengthens both mind and muscle.
They take life too seriously.
When You have plenty Of fun ,pu
work with more vigor, and with great
er enthusiasm; You begin your day
in better spirits, are more hopeful,
and YOU leave your work at night
happy, and in a more contented
frame Of mind. Many men work their
employees so many hours, and so
hard, that they do not keep fresh,
buoyant, 'and enthusiastic.
Where did the idea come fron
that we should take life so seriously,
anyway? Why should a nan be such
slave to his bread-winning? There
is certainly something wrong in the
very idea Of sacrificing the juices of
our lives for the husks which we
get.
Remember that there is something
else in the world just as important as
making money, and little more so.
Your health, your family, your friend
ships should mean a thousand times
more to you than dollar-chasing.
Life was given US for enjoyment,
not for one long, strenuous, straining
struggle spent in the dreary drudgery
Of scraping dollars together. Living
getting was intended to be only a
mere incidental in the larger life of
growth, of freedom, Of soul expan-
sion, mind-enlargement.
Men could get fun out Of their busi-
ness if they only knew how, and by
taking the drudgery ont IF it they
would not only be happier, 1ut they
would also be more prosperous
A great many men fail because they
are too serious; because they develop
unsocial, morose, cold qualities which
repel, and which make them poor
mixers. It is the sunshiny, happy
nature which attracts friends and
trade. The too-serious people seem
to say, "Keep away from me, life IS
too serious matter to be spent on
trivial things" They are dry, and
rutty, because there is not enough
play in their lives to furnish the nec-
essary fabrication, variety, CT change.
It is we'll known that many be-
cone insane because t'cy a5v. not
had enough play in their lives.
som. cor'e think it = undignified
to give full vent to their fun-loving
instinct. They think the7 must be
thoughtful, sober-minded, very digni-
fir,!. if they would carry any weight
in the world, and not be regarded as
light-headed and frivolous. We have
all seen people who 60 about with
their finger on their lips, figurative-
Fly speaking, as though they faered
they might laugh out loud or say
something funny. "Away with these
fellows who 60 bowling through
life," wrote Beecher, ''and all the
while passing for birds Of paradise.
He that can not laugh and be gay
should look to himself. He should
fast and pray until his face breaks
forth into light -
There is too little sentiment in this
country; almost everything is reduc-
ed to a commercial basis, and has ref
erence to the dollar. Our American
life has become so strenuous, time so
valuable, that even DR.. Edward Ever
EFT Hale, chaplain Of the United Sta
tes senate is only allowed one minute
for prayer in the senate chamber, e1-
cepting on some extraordinary oe-
casion!
I have heard travellers say that
when in the United States, they feel
depressed, because Of the sad, serious
expressions on the American faces.
They say We are prematurely old,
that we take things too seriously, that
we seem to think life was intended to
be spent only in pursuing with ire
mendous energy some occupation or
profession.
The average American gives for
eigner the impressionn that he is in
that he is in the act Of rolling a>huge
stone up a steep hill: that while he
may smile for a moment now and
then, he does not dare to stop and