Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-22
WHY NOT GIVE BETTER WORK AND MORE REST TO PEOPLE,
xzrsxoP A.

There Is scarcely SIN or Wnlcn nu-
man nature is capable that is not de-
Tended. or cannot be extenuated, by
some plausible plea. The thievish COW
etousness OF Judas disguised itself to
the consciousness of that apostate apos-
tie under pretense OF tender care for
the poor
Indulgence in costly and needless lux
uries makes for itself a somewhat sim
liar defense. They who practice such
indulgence are accustomed to say, "Our
banquets make work for labourers Our
costly costumes employ many hands,
and give them wages for their support.
Our wives are the product OF the la
bour OF the vinedressers of France and
California. We are public benefactors
by our extravaganza. We make work
for the toilers of the earth"
All that sort of talk seems very fine
and very benevolent; but it is very de-
lusive. Let it be granted that the con-
sumers of luxuries create demand in the
supplying of which a certain number of
labourers find work and wages. But
does it make no difference what kind OF
work human being does?
The opulent and luxurious do appoint
thousands OF people to wait upon them,
and herein is one OF their weightiest
responsibilities for which they must
give account to God. What sort of ap-
pointments are some of them making
for their fellow-men7
Here is a man addicted to drinking
much brandy: he and others like him
are appointing men to serve all their
earthly days in distilleries. Is that
sort Of work worthy of an immortal
being?
Another class of drinkers appoint null
fifudac nf m ~ IN
breweries. Is that kind of an appoint
ment wel1-pleasing to God?
Still others ordain a great company
Of human beings. including very many
girls and young women, to serve as
stage players all their days. There is
no candid and informed person who will
deny that appointment to such a life
means in most cases booming souls to
immortality and ruin. Can any Christian
man or woman contribute in any meas
ure to such results as issue from
theatrical career without FORGETTING
christian character and mourning the
displeasure OF God? Can we. by sort
of moral cannibalism. devour souls that
we may be amused, and yet sincerely
profess and call ourselves christians?
There are men, including some
preachers. who appoint thousands OF
young men to waste their strength and
young manhood at baseball playing.
Would we like our own sons appointed
draw the sons OF others into such un-
worthy engagements. and still remain
innocent before God?
II we wish to make work for people
by our expenditures, let us be careful
to create a demand for worthy work
only. More money expended on the ed
ucation OF INDECENT children would call
some struggling women out OF over
heated sewing rooms, where they spend
their days stitching together soft fab
RIGS and fashioning dainty gowns for
balls, into comfortable school-rooms.
where they might lift darkened minds
into glorious light Would that not be
better than drawing a band OF fiddlers
to frolic?
we have not in the United states
more than half enough churches 10
house the people who ought to be found
In places of worship every Sabbath. IL
half the people Of the Republic should
desire to attend religious services on
any particular Sunday, they could not
find room in the churches now In exist
ence Hundreds of churchless communi-
ties IN the West are begging piteously
for help to build the houses which they
need. Might not money expended In re-
spouse to their appeals give some strong
young men something better to do than
playing baseball?
The sums expended by the teams OF
the two universities, Harvard and Yale,
during the past season on ball-games
were sufficient to endow college for the
education Of the bright boys who live
In the mountains. The gate-receipts Of
intercollegiate games in Georgia last
year were sufficient to erect several COM
modious college buildings. Would it not
have been better to have bestowed that
money in employing carpenters and ma
sons to build such structures than In en-
gaging young men to imperil both moral
and physical life in sports that kill?
1t may be set down as sound and
fundamental principle that no human be-
ing is justiflable in appointing another
to any work that is unworthy Of human
nature There are many sorts Of work
for men to do in this world, some higher
and some lower, some easy and some
dificult The low and hard tasks are
as worthy as those which we regard as
higher and easier, although they bring
not so much honour and remuneration.
The shoemaker renders to the communi-
ty as worthy a service as the physi-