Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-02-10
Foh THE REaUTaER.


Foh THB EEaUIRER.
ON EDUCATIONs--NO. 4.
Again-EdncatiOR JGuishss gsarG aeuiast BsiaS
Ls6 asfray ey tie suR szanples and precepss of
others.
The power Of example Especially thai which 10 cor
ruP'ingl has long been ssl and regretted by good men,
FrOm the deprayity Of our uatDrs, are much more
inclined TO evil than good aud hence derived the
superior inAuenee of bad examples. Such examples
are mare cORgeniaI TO Our NATURAL iasse-meet the
feelings Of the depraved heartaRd being opposed BY
no strong eOuHteractRg iBauence, are generally mi.
'ated without hesitation. Such certainly is the fact
where the mind is left uncalsiva,cd and habits Of vr
tue not formed to inert and oppose the influence
Of bad examples.
We al come into life with no fixed principles Of
conduct. As soon as we become capable Of moral
action, we look around give information and ac-
quire habits Of action. And almost the first thing dis
coverable, effort initiate the actions Of Others
Such is our make, that we are strongly inclined to
think that s right, which approved Of and practised
by our superiOrs, and Of course almost inseuebly
acquire habits and manners. Nor is this true Of chit
dren merely. Youth, and indeed men, are powerfully
Influenced by the force Of example. And from the
fact that mankind strongly Inclined evil and un-
Influenced by other considerations than the susges-
tons Of their wicked hearts, and will pursue
with all their might, we the importance Of sume
counteractng influence check the progress oi vice.
and hold mankind back from following to the umos,
length every evil example which falls under their OBJ
servatOn and receives the sanction Of those whom
they consider superors. - -
This cOun,erac,iug influence, education, more than
exertng. Those who have lived long, and by careful
examination hare observed the conduct Of men, aud
the results Of their conduct are furnished with kind
OF "strucon perhaps superior TO any to be gained by
others, or from books naenluch az ocular demonaro
ito" exceeds any other method Of proof But this
kind Of instruction. it may be observed, which cannot
be gained j" season to be Of any material use to the
individual because he has passed the most dang erous
period Of life long before he became in possession Of
those facts which might have furnished his strongest
safeguard. Hence originated the necessity of laying
hold offacts furnished by others, and presenting them
10 the minds Of youth. Aud these facts they must
possess through the agency Of education. II has al.
ready been observed mankind commence life withou,
any fixed principles Of conduct, and they generally
il under circumstances strongly adverse to
virtue, and always with hearts opposed to all good,
and inclined 10 all evil.
In the early stages Of life, impressions either good
or bad are more easily made than any other period
AT this time. therefore, education ought to DO called
in TO furnish kind Of guard around the youthful mind
to shield it from the atlarks which vice will make; for
any inclination given at this period will most probably
continue. "Just as the twg 10 bent, the tree is in.
c!ined." You enter the forest and take small and
tender twis and bend down, and probably The tree
will be in the same shape you Ie the twg. Just 30 il
is with youth. Ife form their own tastep. and
and choose their amusemen,s without any ex,er.
nal influence, there great danger they will 20 astray
like uncultivaed fields, grown over to nettes and
'horns and briers, they will need the strong and per-
severng hand to ROOT the sluy sad ao.ious
plants, whose growth proper culture might have pre-.
vented, or easily rooted out and subdued. Full Of
meaning is the line of the poet,
Tall oaks from little acorBa grow"
Those seeds Of sin which sown in every heart and
which it naturally produces the field does shrubs
and Trees unless checked Of their growth, and sup
planted by something truly good, will soon take deep
root and shoot forth large spreading branches threat
eni"g destruction to every thing valuable in the same
soil. or which in any fall under their inAu-
ence. ADDISON.
ITO be continned.)