The evening world., 1918-07-25
The Shame Of Doing Nothing
By the Rev. Thomas B. Gregory

Copyright, 1915 by rn. Pre-. pHi.hn. Co. IN. Nov York Evening world,
DY decree of the people of the United States, is expressed through
J their duly accredited representatives, the time has come for every
- one to be busy
Some New York clergyman not long ago said in the courseo of one of his
sermons; There are some people who have n o right to amusement and
they ar the people whose business in life is to seek amusement"
Readers of Dante will remember that the poet, on his journey through
we're hated by God and by the enemies of God" hated and despsed by
the good and the bad; in a word. by everybody.
They were probably made up OF the class referred TO by the clergyman
the idle rich and the idle poor, who think of nothing but the ways and
means of doing nothing and being amused.
They toll not neither do they spin. In the great activities of the world
they take no part Their hands and brains ar idle. They belong to the
most despcable class Of human beings-thc Drones.
Poor creatures! For Gods sake-or rather for their own poor mt@r-
Idle sake-dont curse them, but pity them. They are already sufficiently
cursed. Their Incidence is a hell their experience is emptiness. WEAKNESS
and sorrow.
In the mean time let u. all Join in the slogan. God bless the who
first invented WORK.
Labor-the steady pursuit of son useful. woridhelpng tasks the
greatest and grandest thing on earth.
No pleasure that belongs to the professional idler. whether rich or poor,
equals the Joy that comes to the man Or woman who does something every
day toward making the old world happier and better, toward the material.
moral and spiritual upbuldtng OF the great humanity.
To the worker life is real. The humblest laborer, honestly trying to do
his part in the worlds work, finds in the midst of his toll the satisfaction
which not all the wealth of the idle rich is able to buy.
Labor makes all that we eat and drink taste good to us. Labor gives
the glorious sleep that no opiate can suppIv Labor insuros M GOD A..
gesuon and brave, red blood that no prescription of the apothecary can
provide.
Better stn. labor bestows upon us the priceless boon OF selt-respect.
The worker knows that he is a man, and that the drones are mere puppets
in the cheapest OF dumb shows.
1t is 10 small thing to realize that you ar actually lending a hand to
the Job Of showing along the wheels of progress. To think of the varied
industries whose united efort Is pushing out the frontiers Of civilization,
and be able to feel that you are a part of It ala rHng, vital parts not
a small thing, but a very great thing, a thing well calculated to make a
man selfrespcctng.
Every one possessing even the rudrmcnts of manhood will agree with
me that it Is a most exhilarating thing to feel a oneness with the grand
forward sweep of the useful. the beautiful and the good.
Such exhibition is quite beyond the reach of the peted, pampered
darlings who pass their time lolhng in luxurious idleness; and is equally
Impossible to Inc by n means "petted and pampered darlings' whose job
is loafng wherever they Ear find a wall to lean against II a bench upon
which to stretch and yawn.
But no man Is altogether beyond hope. As long nj to lo,r bol1s
out to burn the vlest loafer may return. Let them do the returning right
away-quck! Let them volunteer and join the army of the workers be-
fore they are conscrpted' for conscripted they certainly will be unless they
enlist