The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-14
AN IDEAL woRKDAY.

y y
talize thought on the "ideal of a shorter
workday," Evolution will from time tc
time make conditions which viii die.
tate to the thoughtful and progressive
mind what should constitute rational
workday
The onward trend from the condition
of the worker toiling in drudgery to the
more intelligent method whereby he or
she may utilize his or her brain value
co-equal with his or her Drawn value,
indicates that the working men and wo-
men, whether factory, mill or commits
sion house, who are now enjoying a
shorter workdsy than was the custom
thirty years ago, are greater producers
than formerly, and are producing in a
more satisfactory and intelligent way.
About the time that the ten-hour
workday became prevalent, the workers,
especially in the hardest kind of en-
ployment, hoped to see the introduction
Of eight hours work as maximum
of toll in twentyfour hour day, and
in many instances the change has not
only taken place but has proved its util-
ity.
When those yet working ten and
twelve hours per day have their hours
Of labor reduced to the eight hour max
ilnum, the change will carry with it
new wishes, greater desires and higher
aspirations Intelligent workmanship
beget intelligent thought, and vice yer.
sa. So the increased leisure time will
be as intelligently applied for social
and economic betterment as will be APP
parent to the improved workday output
of the toiIer.
With the new condition will come
better citizenship, desire for a bright.
er home life, and in time circumstances
may make it necessary, in order to
measure up the improved civil and
status, to reduce the standard
or recognized workday below the max.
imm ieght hours, but | question If for
many centuries the workday will be
made shorter than six hours.
The recognized business hours of
number Of professions are already placed
at about Ave or six hours per day, and
while in several OF those professions
men and women do certain kinds of
work connected Herewith outside Of
their regular workday, the labor, men
tai or otherwise is not of regulation
nature, is almost voluntary at least to
the extent of being undertaken may be
termed for labor of love than the
customary task or workday allotment
Of labor.
There should only be such reduction
IF the actual working hours below 8
per day as to give all willing to work
opportunity to supply the needs of the
public, economically but wisely prac-
ticed, and such reduction can only
amount to pubic or general good when
accompanied by the intelligent better
nent already referred to and which
should be in proportional ratiothat
= to say, the workdsy should only be
shortened in proportion to the eulti-
,ated tastes Of the public for the pro-
per application Of the so.called leisure
lime, because if the ratio failed mortal
ty would suffer and the necessary pro-
sress to continue anything like ideal
ife would be destroyed.
We need, therefore, the cultivation Of
he higher aspirations of human aetiv-
ty co-equal with the improved ability
o produce and when the two ideas are
o interviewer to make the one depend
mt on the other, an ideal short work
lay viii be established and the process
With the desire of the people thus up
flied and thus materially and morally
Uttered.
This can only come about by evolu-
ion in which the tastes of the work
ng people win gravitate from the mere
to the mental and muscular
nd during which the desire for beau
iiul home life for art in its better as
cot, for a general love of nature and
IRE and dignifed thought, win force
themselves TO much on the attention of
he people that it viii be found nee
ssary to give the higher concepts Of
fe more and more attention, while the
lborious duties of life viii be less
raetieed by some, part of the burden
orne by Others now perforoe idle or
inning the idle rich, but in any event
etter divided, and in which all viii
ave greater opportunities, both scien-
neatly to produce and intelligently to ,
.nsume Boston Globe.