The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-10-10
EoR TIE CALEDoNIAN.
DIR C0I1NTRY.--NO. V.

too well known, though little realized Ahus''i,
mate condemnation is by no means 10 DC Ieoo'"
mended. Thinking minds revolt not ITO" Juuio'o"S
entertainment on matter in itself OF silght i"Poi
lance; but such entertainments offered oher hnuS'
oro "a, from beueiciaI This age is often pronounce
cd an age of authors. 1t IS true, II every soiio
can be called such And it can boast multiplicity
resembling in important respect IMAM th"' VI
numbers, the inhabitants of plash. A portion OF
these, writing for livelihood, necessarily mako
dispatch prime consideration, and throw out upon
the public hasty and crude productions,-read by
The pay the dissolute and unthinking; by children
whose judgments are weak either to approve or
condemn and whose tastes are rude as nature her.
self has left them. Others by attempting to initiate
present only the faults of superior authors mus
nlas and romances up in rapid succession 10 IN
snlt the name of literature and die. Beneath the
burden of such ephemeral gbberish the press con-
tnually groans. By such eihuvia OF shat'ereu
brains of hlroIing authorship, and mimic greatness
the promising Development OF youlIiul sinlho 10
foresalIed, or ll-directed 1t becomes the slck'y
slave of unreal life; the youry Of intellectual as
sipation; the creature of passion such producuons
can at BEST be called only the shadow OF literature
Their influence on religion and virtue is scarce less
destructive. With few exceptions, the novels and
romances of the day encomiums on bloody OAR
ing and e ndish revenge: portratures, not OF III gu
minded and honorable, virtuous sentiment; nuI
mere worldly greatness, or selfish passion ne
minds of the young must be shielded from such III"
Auonce, not merely in the walls OF the schooi-roon'
but the nursery Not in the halls ofcollege, but by
the fire side of home.
Much is said about want of system in school in
structon. But let the public mind be informed; lie.
parents become so far interested in the Improve
ment of their children, as to value reasonable
sacrifice they can make for them either of, time,
money or attentions let them offer such compensa-
lion for teaching will the best instructors;
let them become themselves more intelligent, and
watch over the incipient developement of their
childrens' mental and moral powers; let them en-
courage by constant and yet conhdlng manifesto
ton eff interest, those whom they employ as teach
crs, and this want will be i'll good measure sup
piled. System is desirable, and many worthy
teacher feels it to be But there must be pre-
partition for system Pupils must be submitted to
the guidance and supervision of the teacher. He
must have claim upon their time, and keep them
in which in his judgment they should pur-
sue. This is unreasonable. II is in strict ac-
cordance with the interest which parents and guar
dams should ever feel and express, for those who
demand their highest When teacher does
not merit that confidence, he ior'es the rights of
MS profession; ana lnat community Wnlcn VIII not
grant necessary claim, to an instructor whose
merits they acknowledge, would receive but worthy
remuneration by the loss of their schools.
The influence of useful knowledge needs not to
be mentioned. 1t is in the order and proprie-
ty of those communities which enjoy il; in the love
for wholesome laws and good institutions in the
watchful regard for government and rational exem-
plication of character; preventing wauton and in
discriminate censure of rulers and yet maintaining
preserving scrutiny into their measures. 1t is
safeguard to republicansm and national union. 1t
teaches the value of liberty;-to think and act with
noble independence-to regard the interests ofuni
yersa man, and to extend to him sympathes
and bone factions
it affords personal happiness. The field of know-
edge is spread out before us,-an unbounded Eden,
where flowers of every hue and fruits of every tuste
bloom and ripon in successive and endless album
dance. Where every capacity be mot and eve
~ want satisfied. Wherever the eye roams beau
ties unfading and immortal challenge it. In this
cxpanso the active intellect finds constant and in
crossing delight, feasting without restraint, for fam
ing sword and seraphim forbid not the cxhaustess
banquet
The study of nature is sublime and ovor.varv-
ing of pleasure. The mind wanders over
the earth, and sports with its Leauful but passing
forms; enters its awful recess, unfold its phos-
ophy and reveal its all pervading princi ples--eaps
from star to star, and from system to SYSTEM in the
boundless fields where they curoering, admiring
their glory, their harmony, their instructive life
And when it has surveyed the material universe it
turns in upon itself, to contemplate the wonders Of
its matchess being:-studies the latent prin-
cipes of that indefnable agent which regulates the
thoughts and motions, and prompts the actions of
man. 1t summons back the past, and fills futurity
with the majesty of its creations. 1t calls in
to being the fairest forms of fancy, and then blows
them by, for the infinite and overwhelming reality
of the Eternal and liberated! Such exercises can
not fail to render virtuous mind happy.
But the highest and most delightful sphere of
knowledge is Revelation. There every thing pre-
sented to view is calculated to awaken the most