Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-09-16


we'll performed, only in the possession :
an intelligent and well furnished mind
And certainly, whatever be mans cir
cumstances, ne cannot but be happie
and more useful man, by possessing sucl
a mind. 800
1t is not an extended, critical acoua;n
lance with the sciences on which / here
insist this must of necessity be confined
TO a few; but such measure of knowl.
cage as may be acquired by men of bust.
ness, oy all men who will but make a
proper use of their faculties and time
Franklin was man of business: he wa :
an APPRENTICE boy in printing Office; but
oy careful improvement of that time
winch by many young men is thrown
away, ne became one of the wisest states
men and most distinguished philosophers
OF his day. Sherman, TOO. of our own
State, was man of business. he wos !.
shoe-maker; but by selfimpulse. by
Patient, untIrlng effort, he rose from the
bench OF the shoemaker, seated himself
IN the halls of congress, and there took his
place with the first.
A small portion of that leisure t;me
which you all possess, and which. by too
many, is given to dissipation and idleness
would enable any young man to ACQUIRE a
very general knowledge of men and
things. A Judicious economy of that time
lor one year, would afford you opportuni-
ty to read great many useful volumes
and to treasure up much useful knowl-
edge. The means of intellectual improye-
ment were never more abundant or
accessible to all classes of persons, than at
the present day; and l may add. never
were there stronger inducements for younp
men to avail themselves of those means
and to aim at high attainments in knowl.
edge. Society is rapidly advancing in
general improvement the field OF enter
prise is fast widening, and useful talents
OF every kind find ample scope for employ
ment.. And permit me to remind YOU. nv
friends, that in respect to mental improve
ment, the present is the most important
period OF your life. 1t is, indeed. the on
ly period in which you can enter upon
such course of improvement with any
hope OF success. If from the age of fifteen
to twenty-five young man neglects the
cultivation of his mind, he will probably
neglect it till the end of life. IF during
that period he does not form habit Of
reading, Of observation and reflection, he
will never form such. habit; but 90
through the world as the dnll ass goes to
market, none the wiser for all the wonders
that are spread around him.
l am the more anxious to impress this
subject on POUR minds, because [ consid-
er your usefulness, your present and future
happiness, as most intimately connected
with 1t. A young man who has fond
ness Tor books, or taste for the works of
nature and art, is not only preparing to
appear with honour and usefulness as
member OF society, but is secured from
thousand temptations and evils to which
ne would otherwise be exposed. He
knows what to do with his leisure time.
It does not hang heavily on his hands.
He has no inducement to resort to bad
company, or the haunts of dissipation and
vice; he has higher and nobler sources of
enjoyment in himself. At pleasure, he
can call around him the best of company,
the wisest and greatest men of every
age and country-and feast his mind with
the rich stores of knowledge which they
spread before him. A lover of good books
can never be in want of good society, nor
in much danger of seeking enjoyment in
the low pleasures of scnsuality and vices.