Litchfield enquirer., 1832-12-20


ety entirely changed. The venerable fa-
thers, who have borne the heat and burden
ofthe day, are dropping one after another
intothe grave, and soon they will be gone.
OF those too. who arc now the acting mem
bers Of society, some have passed the me-
ridian Of life, others are passing It. and all
will soon be going down in its decline, to
niingle with the generations who have dis
appeared before them, from this transitory
seems 81 action. To amind, seriously con-
templating this mournfIl fact, it is an in
quiry of. deep and tender interest ;--who
are to rise up and Gil their places! To
whom arc to be committed the individual
interests Of this community Who are to)
sustain its responsibilities, and to dscharge.
its dutiesl You anticipate tho answer. -
It is to our young men, that these Interests
/ are to be committed and these responsible
tiles transferred are fast advancing tol
fill the places Of those, who are fast retir-
ing to give place to. a new generation. You
are soon to occupy the houses, and own the
property, and Gil the offices and possess the
power, and direct the influence that are
now in other hands. The various depart-l
ments of business and trust, the pulpit and
bar, our courts ofjustice and halls Of legis-
lation our civil. religious, and literary
institutions all. in short, that constitutes
society, and goes TO make life useful and
happy, are 10 be in your hands. and under
your control. ANA S-fas sR
This representation IS not made to ex-
cite your vanity. but to Impress you with a
due sense Of your obligations. You can
not rake rational view Of the stations 70
which you are advancing, or Of the duties
that are coming upon you, without feeling,
deeply, your need Of high and peculiar
qualifications. In committing to you her
interests and privileges, society imposes on
you corresponding claims and demands
that you be prepared to Gil, with honor and
usefulness, the places which you are des-l
tined 10 occupy. She looks 10 you for flu
ture protection and support, and while she
opens her arms to welcome you to her high
the cultivation ofthose virtues, and the at
tainmen. Of those qualifications, which can
alone prepare you for the duties and scenes
Of future life. Reuiesr. hy \
There is close connexion between ig-
norance and vice; and in such a country.
as our own, the c0nnexion is fatal 10 free
dom. knowledge opens sources Of pleas,
ure which the Ignorant man can never
know--the pursuit Of il Ellis zip, every idle
hour, opens to the. mind constant source
Of occupation, wakes up the slumbering
powers, gives the secret contest victory,
|. and the secret unveils 70 our astoRishmehs
ideal worlds; secures as from temptation
and sensualiiy and exalts Us in the scale
of rational beings. When pass BY the
grcg-shop and hear the idle dispute and
the obscene song-when / see the cart
rolled along filed with intoxicated youth,
singing and shonting as they go--whsn Ii
discover the beat sailing down the river,
where you can hear the influence, Of rum
by the noise which i makes--I cannot
help bat ask.. we're these people taught tol
read Was there no social library tol
ghichthey could have acccss2 Did thew
ever know the calm satisfaction Of taking
an improving volume for peaceful fire-
aide { O did they ever taste the luxury
of improving the mind Yon hardly ever
knew the young man that loved his home
aud his book that was vicious. knowi-
edge u often the poor mans wealth. II
i atreasnre that 10 thief can steal. no
moth nor rust eau corrupt. By il you
turn his cottage 20 Z palace, and yon give
q treasure which i always improving and.
can never BE- lost. The poor man.. saws
Robert Hall, who has gained taste for
good books, will in ali likelihood become
essa