Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-03
LABOR DAY.

Tomorrow j. Labor sunday, ana
Monday l. generally designated as
Labor day. and word or two on the
subject suggested by the season may
not be untimely
Labor IS not curse. Il Is one OF the
greatest blessings conferred on man.
or rather, 1t is the channel through
which the greatest blessings flow
10 the human race. II is the means
of developing man physically and
rendering him mt to become a pro-
genitor without labor the race would
speedily degenerate. ply slcally There
Is no physical excellence without
constant exercise.
II is also a moral force. II Is the
laborer who is busy creating, plan
ming. schoming. who il morally sound
1t Is the laborer, who is constantly
battling against the forces OF nature
and conquering them in the interest Of
civilization. who becomes the real
man. lie alone r. learning in the school
of life and developing the qualities
that are needed for eternal progress
sion. 1t is the idler who becomes the
pest center Kropotkin is perfectly
right when he says:
80 long as We have a caste OF oilers
so long these idlers viii always be
a focus Of Pestilenco 10 general NOR
ality. He who lives his life In dun
laziness, who IS always bent merely
on getting new pleasures, who by the
very basis OF his existence can know
no solidarity, and who by his course
OF life cultiyates the vilest self-seek-
ing-hc will always pursue the
Coarsest sensual pleasures and de-
base everything around him. With his
bag full OF dollars and his bestial i'm
pulses he VIII go and dishonor women
and children. degrade art, the drama,
the press sell his country and its de-
tenders"
The Scriptures have put the seal OF
disapproVal on idleness so plainly
that It can be seen by everybody The
apostolic command Is: III any would
not work. neither should he eat"
C Thess 3:1O) And of tho dead 1t is
said they shall be Judged by their
works" Their works" follow them,
when all else must be left behind.
That IS their eternal treasure.
II cannot be denied that. as the
world is constituted. labor has its
EIltNdiAhfNs ~ ntA9 AAtAn - bAN ~ 0fs
that tho world Is not yet perfect.
When perfection comes labor will have
no grievance.
There is something wrong some
where when those who labor and toll
TO the point Of destroying their health,
and risldng their lives. can earn barely
enough TO exist on. while others who,
like the lilies OF the hold, neither toll
nor spin. roll In Injuries There is
something wrong when the idlor has
more time for Improvement than the
toller. Not that his lot is enviahle. for
time and means In his hands are but
weapons of destruction. But the
laborer who is ambitious for improve
ment and willing TO spend his time
In useful worl, should have ample op-
porunity for Improvement 10y study
ing, travelling, etc, etc.
There Is something wrong when
children of laborers. In our large
cities, are permitted 10 grow up in
physical and moral Nth and neglect
charity is no substitute for the paren-
tai care that is the prerogative Of
every child.
Tolstoy has depleted the ideal con-
dition
1.-THE disciple OF Christ. . will work
in wood and field, see tho sunshine,
the earth. tho sky, and the beasts. no
viii NOT worry over what he SIS To eat
to tempt his appetite. and what he
can do 90 help his digestion, but will
be hungry three times a day: he viii
not roll on soft cushions, and think
upon deIiVcranco from insomnia. but
sleep. he viii bc sick. suffer. and die
like all men--thc poor who are sick
and die seem TO have an easter time
Of II than the rich--hc will live In
free fellowship with all men"
Tolstoy predicts a time when man
= shall TASK no work from others. but
himself devote his whole life To- work
for others" Then. he says. man viii
assure himself Of a living, mot by
taking It away from others but by
making him useful and necessary 10
others The more necessary he is 10
+ others. the more assured is his exis-
tence." Then the principle will rule,
that imam lives not to be served but
20 serve"
This may be the ideal. but It is far
on And IN the meantime the impor
tant question IL how II can be reached.