Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-06-26
[From the American Quarterly Review.
INFLUENCE OF EARLY ASSOCIATIONS.

future character depe OH early edu-
cation, and early associations. He who
is born by the ocean, and has ramb!ed
over the crags and cliffs Of an iron bound
coast, and accustomed to the storm and
conflict Of the waters, is more likely to
enter on rash and daring hazards in life,
than one cradled in ease. He who is
born near the depths Of the forest-amid
the tumult of city-in tranquil seclu-
sion-or the beautiful scenery Of a rich
ly cultivated districts liable to bear
their impressions through the events of
his career, even if this is not determined
by them. We all feel that our youth in
huences all our fate, whether TO good or
evil, and what we call destiny, is the
mere result Of some distant and forgot.
ten circumstance. Our future life be-
comes but the record Of early days; the
book we have read-an individual with
whom we have conversed-some passing
object or transient incident, thoug h illc-
sible to the memory, is visible in lasting
effects. They have given direction to
the mind; and at the age when the strug-
gle between the intellect and the pas
sions commences-and,a as is probable,
the latter assumes the ascend dancy-a
single one of these apparent trifles, de-
velopes useful, glorious, or degraded
course. 1t is at this time, the future
places itself in relief before us; hopes
begin to mingle in our reflections, and a
vague ambition rises amid the tumult
and confusion of thought. We have be-
fore lived only with the present; and, in
tie enjoyment of immediate sensation
and temporary excitement, neglected
the past.
Throrgh the years, and amid the i'm
pulses of animal life, the spring and Vi
vacity Of our youth, we look but little
forward and still less behind us. 1t is
not till misfortune, misery and regret,
shade and sadden our views, that we 60
back to old reflections; and seek the
happiness that seems denied to us now
and in wha: is to come, by renewing old
associations. The passing moment Ell
!, ther is not or cannot be so used, as to
give pleasure to the future; yet, being
the only one in our power, the design
should ever be, to make it add to the a.
mount of happiness we wish to create
But things we cannot control external
agents and actions, that reach US when
unguarded, and which will cannot re-
verse, or energy retrieve, render that
impossible. We then seem but the chill
dren Of fate, bound by some decree to
effect certain ends-impelled by some
superior power, for its purposes, and un-
able to exert free agency. But this
sense of being acted on by an irresisti-
BILE force, that great men have sometimes
wished the world to think governed
them, though they felt their own powers
produced the desired results, and which
inferior men hoped the world might real
Iy think to be their guiding star, is nc
more than the consequence Of accident
a peculiar aptness, giving strength tt
the disposition and bent to the mind.
is not meant to be asserted that there il
no such thing as genius; but the charac
ter and direction it assumes, depend OF
circumstances. There are philosopher
3 who consider the intellectual tendency
f not to be innate, a gift of nature, but th'
, result of some casual and transient oc
: currence. The contrary ofthis canno
, be proved, as all disting guished for SOM
s particular faculty, have forgotten the in
a cident that first developed it, if there ev
Q er was such, and merely remember tn
love which engaged their humble mind
, in pursuit, and the bias that they foun,
, impossible to subdue. Marlborough be
gan life as a courtier-Casar as profit
gate-Bonaparte as a mathematician
r Newton loved echanics-Bacon philo
!, sophy. The first could probably hav
: never been poet or philosopher; the Sc
cond possessed sufficient genius to exec
|, in whatever he willed; the third nigh
: have been celebrated in studies, requir
n ing close reasoning and nice deduction
d the last were neither soldiers nor poet.
:: though both had the mental power [
rs guide the councils Of nations and wit
e their expanse Of intellect and large col
= ceptions, all the materials of poetical e,
e preston. The minds Of these men wei
J. general--their powers, not confne
ID within the narrow limits Of a peculi;
e bent, but capable of vast comprehension
D. and Of gaining distinction, if not grea
I, ness, in any department of knowledg
n How different would have been the ia
i Of empires and Of science, if church,
+ had not left the court-CRsar not deser
ed the forum-if Bonaparte had lecture
on natural philosophy, - and the othe
still greater than these, been driven
commerce or the cloister Thus it WI
re their fortune and the spirit Of the time
= that gave direction to the minds and eli
r tied the efforts Of these men, not an a
8 cident which created their genius. Th