THE MORALITY OF HAPPINESS. 663 



tenance, became tliinkers and inventors. But learning is not now 

 dependent on invalids ; minds are not the better now for having to 

 work in feeble bodies ; each nation needs, for its full international 

 influence, both health and knowledge, and such various and variable 

 health, that there should be few places on earth or water in which 

 some of its people can not live, and multiply, and be prosperous. 



If, therefore, we or any other people are to continue ambitious for 

 the extension of that higher mental power of which we boast, or for 

 the success of the bold spirit of enterprise with which we seek to 

 replenish the earth and subdue it ; if we desire that the lessons of 

 Christianity and of true civilization should be spread over the world, 

 we must strive for an abundance of this national health — tough, 

 pliant, and elastic — ready and fit for any good work anywhere. — Jotw- 

 nal of the Society of Arts. 



♦«♦■ 



THE MORALITY OF HAPPINESS. 



By THOMAS FOSTER. 

 CARE OF OTHERS AS A DUTY. (CONTINUED.) 



BUT we recognize the necessity of a more thorough altruism than 

 that which merely considers the rights of others. That a com- 

 munity should progress as it ought, each member of the body social 

 should feel that it is a part of his personal duty to consider the well- 

 being of the rest. The weakness and the want of skill, the ill-health 

 and the imperfect education of his fellows, are injurious to him and to 

 all. In such degree as weakness or want of skill affects the productive 

 power of some members of the community, the comfort and happiness 

 of the stronger and more skillful are affected. The weak and ineffi- 

 cient members, who can not provide for themselves, must be provided 

 for somehow. The trouble to the community which would arise from 

 any plan for leaving the weak and unskillful unprovided for would 

 be much more serious than the loss arisincr from the efforts made to 

 help them. But these efforts being so much deducted from the gen- 

 eral efforts of the stronger and more skillful members of the body 

 social must be counted as loss. So that it is the interest of all to see 

 that there may be as few weak and unskillful persons in the commu- 

 nity as possible. 



In like manner the sickness of our fellows is a matter in which we 

 are interested. Apart from the necessity of restoring the sick to such 

 health and strength as may fit them to take their part in the work of 

 the community, the illness of others may bring illness to ourselves. 

 Fever and pestilence, though they may first attack the weak, presently 

 extend their attacks to those who had been strong. If even a man 



