Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-01-27
FoR THE kEQUThRR.
ON EDUCATION.--NO. z.


We are placed 10 a world Of mutual Dope dancs, in
which person has right to live entirely to himself
We directed to do good to all men we have OPP
portuny-and in obedience TO this direction, il be-
comes duty qualify ourselves to render all the
service to fellow creatures which s in our power
He who hides his talent is but one degree less guilty
than he who destroys it; and certainly, every be-
nevolent mind il must be cause of regret, that he
has placed himself in u situation in which at best he
can he but little better than blank in creation IT'S
true that person entirely destitute Of learning may
do days work for his neighhor; may by his strength
Of body assist him il he in difficulty, and may possess
kind and benevolent disposition; but he can give
no information, his company will be unnercstiMg be-
cause he cannot upon any subject beyond the
ordinary transactions Of the day, and when his labor
is finished his room will be always preferable 10 his
company.
Again-An stncaliroted mind can afford lille salts
faction to its possessOr.
So long as person is wholly employed in the busy
concerns Of life, the mind may be employed upon the
same subjects But to every person there compa-
rative seasons Of reremen,eeasons in which we are
constrained to withdraw from active bodily excrtion,
and the mind consequently, in measure disengaged,
needs something upon which to employ itself; and it
has often rambed over the narrow limits Of lite
traced boundary, and fed frequently the same
stinted growth of the uncutured soil, that it grows
weary faint, and disguised, and looks, but looks in
vain, for before untas,ed plan; its vigor.
Surely such mind cannot be source Of much salts.
faction to its Possessor.
But this is viewing the subject merely respects
that season Of life when most engaged in active duties
five follow on till old age, shall find our position
much strengthened. The'vgor Of youth and manhood
will not always last. From the hustle Of active lite we
must ere long retire. because ofdecrepitude and age,
the sure successors Of youth. Al this season, being
left to himself with barren, unculiva,cd mind with
no intellectual treasures stored up in bis better days
on which to feed, and shut out, he necessarily
be i" great measure from intercourse with the world
how truly uncomor,ahly mus, he be: lie possesses
neither the ability the wish to read-he is unable
to converse with interest upon any subject Of import
ance-he is company for nobody, and is obliged to
drag out the poor remains Of life without single
ISOLATION which well stored mind is capable Of afford
ing; aud, alas! too often dies ignorant of that God
before whom he stand in Judgment.
This leads again to ren'ark-that uncuItivat-
ed mind is closely connected with idoairy and inde-
ity. am tina, many may feel disposed to doub.
the truth of this, and consider cruel and
unjusfiable reflection upon many who may be said
possess uncuItivaed minds among Far be it from
me- my friends, to make any remark which 10 calculn
ted to mpeach the worthy few, who not permit
ted TO enjoy the privileges SO valuable have fallen
TO share, and who, Notwithstanding all their dis
have by unweared effort acquired rep
utation and character which the revolutions Of time
cannot impair. Aud, indeed, do not consider them
as falling within the scope Of my remark. do not
expect TO subsaniiate it by examples furnished in
country favored this is, with every Of refor
nation, and where person mus. shut his eyes, stop
his ears and harden his heart, in order pass through
life without acquiring considerable information. But
alas! TO the eternal disgrace Of those whom il may
apply, in this country and within the circle OLA
very limited acquaintance, cases not wanting j"
which we are furnished with lamenabIe and conclu-
sive> evidence Of The truth have advanced. My OBJ
ect to substanate the remark, by recurring TO
individuals, but 10 nations. Situated are, it is
difficult for Us to ascertain the influence which edit
cation exerts upon the mind by any recurrence 10
ses among ourselves Suffer therefore to refer
you 10 the situation Of such placed entirely be-
yond the influence OF education.
Go with me in your thoughts to the heather world,
and see the effects Of ignorance. See human beings
who have souIs like ourselves focking (no by two or
three, bu) by thousands to pay their alterations to
blocks of carved wood, which through Ignorance
they call God. Behold him seated upon ,hrone and
by human strength dragged through the streets amds
the shouts Of nnumerablc multitude, who rend tht
air with their mpious descriptions Of homage and prais.
to n God which truly neither see, nor hear, mol
know. And, my friends, strange it may appear
this ignorant people really believe he lie offended o,
pleased with their conduct; and they carry their
supersous notions far believe that il actually
smiles in token Of appreciation.
But, deporahIe tins IT, the story 10 not hall
told you. From person Of undoubied veracfy, and
undoubted piety, have the information, that for
miles nd the seat Of this Idol, the earth is whten.
ed BY the bones Of human beings who have sacrificed
themselves to this image Of wood. While tho carriage
on which he is placed is moving along they vOlunia-
rilv Law themselves down before and under the wheels
and are crushed to death. Here many mother has
devoted her darling child, literally "givng the fruit
of her body for the sins Of her SOUL" And here thou
sands Of infants left TO pine away and die because
heir parents under the influence ofthe crosses. idol
atry have offered up themselves victims toC7ods which
they have made, to appease their supposed anger.
I might proceed in the exhibition Of facts, going TO