Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-09-30


and duties of the welded life. If the
fair Of the present day would improve
their minds as much as they endeavor
to improve their personal beauty, we
too might boast of a Madame DeStael,
the brightest star in the galaxy of fe-
male literature. A LADY.
owe LIVE TO ."-Itis oflit-
tie consequence what people learn, un-
less they learn discretion. Here is a
world which has been running on al
most six thousand years. Generation
succeeding generation, and each pro-
Tossing to be wiser than that which
preceded it-and yet after all, how
small is the progress Of the human
mind in the essential principles oftrue
wisdom. Age after age has recorded
the history Of its follies for the study
of posterity, but the lessons have been
successfully read and uniformly forgot
ten. How few read The history of the
past with a view to profit by the ex-
amples it contains of human weakness
and human crime. The story of mis-
fortunes awakens temporary interest
but how few search carefully into
their causes with a view to avoid them.
The narrative of suferings produces
momentary effect upon the heart, but
who of us trace up the links of the
cham which connects them with their
parent follies, and profits by the study.
Whoever has read the works and
history of Xenophen, has admired
more the discretion with which his
genious and fancy invested the Great
Cyrus, than the wisdom which he dis
played himself. The son of Philip Of
Macedon, though trained in the school
of the ablcst politician and soldier Of
the age, was himself little better than
a adventurous mailman. The boasted
wisdom of Athens drivelled down into
efeminacy, and terminated in barbar-
ism. And Rome had scarcely learned
to rule the world before she ceased to
rule herself.
Demosthenes covered himself with
glory in the forum, and with disgrace
in the field. Cicero with his eloquence
turned even Caesar from his purpose,
and fell victim at last, to irresolution
and weakness. Sallust delighted the
world with his splendid encomiums
upon virtue, and wrote them in the Sal
lustian palace which he had built and
decorated with the fruits of his own ra-
pine and injustice. And the lives of
the Roman Emperors downward from
the Augustan age, afford but one con-
tinued commentary upon the miserable
folly of human greatness.
How little modern ages have profit
ed by past lessons, might easily be
shown. How little men earnfrom the
experience of others, is seen every day
"With all thy gettings, get understand.
ing" is the wisest ofprecepts, and the
least needed by mankind.
Now all this is not the RESULT of ma.
tural imbecility; on-most men reason
well. The difficulty is, that it is moi
permitted to rule-it is but one branch
Of the government. The passions d.
vide the empire with reason---and mar
is governed by which every power has
the ascendancy for the time.
1t is amusing and instructive, some
times, to listen to, the colleagues be-
tween the rival parties.
Isee now youth sitting under yor
tree-his brow upon his hand. Hei
bordering the path Of his future life
Reason is pointing him to the long
pleasant, and quiet valley Of unambi
tious life-recommends industry, tru
gality and temperance; urges that il
that path there are comparatively but
few trials and temptations-that it j
free from the disquietude and the mis-
chances attendant upon every othe
course-that he may spend his days il
peace and contentment, if he will bu
listen to her counsels-enjoying all the
real sweets of life, he will experience
but few Of it's vicissitudes. He listens
and his judgement is convinced.
But then ambition raises her voic,
and she is an eloquent declaimer
She points him to the path of enter
prise, and talks Of wealth, and glory
and renown-tells him of the pleasures
of the world-interests him with iso
lated examples of success, until he feel.
himself ashamed of his humble coun
sellor, and gives himself to ambition.
i It is not that reason is absent, bu
that the passions of his heart are NOR,
4 nnwerful.