The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-16
FOR ruk MASSACHUSETTS spr.
4 pEBATE N A STAGE COACH.

PEBATE nj IN Sl J sTAGE q co q
! took the stage at Worcester for Albany
There were already several well-dressed
passengers in the coach, and except q
slight travelling familiarity, which had diff.
fused itself into the circle, they appeared to
be all strangers to each other. had tax
en- middle seat and the stage rapidly
moved off amidst two or threo lound cracks
from the drivers long whip.
:" As was saying" said portiy looking
gentleman upon the back seat, addressing
himself in smooth, full voice to lady be-
side him, there are some errors in our
present mode of education, especially in
the higher departments. Every young
man now, the moment he leaves college,
chooses for his future course in life, one of
the three professions, viz Law, Divinity
or Medicine, and this almost invariably from
belief that TO enter into any active bust
ness would be degrading, or, that he has
talents too brilliant to waste in the hustle
of business that might as well DO done by
his interiors; the consequence is, that all
the professions are so much crowded and
cut up, that real merit is retarded in its ca
reer of glory, and years are spent in gain
ing an ascendoncy which by right belongs
to the possessor Of merit almost upon his
first entrance into life. Yes, madam, the
professions are filed with thousands who
admire genius and talent, and from this cir
cumstance alone fcolishly believe them
selves possessors Of it"
"But, sir" said a young man who sat
upon the forward seat apparently anxious
to reply, {" it seems to me that if it be an
object to secure the finest intellectual pow
ers to the professions, the more that make
the trial, the greater will be the number OF
successful attempts"
"And the greater too will be the number
to disgrace them, end starve themselves ?
said the portly gentleman. "There is
no fear of a paucity Of able men in this
country, sir; able men will always show
themselves in numbers sufficient to supply
1 the demand"
I" But in that case," said the young man,
"many would never enter the professions
who might be shining ornaments in litera-
ture and science"
"Let them shine, then, somewhere else
said the lady, the various arts need the
aid of superior intellect as much as the
professions. Pre-cminance win give dis
tnction in any calling, and excellence in
mechanics is as laudablc as excellence in
law, divinity or medicine"
"Very WE'LL" replied the young man,
drawing down his heavy eyebrows, and
scowling little withal, but it must be
remembered, that man gains celebrity, il
he gain it at all, in proportion to his mental
capacity, and the Importance of the object
he pursues. For instance, sweeper Of
chimncys would never gain much enyiable
or lasting notoriety by his employment
neither would a sawyer Of wood BY his"
"What you say" rejoined the lady,
"may be very true, SO far as mere fame is
concerned, but, undoubtedly, the pursuits
and intellectual energies Of these men ex-
actly correspond-they have neither capac-
ity or ambition to advance further"
"To this" said sandy complexion man
who, for long time had been leaning for
ward and watching studiously for an op.
portunity to got word in, " would reply
that these men. with gu education would