Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-11-29
WHAT is HAPPINESS?

WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
The Chicago Journal of Commerce
is a journal devoted exclusively to
market reports hand quotations, ETC.,
and it's editorial page was the last
place in the world that we would have
looked to find an essay on what con-
stitutes happiness. That is where the
following one was found however, and
we pass it on as evidence that some
times things may be found where
least expected.
Famous Boston Beauty has found
real happiness at last says a. news
paper headline. What is happiness?
We are all seeking it; we all want it.
But few OF us dwell in it. Why? We
cannot buy it with riches, nor hold it
for any considerable time when it
comes to bless us. Yet We work all
our lives to get it. have it in view in
all our plans for the future, and never
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The dictionary defines happiness as
good luck, good fortune, prosperity" ;;
and says that mental and moral
health and freedom from irksome
cares are it's normal conditions. Yet
all these leave more to be desired.
Something always intervenes between
man and complete felicity. Riches are
VIGOROUSLY insufficient, mental and
moral health fall short, and freedom
from care leaves one still cropping for
the prize.
Charles Mackay, nearly a hundred
years ago, asked the universal ques-
ton, voiced the universal desire, in
his poem, old-fashioned now, which be-
gins:
Tell me, We winged winds,
That round my pathway roar,
Do you not know some spot
Where mortals weep no more?
Some lone and pleasant dell,
Some valley in the West,
Where, free from toll and pain,
The weary soul may rest?
The loud wind softened to whisper
low,
And sighed for pity as it whispered
mo .
Yet happiness is. not unknown. 1t
comes, briefly, to all of us when we
are doing work we love. 1t does not
dwell with idleness, but comes. when
it does come, from service. Perhaps
love and the performance of its du-
ties bring most felicity to mortals,
just as hatred brings most woe. True
happiness is partly physical and part
ly spiritual. There is a happiness of
health and of freedom of the spirit.
Mackey asks again:
Tell me, thou mighty deep,
Whose pillows round me play,
Know'st thou some favored spot,
Some island far away,
Where weary man may find
The bliss for which he signs,
Where sorrow never lives,
And friendship never dies?
The loud waves rolling in perpetual
low,
swer-"No-"
The gifted Cora Harris, in her "My
Book and Heart, goes deeper into the
mysteries of womans troubles and
pleasures in youth and poverty, and
III full maturity and distinguished &C
Movement, than any writer in recent
years; but with all her sound philos-
ophy and fine courageous spirit, the
reader is left doubtful of her happi-
ness. The lives of great men devoted
to BUSINESS, government science, and
philanthropy, seem lacking in the hip
p4;lass iheir service to their fellow
men deserves.
From the time of the Argonauts,
the band Of heroes whose voyage in
Greek antiquity for the golden fleece
of the ram has come down to us, to
the present day, men have failed to
find continuous happiness. Always
there is something to trouble them
from the cradle to the grave. But no.
body ever gives up hope Of finally
possessing what they fondly believe
will bring them what all ardently
desire-happiness
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