Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-13
BY H. Addington Bruce
TT IS a truism which cannot be too steadily
| kept in mind that without work, inter-

TT IS a truism which cannot be too steadily
kept in mind that without work, inter-
~ ested work, there be no happiness.
Nay, work is capable Of giving us not only
happiness but much else besides. Jules
Payot, that admirable philosopher of every
day life does not oYerstate when, in his lat
est book, The Conquest of Happiness" he
observes:
"A man who really works is so busy that
he has no energy to waste in Spleen His
personality expands. He discovers in him
self deep layers of force of which he had not
dreamed His character becomes stronger.
He has no desire for hunting after emo
tons, adventures, drink, and unusual ex-
elements. From continuous contact with
the laws of the universe his soul takes some
of their stability, calm, and patience #
work helps us to attain serenity"
Multitudes, l know, will dissent vigorous
ly from this glOrification of work
In their case, they protest, work has GER
taInly not brought the benefits mentioned
would ask them to listen to Payot a mo-
ment longer.
Work becomes a burden when one does
1t having in view only money or vanity
Then energy is sold for something inferior,
Mercenary work never brings peace and sat
lsfactlon, just as the pennies given to a beg
gar never satisfy him."
Ana therein is the error into which multi
tudes fall.
The worker, of course, should through his
work, conscientiOusly and efficiently done,
gain both livelihood and some degree of
reputation. But to make either reputation
or livelihood the chief end of work is to lose
sight entirely Of what is really works chief
purpose.
That purpose is to provide an adequate
means of self-eXpression and Standardization
IN way that shall be socially useful 1t
is when one senses this significance of his
work and only then, that work engenGers
happiness and enIar9es the personality.
1t may be argued--in fact, if mas fire.
! quently been aTgued-that modern modes of
| work particularly machine industry and the
principle Of subdivision of labor, make il
! next to impossible for men and women 10
work creatively satisfying I am not pre-
pared to concede the full validity of this
argument.
Many workers. through deaIizinc their
monotonous machine activities through rec
| oSnlzlng the socially useful significance of
| the comparatively insignificant parts of shoes
| or razors or automobiles turned out by
| them, contriye to find happiness even at the
! machine.
If not all are so constituted that they can
| do this it is at least possible to ALL thanks
! to the shortening of the working-day effected
| by the coming of machinery. to find outside
| their regular employment some socially use
| full occupation-if it be only a hobby such
| as gardening--which will satisfy the creative
! urge.
| And in one way or another that urge must
! be satisfied through work-through work
! done interestedly-if happiness is to be
| achieved. That is the truth underlying
! Payots insjstence on the benefcence of
] work. 1t is a truth which all idIers. semi
| idlers, and reluctant workers ignore to their
! great loss