Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-27
No. II.-TuDspAy, OcropER e6, 1850.
Homine m pagina nostra sspi,.-Mort.

tStudy human nature, - IL an adage III every
bodv's mouth who pietends to any capabllity OF
giving instruction to others. 1t would. therefore,
appear hardly proper that and my worthy CO.
adiutors, who have voluntarily taken upon our
selves the business of eniehtening our fellow
men, should not repeat and enforce maxim
handed down from the remotest antiquity, and
sanctioned by the authority of the wise OF our
own times. But beg leave to assure the public
that am not moved to take up this subject be-
cause wish to act in obedience to custom, or to
follow in the track Of those who have gone before
me, but because am of opinion few could fully
explain the purport of this oft-repeated MAXIM,
and still fewer carry it out into practice. After
such flourish, which bodies that something en-
,irely new, or, at least, net generally known,
will be communicated, the proverb of Horace,
lHonfes partuTiuni. SC. will be immediately
brought to mind. Be it so. Who cares!
The term human nature is too much narrowed
down in the common accertation of the phrase.
As it is ordinarily mentioned, it means nothing
more than the temper and disposition of man, as
evinced in the common business of the world
such knowledge as an observing man would gain
in a very short time, by being brought into con-
tact with those he has around him. But | use
the term in its proper and more enlarged sense.
take in the tUhoie man, with his instincts, his
susceptbihties, his energies and powers OF mind.
1t is in this sense that the maxim have cited
opens wide and noble field of study and inqul-
ry, in which all may labor with sure prospect
of advantage to themselves and usefulness to
others.
The world lays too much stress upon the adj
vantage TO be derived from personal experience.
donot wish to underrate it, but to place it upon
its true ground. |, gives man part, and very
val liable part, of the knowledge essential TO form
good citizen and an excellent man. But IT is
not the only source, and venture to say the
great source, of obtaining true knowledge OF
man or human nature. 1t is important, as teach
ing an individual how to conform himself 10 the
manners OF the people around him. and as serv-
ing to remove the prejudices and correct the CT
rors which he NAV have inadvertently imbibcd.
But if we depend upon nothing else, the effect
cannot but be to narrow our conceptions OF the
human character. and make us only eminent as
excelling in the petty arts and chlcane practised
in the world.
Now. all should be able to defend themselves
against these arts, aud prevent themselves from
being duped and imposed upon by the hypocriti-
cal &designing. And thus far. personal experience
is Of great Importance to any man. tie who does
not lock beyond the actual business which occurs
in ordinary times. will be satisfied with the share
Of knowledge which can be cleaned from daily
intercourse with men. lie will learn, indeed, to
penetrate the motives, and TO attract the notice,
and, it may be, to,touch the feelings, of men, as
they appear and act in the routine of daily bu-
siness And he may prove so successful in his
dealings with the world, as to latter himself that
he processes an acuteness and Judgment far above
the men he has around him. Bat all this would
avail but little when compared with the knowledge
which he possesses, who has studied and under
stands human nature in the enlarged sense in
which l have explained it, and which gives man
power, such as wealth or rank Can never confer.
1t is the mere glitter OF the gold. Place the man
who depends only upon personal experience, in
circumstances of an unusual kind, where sud-
den emergency calls for quick and decided ac-
tion-and he is disturbed and powerless
/ say that an individual should not content HIM
self with the knowledge which his own expert
ence simply teaches him. do not advise peo-
pie to shut themselves up in their closet and there
study human nature from books, but would have
them anxious 10 gain farther knowledge
OF their own nature, than is simply sufficient to
advance their own interest in the world. would
have them learn the high capabilities of man; his
true character, as it was when it came from the
hands OF his creator; as it has been in the varied
stages Oi society and manners. and as II is now.
under the influence of government ard religion
would have people go out into the world, and
keep their eyes and ears open, and catch know
ledge Of the true nature of man wherever it can
be found. But would have them also read and
think when alone, and study their own feelings.
such as their own consciousness teaches them
they possess, and the advantage of all this will be
to make men wiser. better and happier.
To gain this knowledge is to exercise the high
est faculties of our mind-to think and reason.
as well as to see and hear, which is the employ
ment of the majorit, of mankind. and it is be-
cause people do not think and reflect, that so
many pass through their - three score and ten.''
without actually possessing that knowledge which
we are so apt to believe their own experience with
the world should have taught them.
am the Public's friend,
TIMOTHY TRAVERSE.