Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1836-08-04
aiee px5 - e ,'ts:ss,Is nm

The ehiectOAs which ase dBdally urged against
joining die Lyceum can an Be- answered with as lite
dficulty a. they are made. ThsyaSe usually propO-
sd not because those who do i seriously believe that
Il ID true account Of thsmseves o. that they wish
the public 90 tsundsntand il; utbecanse they wish
10 excuse negligence (which they are con-
sciOus that they are guilty, in falling to improve as
they ought, their intellectual faculties and 10 assist
OtherS to do the eame. livsim2H. .3a'r3 Alyh
The most common objection which Is made BY the
wOrkingmen Of New-England, is that they haps not
time @ attend 70 tie business Of tie Lyce Nottime!
Do yOn occupy all your time in some useful employ
ment II mot then you cannot plead this excuse
Time was made for other purposes than to be spent in
idleneR, or be squandered away in vain pursuits
And shall man, who has been constituted one of the
lords OF creation, endowed with mind that can COM
prehend all that is nOble excellent or exalted and
bundantly furnished with the means of gratifying his
intellectual desires to their full extentshall he suffer
the time which has been allotted him for mental inn
provementsto be spentin idleness = Shall he neglect
to improve the only rational source of enjoyment?
shall not be understood to accuse the workinglmeriof
New Engand Of idleness In regard to attention to
their business they are certainly very active and
industrious class Of men, But do they pay that atte-
ton to the cultvatonof their minds whchthey ought?
Far otherwise. The many hours, which daily occur,
in which there is and should be- relaxation from Ia.
Dor, are often, nay. usually spent in very trivial
manner. The long winter evenings, which, learned
genius has remarkea-seem expressly provided for the
purpose Of Attending an opportunity for the laboring
classes 70 cultivate their intellect are spent in
ner which, instead Of improving the mind often tends
to weaken it. While these seasons, them have been
provided let II be said that there is time for Lit
erary and Scientific pursuits. And It is no less the
duty than die privilege of men 70 employ this time,
whenever il IS practicable, in this manner. In
try like this, every man who has disposition for IT,
can find time for the Improvement Of his mind And,
if the laborins people of this country would improve
the time they can cotnmand iiithis manner, light we
not expect to sec wonderful effects following Such
have heretofore been the results Of their efforts The
celebrated ERANKLI whose discoveries irscience as
tonshed the world was printer the immortal BURNS,
whose poetry has been 30 much admired, was a
Plonghnnan; and our own SHERMAN, whose cou1selsas
statesman were of 90 much importance to our conn
try. was Shoemaker. These men, although pressed
with business found time to make those requirements
which raised them to emnence and is it not hlmilia
ting to hear that free, Independent Americans neglect
to improve their minds for want of timel 5.<t.i..
Another objection IT, that their teleats are nof equal
TO the task taking part the proceedings Of the L
ceaHs This is almost too ridiculous to require ser-
consideration. tits libel on the character Of the
Creator and were reported by another the ndivid
ual himself would consider it lbeinpon his own cha
raetsr Can II be supposed that the human mind was
made foF no active employment? Is that mind con-
stituted weak 80 feeble, as to be unable to accom-
pish the purpose for which it was created? Man, n.
side from his mind, is on level with the brutes !; and
we value those qualities which raise US in the scale
OF being, shallwe not cultivate and improve them
Inaword, should not our bodily strength be made
seryient to the mind instead Of the mind to the body
Does them become us to say that our talents are so
mean as to be unfit for mental exertion7 The talents
of men, however small are capable Of wonderful inn
proyement, and canbe made to shine with transcen-
dent ustre. One Of the greatest men the world has
produced has said: Owe nothing to genius hut all
to industry This was perhaps, more than the truth
bnt i lie undoubtedly trne, that to this he owed aaree
share Of his reputation, =
Another O6jectons. that Aeir talents and acquire
"ss are noseqal some Others, .pho are nae-
beEae the Lyce,m and suho sCu be likely toeclpse the
This objection has advantage over the others that
have mentioned as it is. usually urged with candor
and apparent truth. But should this objection be con.
sidefed yadl Are men 60 blind to their own inter-
ess forgetful their Obligations to their fellowmeu.
asot TO desire % improve their talents8 These tal.
ents properly cutvated, may raise the individual to
the highest dignity. and. at an events will AMPLY re-.
pay him for the labor. Said gentleman while ad.
dressing Lyceum: " Literature and Science, Onto-
~ and Eloquence the rich rewards Of carly and
patient industry" Let men believe, and act upon
this principle. and new cru in the history of the world
would be commenced. sgr ALFRED
FOR THE ENQUIRER. ~
TEMPERANCE NOTICE
The Litchfeld County Temperance Society met at
Clifton (Winsted) on the 18th inss Doct VIM Buel,
President, in the Chair assisted by Griswold Wood
ward, Esq. Vice President TEFgAE
Delegates from 10 auxiliary societies attended,
The Young Gentlenen and Ladies' Temperance So
ciety Of New-Preston.'' associated under pledge of
total abstinence from az Intoxicating liquors. and en-
bracing 50 members, was. received IAN auxiliary
Owing to the absence Of the Secretary the customary
satisfied details cannot be furnished. !sFi%
II would appear from the reports Of the delegates,
That while results, unparalleled in the annals of moral
REFORM haye been attnied by the united action of 90.
cietes associated under the pledge Of total abstinence
from ardent spirits, the conviction generally prevails,
and is daily gaining strength thar higher ground must
speedily be taken by those friends Of te ca,se whose
motto is onaOard; that the hopeesy ptsmperaie, and
the nan remaining hand Of sellers SshostilI pan
der to their depEaved appstes are almost the only
opponents WHO now attempt % sustain NE eonteston
a H. H-nN