The Litchfield County post., 1828-08-14
CULTIVATION or THE MIND.


walton Of your minds. In despotic govern
ments, where the subject is a mere vassal,
and has no part in making the laws, ignor-
ance s,as the advocates of LEGITIMACY claim,
an essential qualification of good citizen.
The less he knows of his rights, the more
contented he is to be deprived Of them !;
and the less he understands of duty, the
more pliable is he as mere instrument of
ambition and power. Not so in this coun-
try. Here every man is publlck man.
He possesses the right Of suffrage and in
the exercise of that right, he is often called
to the election of rulers to deliberate &
act respecting public welfare; to ell ofic-
es Ofinfuence and trust, and to perform in
Vulnerable duties in the course oflife which
can be we'll performed, only in the posses
sion of an intelligent and well informed
mind. And certainly, whatever be a per-
sons circumstances, he cannot but be
a more useful man, by possessing such
mind.
1t is not an extended, critical acquaint-
ance with the sciences ON which here in
sist; this must of necessity be confined to
a few but such measure of knowledge,
as may be acquired by men of business, by
all men who will make any proper use Of
their faculties and time. Franklin was a
man of business-an apprentice boy to the
printing business but by careful improve
ment Of that time which by SO many young
men would be thrown away, he became
one of the wisest statesmen and distinguish
ed philosophers Of the day. Sherman, too
IS S%nkn nfh nNcsn
he was shoemaker but by self impulse,
by patient, untiring effort, he rose from the
bench of the shoemaker, seated himself in
the halls of congress, land took his seat with
the first.
A small portion of that leisure which you
all possess, and which by too many is given
to dissipation and idleness, would enable
any young man to acquire general knowl-
ledge of men and things. A judicious e.
economy of that time for one year, would af-
ford you opportunities to read many useful
volumes, and treasure up much useful
knowledge. The means of Improvement
were never more abundant or accessible to
all classes of persons, than at the present
day-and I may add, never were there
stronger inducements for young men to a.
vail themselves of those means, and to aim {
at high attainments in knowledge. Socie-
ty is rapidly advancing in general improve
ment-the field of enterprise is fast WIDEN
ing, and useful talents of every kind find
ample scope for employment. And per-
init me to remind you, my friends, that in |
respect to mental Improvement, the pres
ent is the most important period of your |
life. 1t s,indeed, the only period in which
YOU can enter on such course ofimprove-
ment with any hope Of success. If from
the age of Is to Is, young man neglects
the cultivation of his mine, he will neglect |
till the end of life. If, during that period
he does not form habit of reading, of OBJ
servation and reflection, he never will form
such habit; but 60 through the world, as
the dull ass goes to market, none the wiser
fer all the wonders that are spread around
him.
I am the more anxious to impress this
subject ON your minds, because, consider
your usefulness, your present and future
happiness, as most intimately connected
with it. A young man who has fondness
for books,or taste for the works of nature
aud art, is not only preparing to appear
with honor and usefulness as member of
society but is secured from thousand temp
tations and evils to which he would other
wise be exposed. He knows what to do
with his leisure time. 1t does not hang
heavily on his hands. He has no induce
ment to resort to bad company, or the
haunts of dissipation and vice-he has mo-
bier and higher 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 Toast his mind with the rich stores of
knowledge which they spread before him.
A lover Of good books never can be in the
want of good society, nor in much danger
the low pleasures of sensuality
and vice.
MORAL CHARACTER.
Another thing demanded you by So
eiety is an upright aud virtuous character.
If a young man is loose in his principles &
habits; If he lives without plan or object,
spending his time in idleness and pleasure
there is more hope of fool than of him.
He is sure to become a worthless charac-
ter and pernicious member Of So
ciety. He forgets his high destination