The labor world., 1922-09-23
LABOR-CURsE OR A PLEASURE.

as a curse, as a necessary evil, a
something to be- avoided if possible,
and when unavoidable to be endured
only that they may escape from cold,
hunger and such greater evils. Which
is convincing enough if we consider
these material facts alone. But when
We examine the deeper facts, those
which concern the psychology of Ia
Dor, those subtle but potent reactions
of human nature in it's contacts with
all phases of activity, we find that
the W ork-or-starve theory is not an
adequate answer to the whole ques-
tion, and that the pay envelope is
but one-and often not the most COM
pelling-factor Of the problem.
One Of the first things we observe
is that activity of mind or body is
not of itself regarded as an evil, but
as something desirable. Men work as
hard at games Of sport as at any other
employment, simply for the pleas
>ure they derive from such activities.
Nor is this merely because they are
games, for neither is labor necessarily
Objectionable if it be productive Ia
Dor instead Of sport labor. We find
almost every gainful occupation used
by men as hobbies or pastimes, and
they work hard at them-not to gain
money, but because of the real en-
joyment they find in the work.
Therefore we are forced to admit tina.
if there be curse Of labor it does
not consist of activity, even though
such activity means the most intense
and exhausting work.
Why is it, then, that men in gen
eral shun labor as though it really
were curse? Why do they dream Of
a life of idlcness as utopia? Ac-
tivity is the manifestation of life it.
SELF, and experience shows that idle
ness soon pals on every redbloodcd
man. In order to be satisfied, in Or
der to be happy, he must be contin-
uously doing something, even if that
something involves the most strenu-
Gus mental or physical exertion.
- sBut-and here we believe is the
key to our problem-he wants to do
what he desires to do, and not what
he is driven by necessity to do.
We believe that one Of the great
est of the underlying causes of the
general prejudice of mankind against
work is that so few individuals are
fortunate enough to be engaged in
the particular occupation that would
give them genuine pleasure in their
labor. And in this misfitting Of men
and occupations both the individual
Snd the community suffer: the man
because he is discontented in his po.
sition, and therefore not disposed to
do justice to his work; the commu-
nifty because it does not get the ben
eft Of the full ability Of ono Of its
members and gains a more or less dis
gruntled citizen.
1t should not be hastily conceived
that if it were possible for all men
to choose the occupation they most
desired they would all rush for the
so-called easy jobs. There is no such
thing as an "easy' job, we believe
when the job is done right; and yet
paradoxically, any job is an easy CT
st least pleasure giving job when j,
10 done by the righS man. The writer
Knew coal wagon driver who fo,
several years delivered his coal. He
was big, brawny fellow, intelligent
and educated, and apparently entire
ly happy. One day the writer asked
him if he did not think he was ca
~pshle Of doing something better thar
heaving coal for living, expecting
him to confess his desire to get out
of such a strenuous and dirty kind Of
work. His reply was: "Better job
Not for me! I've been at it for ter
(. years. I like it. Why, I'd rathc
shovel coal than do anything else ol
earth!'
Men are complex individuals. They
can not be analyzed en- masse. Th'
natural ability, ideals, desires ani
tastes Of each man differ more o
less from those of every other man
4 What suits one do-s not at all sui
4 another. Work that is too far abov
\ the ability and desires of the indi
vidual involves painful strain tha
" does not produce the best result
either in labor production or in th
happiness Of the worker. On the 9th
], er hand, work that is too far beloy
u the ability and ideals Of the worke
brings to him an irritating boredom
4 and contempt for his job tha
means for him unhappiness and dis