Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-30
1n~ughes q Eaucation.
N 4. r. EATON.

1hsugAts On Educatton.
~ II. r. EATON.
b IsAass hat man who Cannot be overcome by
hsrdAip, ehould Be conquered by pleasure; or tina,
- vho cannot No moved with fear, should bs car
sied away With desire. We should si,la pleasure
sAsa, aod ~ ffon the lave Of money. For nothing
nasiea naerew and deprayed mind 50 clearly as
pamaon kur riches; willis there is no greater proof
q a honorable heart and noble sentiments, thar
xeatemue Of wealth, If you have it not; AID il you
hays Il, 10 spsad hold i for the good OF society
Ths exsrcia Of public authority should not b;
sssGiR ssss ono would better not tsce'se the rein,
sfsoyemnsas, or If put into hish ads, 70 d:spos
sf5Do o soon ~ proper.-Cfo.sRo.
Esarssioa exerts mere happy influence
.esUrsocistB BY serving to reduce wealth. pow
q, md pleasure, 10 their proper value. These
lArss tiiags have always held too high sta.
lioa II the estimation and affections Of man
THY sesm 70 be with many, the sole motives
- eesion, and the sole objects Of existence; 70,
~ aitainnent Of them, all their thoughts and
e1sfgies ore exercised and exhausted. They
SAiak Il they can become rich the great ends Of
1Asis being arc accomplished.
Now, without cultivated mind, and enlar-
I'd and rational views, such will continue to
- Dc empire Of avarice over the soul with all
~ Aeplosable consequences to the world. Men
Will lsbor and struggle for wealth as if itwere
~ source and substance Of immortal happi-
1ses.--Thsy will spend fifty years in hardships
ieaa pIivations TO obtain few thousands or
perhaps million Of money, and when obtain
-, hey frequently see they have rendered
themselves BY tbs very manner OF acquiring,
.sa1t % enjoy it. They often toll for years for
- ssjsct, which, when obtained. they find
not worth the labor Of an hour. We see men
who have beheld all the wonders, tasted all
Ne sweets. felt all the climates, enjoyed all
their hearts desire in the wealth good things
Of this world, and after all, are forced to ac-
knowledge that the meanest peasant has been
happier than themselves. are thousands
Of the wealthiest men, who, through long
life, have been prosperous and healthy, who
in old age, if they would speak their minds,
Would declare If they were ~ pass through the
world again, they would prefer the humble life
Of : chimney sweeper TO the one they have led.
!. Now whence this disappointment in the re-
Il worth Of an object when obtained, TO pur-
chase which, men have spent their liyes!---
Whence this unreasonable estimate Of exter-
nal posssssions! 1t may be traced toignorance.
or mistaken notions in two respects; first, OF
themselves, ald second. Of literature and OBJ
.jsets Of property They had never considered.
rasiooally. before they acquired it, how much
or in what manner it might add to their happi-
ness; oil reason and reflection had been for
golisn in their blind rage for acquisition, and
WAsn 10 their hands they knew not how 10 dis
-3ess Of it, and it was rather a burden than a
1lsasure. They centered their highest hopes
Of enjoyment in this one thing, without lnqni-
ring the grounds Of such confidence and expec-
ssiea, and when this source failed them, as it
sssurally must do, they began to learn by
painful experience in old age what they ought
q have learned from observation, reflection,
and example in youth.
The man who is properly educated, will not
hopsto fulfil the great purpose Of his existence
by such sofdid means; he looks for his high
- pleasures to flow from richer, deeper, and
puTeS sources; but he may consider wealth a
rood instrument with which 10 open those
1oaatains. and with this purpose, labor with
great deal Of zeal to become rich. And il he
succeed Il well, but If he fail It's but LITTLE
wore with him. If he be worth million HI
10 the happier and makes others the happier 70
IL and his happy condition becomes NOR
brightly displayed to public view. But hi
poverty does not bring him misery with it. blu
only o6scufity; and his real epjoyments whe,
pees are not less, but less known and les
no(iesd BY others. Wealth brings to such
man III the additional blessings and comfort
10 expected from il; but poverty renders hin
% less . man, takes away none Of his essen
tal k1Dlirsss. although it may diminis
4lis in6aenee over others. With such me
wsaiih proves blessing both to themselye
~ - society q large.
Eduesiion has similar happy influence j
eensciisr the estimates, generally false an
abeuSd. ihat arc PIT upon the pleasures Of th
~ nossl and intelligent being. They ma
= The senses, but cannot feed and fill III
and those who find their highest pleas
70 them are doing all they can to assiin
- thsmselves to the brutes.
llasy seek their happiness in vice and diss
pelios, who never fairly tried to find il in VII
~ and rational enjoyment. but who. whe
shey had found their acquaintance might ncl
Or wish 10 forsake them. Now. what can Civ
thsm better Introduction 10 these than edu
satieal By which they will find precept. es
4npls. and experience, TO prove the superior
~ q jntsllectual pleasures over those Of tn
Aeness. Gould they once be in1uced to leav
~ l1ost end banqucts Of the beasts, and 81
AsWp those tebles Of the gods, II seems the
WoaM psver wish TO exchange them! How
0neh i would add to the greatness and gIor.
q ~ ooantsy. would the youth Of our cite
- AeWns take ~ much delight in witnessin,
slaes . nAatal skill and power, as those o
As0cslas strength and agility; would those
Whe Aew 1oek % eagerly TO acircus TO see how
eaeeessfsl animsls may be taught to imitat
nsa, md men TO mimic the capers Of wild an
s.l.la ne sta crowd the thaatre 10 see Shak