Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-09-02
COMMON SENSE IN DIsHABILLE.


Almost every parent will say of his SON
I" He is genius" Why? Because,
from very natural and innocent preiu-
dice, he believes he is an extraordinary
boy. Ifgenius met with sufficient encour-
agement. and your son happened to be
one of these rare birds, it might be we'll to
assist him in his flights. If he is not,
never lead him into fatal errour.
seldom spend an evening at my
neighbour Meanwell's, but he employs
one half his time in praising the uncom-
mon talents of his darling Sammy. He
is called upon to speak number of de-
CARNATIONS he has learned at school : his
oratory has just as much merit as the par
rot's. lis writing and ciphering books
are shown as prodigies of improvement
they prove that he has had an inattentiye
master, and is very careless scholar.
The fond father believes him to be nat
ural poet true he is fond of reading bal
lads, has been taught to repeat num-
Der of hymns by heart, and, like most chill
dren, is fond of the tinkling of rhyme.
He has proceeded so far as to compose
few couplets that would be a sufficient
antidote to the poctick mania. His little
tricks are sniaiad Al - -. - E
or flights of genius. am tired of hearing
them. He is neither more nor less than
other boys; and his father is like many
other men. IT'S pity a lad. shouts be
made fool, because he happens to be
thought a genius. How often is lad
sent to college, because he is unfortunate
ly taken for an uncommon youth A
father who has not spare dollars enough
to bring up his son at college would do
well never to force him from the beaten
track of honest industry; it has peace
and plenty on the right hand and on the
left. A good common education and the
habit of industry are worth more to a
young man than the dear-bought and i'll
merited A. M. Many may flutter on the
artificial wings of genius but few can
soar above their fellow-creatures. A real
genius is a very rare thing; not to be seen
in every family, except by the eye of do
tage or ignorance. IF boy, from the
productions of his leisure hours, that his
mates devote to play, can produce mas
terly specimen of mechanical genius, en-
courage his exertions, and let him follow
the bent of his mind. If he discover an
carly propensity to study, will be industri-
GUS in the field, and forfeit the pastimes
lof youth for the entertainment of his
books, becomes master of his Pike, and n
proficient in philosophy and history. let
him drink his fill at the Pierian spring
he aoiU be scholar. But if he is distin-
guished for nothing but his flights of fam
cy, love Of poetry, novels and plays; tie
him to the tail of the plough, rather than
send him to college. Fancy without iudg-
ment, is like fine ship without rudder:
it had better lie at anchor in a safe har-
bour, than be left adrift on the ocean.
And genius, without application and econ
omy, is mere ignis fatuus; while ii
promises to guide the bewildered object to
the temple of fame it leads to the vale Of
oblivion.
Men frequently say that good actions.
to be truly good and honorable, should
be done secretly. 1t is false idea. and
arises generally from an envious disincli-
nation to contemplate the good actions
Of others. Indeed, the world would lose
great part of the benefit of exalted
deeds by the concealment of them-the
influence of their example Surely if
any species of vanity is venial, it is that of
displaying to mankind an example of
virtue and usefulness.
A preacher, hearing the cry of an infant
among his congregation, commanded thar
the child should be removed-observing at
the same time, that crying child in place
OF worship was like the tooth ache--there
was no cure but having it ont.