Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-25
On Laziness

TODAY we rather intended to write an
u essay on Laziness, but were too indolent
to do so.
The sort of thing we had in mind to write
would have been exceedingly persuasive.
We intended to exert the influence of the
Dish, whatever that may be, in favor of a
greater appreciation of Incidence as a be-
nign factor in human affairs.
TT IS Our observation that every time we
l. get into trouble it is due to not having
been lazy enough. Unhappily, we were born
with a certain fund Of energy. We have
been hustling about for a number of years
now, and it doesn't seem to get US anything
but tribulation. Henceforward we are going
to make determined effort to be more lam
guild and demure. 1t is the bustling man
who always gets put on committees, who is
asked to solve the problems of other people
and neglect those of his own.
The man who is really, thoroughly and
philosophically slothful is the only thor
oughly happy man. 1t is the happy man
who benefits the world. The conclusion is
inescapable.
We remember saying about tbs meek
inheriting the earth. The truly meek man
is the lazy man. He is too modest to be-
lieye that any ferment and hubbub Of his
can ameliorate the earth or assuage the per-
ple1ities of humanity.
n HENRY said once that one should be
VI careful to distinguish laziness from
disni6ed repose. Alas, that was a mere
ouibble. Laziness is always digniied, it is
always reposeful. Philosophical laziness, we
mean. The kind Of laziness that is based
upon a carefully reasoned analysis of expert
ence, Acquired laziness. We have no re-
spect for those who were born lazy: it is
like being born a millionaire: they cannot
appreciate their bliss. 1t is the man who
has hammered his laziness out Of the stub
horn material Of life for whom we chant
praise and alleluia.
The LATEST man we know-we do not like
to mention his name, as the brutal world
does not yet recognize sloth at its COM
munity yalue-is one of the greatest poets
in this country; one of the keenest satirists;
one of the most rectilinear thinkers. He
bepan life in the customary hustling way.
He was always too busy to enjoy himself.
He became surrounded by eager people who
came to him to solve their problems. "It's
aIoueer thing" he said sadly mo one ever
comes to me asking for help in solving my
nrobIems." Finally the light broke upon
him He stopped answering letters, buying
lunches for casual friends and visitors from
ont Of town. he stopped lending money to old
college nails and frittering his time away on
ali the useless minor matters that poster the
GOOD .patured, He sat down in a secluded
cafe with his cheek against seidel of dark
beer and began to caress the universe with
his intellect.
YJNHE most damnins argument against the
J. Germans is that they We're not lazy
enough. In the middle of Europe, thor
oughIy disillusioned, indoent and delight
fuI old continent, the Germans were a dan
sarous mass of energy and bumptious push.
ff the Germans had been as lazy, as in
different and as righteously laissez- fairish
as their neighbors the world would have
been spared a great deal.
People respect laziness. II you once get
a ranntation for complete, immovable and
racklesa Incidence the world win leave you
70 your own thoughts, which are generally
rather interesting.
nOCToR JOHNSON, who vas one Of the
~ worlds great philosophers, was lazy.
Only yesterday our friend the Caliph showed
us an extraordinarily interesting thing. It
was a little leather bound notebook in which
Boswell jotted down memoranda of his talks
with the old doctor. These notes he after
ward worked up into the immortal Biogra-
ply. And 10 snd behold. what was the