Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-08-31

But, if We conlider a moment the
fate in which we commence our jour
ney of life, we fhall perceive at once
that it can be of but little conte-
quence which way this dueltion is de-
cided and that whatever we may
bring with us into the world, can have
but little influence in fixing our fu-
ture characters. Every idea We poi
fefs, every word we utter, every Gait
of conntenance, all the ufe We poi
ief; of the bodily organs, in fhorE eve
ry thing we can find about Us, are
mere requirements, and the effect Of
application. ConGdering this, Is it
NOT idle 70 fuppofe thar our charac-
tiers for life, which are made up OF
thofc particulars, depend on an an
known fomething precedent to them
all, and of which We can form no
diltina conception Does ionre hid
den virtue in the germ, or the rich.
nefs of the foil and the care Of the
cultivator, give its Grength and gran
deur to the tree? Notwithstanding
any trivial diftinaiors in point of tai
ents nature may have originally made,
we will venture 10 lay it down as a
principle Of mathematical preciGon,
that the extent Of any perfon's ac--
quirments is in proportion 10 his ap-
plication; and farther that the de-
gree Of his application is in proper
ton equally exact to the degree of
| intereh or arder he feels in the en-
ployment-
1t i: true there is a manner, which
fope men and children have, of ap
pearihg to apply, Of combining the
eyes or the ears without any rigorous
exertion of the mind, which cannot
enfure the leaR luccels. We mean
only real application, that kind Of
voluntary activity of the mental pow
ers. which every one has experienced
ON intereftiug occaGons. With this
definition of our afertions, every man
will find them certified by his expert
ence and obfervation. We are
fometimes too languid TO comPre-
bend even an eafy proportion we
read without retaining facts or fsel-
ing fentiments we can aver argu-
nents without feeling connection or
aim among them but the moment
our fpirits are arouled by good COM
pany, health, or weather or intereit
excited by profpe6 Of honor or
profit for our pains, we find the diff
| ficulty has vaniihed, the realoning
has become plain, the obicurity is all
diiIlpated. Every child in the hitory
Of his fports, might recount many a
night fpent almot without leep, and
days without food, TO arrange iome
favorite fcheme of amulement and
the event would generally fhow, that
his application had not been in vain.
1t is powerfully true of theic, who
have diltinguifhed themfelves as gen
iufes in any employment, that
they have devoted themfelves to it
with an executive ardor bordering on
enthuGafm.
lens alto a truth, which we might
eaGly infer from the nature of the
cafe, and which any man may de-
monfrate by experiment, that this
! kind OF ardor, and oonfcquent activi-
| ty of mind depend upon external cir
cumitances, and may be at any time
excited in children by proper manage
ment. We are eager in the puriuit
Of any thing, from which we expect
TO receive plealure, or efcape pain J;
and whatever is in any way afiociated
in our minds with delightful obje6,
becomes itielf fource of plealure.
Hence things in themfelyes painful,
come 10 be regarded with defre, and
/ the mott arduous and laborious exer-
tions are relorted 10 for amufement.
! Hence alto children, however reluc-
tant at irf, may be arouled to the
mott vigorous application to itudy.
They are naturally ardent, and eaGly
lntereited if one viii practice 70
them thoie little devices Of allure
ment, to which their feelings are fer
Gblc. BUT il is ealy 10 conceive of a