THE two great efforts of modern times are to dignify labor, and to make it pleasant. In fact we are every day witnessing the spectacle of the blending together of all classes. Nobles become artisans, and artisans become nobles. It seems that rnan has discovered That labor is God's ordinance; that the universe itself exists only by the vir- tue of everlasting toil. This is seen in all things around us — in heaven, in earth, and in the sea. The brightest and noblest names of this age were made so by skill in the mechanic arts. But while efforts, and successful efforts have been made to ennoble labor, but for the complete accomplishment, there remains to be created what may be termed an enthusiasm of labor, having the whole system so organized that all kinds of toil, however severe or disagreeable, will be sought after with avidity, and with the same enthusiasm as men now aspire to accomplish the most difficult and dangerous feats. It was a noble thought of Fourier, which gave a favorable idea of his system, to distinguish in his Phalanx a class as the Sacred Band, by whom whatever duties were disagreeable, and likely to be omitted, were to be assumed. We see an exemplification of it in our fire department. What labor is more difficult and disagreeable than the duty of a fireman ? What toil is more danger- ous ? And yet with what ardor do they rush to their work. See them brave the hottest fires, scale the loftiest walls, to rescue the helpless one, and work for hours in the summer heat or the cold of winter, without a murmur ! Nay, sometimes their ardor seems to in- crease with the necessity of greater exertions, and their strength to increase with the con- flagration. Why is this ? It is the working of enthusiasm. " Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm. The victories of the Arabs after Mahomet, who, in a few years, from a small and mean beginning, established a larger empire than that of Rome, is an example. They did they knew not what. The naked Derar, horsed on an idea, was found and over- matched for a troop of Roman cavalry. The women fought like men, and conquered the Roman men. They were miserably equipped, miserably fed. They were Temperance troops. There was neither brandy nor flesh needed to feed them. They conquered Asia and Africa, and Spain, on barley. The Caliph Omar's walking-stick struck more terror into those who saw it, than another man's sword. His diet was barley bread; his sauce was salt; and oftentimes by way of abstinence he ate his bread without salt. His drink was water. His palace was built of mud; and when he left Medina to go to the conquest of Jerusalem, he rode on a red camel, with a wooden platter hanging at his saddle, with a bottle of water and two sacks, one holding barley, the ether dried fruit." If this principle, enthusiasm, could be associated with all labor, a great result would be 51 52 HOME DISSERTATIONS.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

THE two great efforts of modern times are to dignify labor, and to make it pleasant. In fact we are every day witnessing the spectacle of the blending together of all classes. Nobles become artisans, and artisans become nobles. It seems that rnan has discovered that labor is God's ordinance; that the universe itself exists only by the virtue of everlasting toil. This is seen in all things around us — in heaven, in earth, and in the sea. The brightest and noblest names of this age were made so by skill in the mechanic arts. But while efforts, and successful efforts have been made to ennoble labor, but for the complete accomplishment, there remains to be created what may be termed an enthusiasm of labor, having the whole system so organized that all kinds of toil, however severe or disagreeable, will be sought after with avidity, and with the same enthusiasm as men now aspire to accomplish the most difficult and dangerous feats. It was a noble thought of Fourier, which gave a favorable idea of his system, to distinguish in his Phalanx a class as the Sacred Band, by whom whatever duties were disagreeable, and likely to be omitted, were to be assumed. We see an exemplification of it in our fire department. What labor is more difficult and disagreeable than the duty of a fireman ? What toil is more dangerous ? And yet with what ardor do they rush to their work. See them brave the hottest fires, scale the loftiest walls, to rescue the helpless one, and work for hours in the summer heat or the cold of winter, without a murmur ! Nay, sometimes their ardor seems to increase with the necessity of greater exertions, and their strength to increase with the conflagration. Why is this ? It is the working of enthusiasm. " Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm. The victories of the Arabs after Mahomet, who, in a few years, from a small and mean beginning, established a larger empire than that of Rome, is an example. They did they knew not what. The naked Derar, horsed on an idea, was found and overmatched for a troop of Roman cavalry. The women fought like men, and conquered the Roman men. They were miserably equipped, miserably fed. They were Temperance troops. There was neither brandy nor flesh needed to feed them. They conquered Asia and Africa, and Spain, on barley. The Caliph Omar's walking-stick struck more terror into those who saw it, than another man's sword. His diet was barley bread; his sauce was salt; and oftentimes by way of abstinence he ate his bread without salt. His drink was water. His palace was built of mud; and when he left Medina to go to the conquest of Jerusalem, he rode on a red camel, with a wooden platter hanging at his saddle, with a bottle of water and two sacks, one holding barley, the ether dried fruit." If this principle, enthusiasm, could be associated with all labor, a great result would be

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