The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-02-14
ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.

CULTIVATION OF THE MIND.

Another requisite Tor meeting the Chains OF society
h iaeigcnce or careful cultivation of your minds.
In despotic governments, where the subject is mere
yassa. and has no part either in making executing
be laws, ignorance is no doubt, the advocates OF
#ecitnacv claim, an essential qualification of good
citizen. The less he knows of his rights, the more
conented he is to be deprived of them and the less
he understands of duty the more pliabe he is as a
mere instrument of ambition and power. Not so IN
1 this country. Here every man Is public man. He
his an interest in the community, and exerts an i'm
portant influence on the interests of others. He is a
freeman and this ought always to mean the same
thing as an intelligent man. He possesses the right
Of suffrage and in the exercise of that right, he IS
oGen called to aid in the election of rulers to de-
Gbcrate and act respecting the public weare-to-fill
Offices of influence and trust, and to perform immune
abe duties in the course of life, which can be well
perormed only in the possession of intelligent and
well furnished mind. And certainly, whatever be a
mans circumstances, he cannot but be happier and
more useful man, by possessing such mind.
1t is not an extended critical acquaintance with the
Sciences on which here insist this must, of neces
siK be confined to IA few but such a measure of
knowledge as may be acquired by of business, by
all men who will but make proper use of their facul-
ties and time. Franklin was man of business lie
was an apprentice boy in printlng-ollce but by
careful Improvement of that time which by many young
Of his day. Sherman, too, of our own State, was a
man of business; he was shoemaker but by self
impulse, BY patient untiring effort. he from the
bench of the shoemaker, seated himself IN the halls
of Congress- and there took his seat with the first.
small portion of that leisure time which you all
possess, and which, by too many is given to dssipa
ton and lIeness, would enable any young man to
quire very general knowledge of men and things.
udcous economy of that time, for one year, would
afford YOU opportunity to read great many useful
volumes, and to treasure up much useful knowledge
The means of intellectual improvement were never
abundant or accessible to all classes of persons
than at the present day and may add, never were
stronger inducements for young men to avail them
selves of those means and to aim at high attainment
IN knowledge. Society is rapidly advancing in gen
era improvement the field of enterprise is fast widen
ing and useful talents of every kind find ample scope
for employment. And permit me to remind you, my
friends that in respect to mental Improvement the pre-
sent the most important period in which you can en-
Ter upon such course of improvement with any hope
Of success. If from the age of fifteen to twenty-five
young man neglecs the cultivation of his mind he
will probably neglect it till the end of hfe-f during
that period. he does not form habit of reading, OF
observation and reflection, he will never form such
go through the world the dull ass goes
to MARKET none the wiser for all the wonders that are
spread around him.
am the more anxious to impress this subject on
your minds, because | consider your usefulness, your
present and future happiness, as most intimately con-
nected with it. young man, who has fondness for
books, or taste for the works of nature and art is
not only preparing to appear with honor and useful
ness as member of society, but is secured from