The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-09-30
OUR WORK.

tnelf WOrk duu WoSOo SAAoaA sS'AJ 'A.-o
The old problem of making living re-
mains and ever will remain the great theme.
In the most exciting periods of our history
men were obliged to address themselves to
the solution of this absorbing personal
problem. While the world lasts the great
majority of the race must struggle to main
tain their existence, and, if possible, realize
a comfortable estate, no matter what thrill
ling "world questions" may arise.
The noisy wars have occupied but a
comparatively small portion of the long
stretch of time that has elapsed since the
authoritative record of man doings began.
There were long intervals of repose about
which history is silent. They were periods
in which men labored and did not fight;
intervals of contentment, because men
were permitted to work. One of the great
objects of government is to preserve
condition of society in which men may
work, each in his own way, making the
most of his abilities, without interruption
or molestation from others. Ifgovernment
does not secure this boon it is worthless.
One of the great evils that militant gov
eminent entails is the diversion OF the
strength of the nation from constructive to
destructive labor. Men must work, is the
eternal decree.
colder than all preached gospels was this
unpreachable, inarticulate, but ineradica-
BILE, forever enduring gospel, Work and
therein have well-being.' Work is the law
of our being-the living principle that
carries men and nations onward. The
greater number of men have to work with
their hands, as matter of necessity, in
order to live; but all must work in one way
or another if they would enjoy life as it
ought to be enjoyed"
The best labor is performed largely for
its own sake. The wage rate is, of course,
important; but, despite the endless discus
sion over the rate, no monumental or worthy
work was ever done with an eye solely to
the pay. There is popular canting doc.
trine much preached that no one would
engage in any work unless obliged to dc
so-in other words, that the normal and
most enviable state of man is one of idle.
ness. The fact is that much of the bes
and most enduring work is done mainly
from pure love of the task, if it may bt
called a task. Ruskin found the kerne
of the matter in one of his addresses t
workingmen, in which he declared that
while all healthy minded people like none,
making, and ought to like it and enjoy tn
sensation of winning it, the main objects
in life are something better than money.
"a good soldier, for instance, mainl,
likes to do his fighting we'll. He is glad o
his pay-very properly so-and grumble
when you keep him ten years without it
Still, his main notion of life is to win bat
ties, not to be paid for winning"
The Hessians of the American Revolu
ton and the foreign scum imported as re
cruits for the Federal army during the Wa
Between the States were purely mercenar
troops-not ideal soldiers. Similar illus
trations of ignoble work may be found o
every hand. The applicability of Ruskin'
thought to ordinary life will strike an oh
server at all conversant with practices
affairs:
In every nation there is vast elias
who are ill educated, cowardly and MOI
or less stupid. And with these people, jul
as certainly the fee is first and the wor
second, as with brave people the work
first and the fee second, and this is no sma
distiction. It is the whole distinction in
man; distinction between life and death
him, between heaven and hell to him.
work is first with you and your fee secon'
work is your master, and the Lord of worl
who is God"
One cannot conceive that house wi
be we'll built by workmen thinking only
pay day. The best artisan, he who survive
hard times and the chances and chang
of the labor market, puts his soul into
stone laying. All our work should re
upon moral basis, whether in building
State Capitol or picket fence. Faithf
work has been described to be kind
devotion. This is the note heard in Eme
sons observation:
''All true work is religious, and what's
ever religion is not work may go and DIV,
with the Brahmins, Antinomians, spinnir
Dervishes or where it will. With me
shall have no harbor. Admirable was tn
saying of the old monks, work is wo
ship"