250 Transactions of the 



something to do, and happiness is the wages of work. He who does 

 most that is worthy, has most; and he is unhappy who does nothing, 

 unless lie has shut out the vision of what he might be, and is con- 

 tent to feel none of the duties and aspirations of a man. The indus- 

 trious tiller of the soil, the mechanic who is begrimed with sweat 

 and dirt, the day-laborer who comes to his home at night with a 

 cheerful spirit, all these are happier, far more to be envied, than he 

 who, in what lie deems a higher station, spends his days in scheming 

 how he may live, or in feverish idleness, which, like the rust, eats 

 into the soul and cankers and destroj's. Happiness and some form 

 of industry are inseparable, or one has ceased to be a man. More- 

 over, if we turn from the individual to general prosperity, we find 

 that this is in i.he ratio of prevailing productive work. A com- 

 munity of consumers must be dependent, and idlers are mere con- 

 sumers, supported at the expense of somebody's work; getting for no 

 equivalent, what was the product of toil. Let there be a number of 

 these and they become an incubus on society — enough of them will 

 sink a State or nation. 



History reveals a series of facts on tliis point, which should instruct 

 us all. Look for a moment at our own condition. Our resources 

 in natural products, and agricultural improvements, and manuftic- 

 turing ability are yet largely to be developed. Recent discoveries in 

 science, and consequent revelation of wide fields to be ex))lored in 

 all departments of mechanics, and the increasing demands of the 

 world, promise the richest rewards to those who devote themselves, 

 with careful study and untiring energy to these pursuits. There 

 never was a time or a region of such encouragement to ingenuity 

 and industry. There is no necessity to plod, if one will enter any of 

 these open doors to distinction and success. Now contrast with these 

 facts the throng who pass by all these doors, in their hurry to get 

 money by some shorter and baser means; the throng who are look- 

 ing for some opportunity to do this, that has not yet come to them ; 

 the general dislike for real occupation that may tax them, and it 

 requires no prophet to predict what must be tlie result after a few 

 years. God has not intended that all our talented, enterprising, 

 ambitious men shall be in the professions, or conimercial operators, 

 or stock and money dealers, or merchants; and if they all become 

 such men there will soon be little commerce, and money, and goods, 

 with Avhich they busy themselves. There must be a proper propor- 

 tion of these classes, but there must also be a proper proportion of 

 thorough, intelligent, thinking, enterprising men in the other depart- 

 ments of effort, or a country like ours will grow weak. 



I am convinced that the tide should set in this direction, among 

 us, and those who will throw themselves upon it, strong, thoughtful, 

 energetic, will be borne safely to that unprecedented success, which 

 sits beyond the goal of most who are striving for her rewards and 

 beckons to sucli men as have the nerye and purpose to reach her. 

 Work, in all the departments of study, of invention, of extensive 

 enterprise, of practical execution — work is the charm that will open 

 ■wide and effectual doors before us all. But we cannot emphasize 

 too strongly that idleness and plots to gain without pay what others 

 have will hang a heavier millstone round our neck than ever before 

 dragged down a land in the world's history. Further, let us learn 

 its worth from its relation to respectability. The reason why work 

 has fallen into disrepute with many, is not because they really prefer 



