be. Variety of action,
corresponding to the variety of human powers, and fitted to develop all,
is the most important element of human civilization. It should be the
aim of philanthropists. In proportion as Christianity shall spread the
spirit of brotherhood, there will and must be a more equal distribution
of toils and means of improvement. That system of labor which saps the
health, and shortens life, and famishes intellect, needs, and must
receive, great modification. Still, labor in due proportion is an
important part of our present lot. It is the condition of all outward
comforts and improvements, whilst, at the same time, it conspires with
higher means and influences in ministering to the vigor and growth of the
soul. Let us not fight against it. We need this admonition, because at
the present moment there is a general disposition to shun labor; and this
ought to be regarded as a bad sign of our times. The city is thronged
with adventurers from the country, and the liberal professions are
overstocked, in the hope of escaping the primeval sentence of living by
the sweat of the brow; and to this crowding of men into trade we owe not
only the neglect of agriculture, but, what is far worse, the
demoralization of the community. It generates excessive competition,
which of necessity generates fraud. Trade is turned to gambling; and a
spirit of mad speculation exposes public and private interests to a
disastrous instability. It is, then, no part of the philanthropy which
would elevate the laboring body, to exempt them from manual toil. In
truth, a wise philanthropy would, if possible, persuade all men of all
conditions to mix up a measure of this toil with their other pursuits.
The body as well as the mind needs vigorous exertion, and even the
studious would be happier were they trained to labor as well as thought.
Let us learn to regard manual toil as the true discipline of a man. Not
a few of the wisest, grandest spirits have toiled at the work-bench and
the plough.

I have said that, by the elevation of the laboring mass, I do not mean
that they are to be released from labor. I add, in the next place, that
this elevation is not to be gained by efforts to force themselves into
what are called the upper ranks of society. I wish them to rise, but I
have no desire to transform them into gentlemen or ladies, according to
the common acceptation of these terms. I desire for them not an outward
and showy, bu