Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-14

| y ne personal comforts whlcn uey inrnish,
have ieI ded to npspirituaizc the understand
ing, und N ke us prone to disparnge more
intellectual pursuits, which yield no such
luxurious enjoymenis. But so iong as the
heart and the i'nag ination most influence bu-
nam actionS-so long as mind predoninates
over matter; that is, while our race endurcs
the nature Of man, his passions, his hlsto-
ny, and his destiny will ever be the nob,est
study of n human being. In every walk OF
life you will find their advantages. You can
engage in no pursuit where they will not M
sure a superiority over less instructed COM
petitors. In those deemed exclusively me
chancal, they excite to experiment., they
suggest improvements, they render lntelI-
gent, and, therefore, more productive. Even.
the most monotonous routine Of mechanical
life leaves many hours to the dominion OF
solitary reflection, which early instructlonl
might kindle into usefulness They are more
necessary in our county, because labor has
attached to it here two pecullartles, almost
! unknown elsewhere-power and lelsure-po-
| litical power, which education can alone rem
! der Valuabe--aHd leisure, the natural result
Of the general prosperty-o'it the most dan
/ gcTous gift TO an uncultlvated mind.
! There are some who fear that these studies
! may inspire dstaste for industry, and that
]
bee ause they who work can also read. But
| men need not hate labour because they love
! study-nor look above their profession be-
/ cause they can look beyond it. The industry
| of any community may be safely frosted to
! the actual wants which make 1t necessary,
! and the spirit Of accumulation which makes
/ it afterwards grceable-and the only effect
! will be, not to make men work less, but to
make that work more skilful. Pass through
the other occupants Of life, and cultivation
maintains its ascendancy. Men are COM
/ monty more intelligent in their affairs, gene
! rally more successful, always more respect
! ed, for habits of taste and literary cultivation.
! As YOU ascend in the scale Of life, their eth
! cacy is still more striking. In the sacred
calling, among those who are equal IN the es-
| sentals of Christian virtue, how much more
of honor and of usefulness rs the portion OF
that scholar whose learning enables HIM to
trace back to its source the stream oil reVeia-
r ton, separating from its pure waters the tur-
. bid infusion which the imperfcction Of human
r Language, or the misguided zeal OF ianalics
= may haze mingled with 1t. In the healing
: art, what resources for allevlating human sui
j. fering and prolonging the existence of those
j.. we love. may be employed by him who rem
Il ders every age and every climate tributar,
d to his tnprovement In the kindred pTotes
4 sion of the law, which embraces the whole
l., circle of human affairs, the highest honors are
i reserved, not for him who IS content WIN tht
ordinary routine of litigation, but tor the rIpel
Il scholar who seeks IN every sciehcs-lh All
r. liberal arts. and throughout the whole domain
o Of letters. whatever may adorn or dignity lls
r noble occupa,on. Bot it IL on the wider
/. field of usefulness, for which every Anerl-
q can should be prepared, that these studies are
q of the highest value. You are all destined
). for public life. Many OF you will, | trust, be
=. conspicuous there. | deem it right, then,
q earnestly to impress Oh you the influence OF
liberal studies on public duties, by explaining
. nv own conviction, that inattention 10 theiil
. is a prevailing defect among us-that one OF
tbe greatest dangers to our institutions arises
from The want of them-and that, without
:, them. no public man can ever acquire extend
ed us efulness or durable fame.
:, In our country, too many young men rush
> into the arena of public lite without adequate
!, urepnration. They 90 abroad because Their
F, home is cheerless. They fill their minds with
, the vulgar excitement of what they call poll
. Tics. for the want of more genial stlnulants
,, within. Unnble to sustain the rivalry oil more
disciplined intellects, they soon retire IN dis
i, rust and notification, or what Is Tar worse
persevere after distinctions which they car
, now obtain only by artiice. They accord
inoly take refuge in leagues and factions
thew rejoice in stratagems-they glory II
combinations, weapons all these, by whlcl
medocrity revenges itself on the uDcaIcula
ting manllness Of genius--and mines Its way
to bower. Their knowledge Of themselves
> inspires a low estimate of others. lhey o's
trust the judgment and the Intelligence %
. the community, on whose passions aione .i.
y rely for aGvancement-and their only STUDY
: is TO watch the shifting currents oi popula
'' prejudice, and be ready at moments warn
= mo TO follow them. For this purpose, thei
o theory is. to have no principles and to give M
;, opinions, never to do any thing so marked al
: 10 he inconsistent with doing the direct re
d yerse-and never to say any thing not capa
!. Bile of contradictory explanations. Ihey arr
i- TINS disencumbered for the race-and as TN
= ancient mathematician could have moved In
u world If he had had place to STAND on, the.
9 are sure of success if they have only room
RI turn. Accordingly, they worship cunning
: which is only the counterfeit OF wisdom, an
deem themselves sagacous only because the
IL are selfish. They believe that all generou
l. sentiments Of love of country, for which the
: feel 10 sympathy in their own breasts, OF
s, hollow pre- tcnces in others; that public lie
y game in which success depends on dexter
~ ty-and that all government is mere sroe
N Gle for place. They thus disarm ambition .
70 lis only fascination, the desire OF authority
VI order TO benefit the country; since they
C. not seek places to obtain power, out po"'
u TO obtain places. Such persons may rlso
st great official statons-for high ofhces al
ut ike the tops Of the pyramids, which reptile
n can reach as we'll as eagles. But thoue
= thew may gain places, they never can ga
" honors2,hcy may be pcltieians-they new
VI can become statesmen. The mystery
e.. their success lies in their adroit nanagemo
M s'~' 10. ,r.Huli