Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-09
ORIGINAL.
STATURE.
"Tho' l IN stature reach the pole,
Orgras the ocean with my span,
Still i am measured by my soul.

rgras, the ocean with my span,
Still am measured by my soul,
For 'tsthe mind that makes the man."
Such was the reply Of the celebrated DR.. Watts,
to some buttons who took occasion to rdicule him
OH account If his dimnutive stature. By it he
showed the superiority of his mind, or in other
words, his just claim to the name of man. The
mind is thatwhich exalts man above the brute, all
that distinguishes him from mere animal matter;
consequentythe standard by which to determine
the true statue ofthe man. Blu, ifmen were mea-
sured by thisstandard, how many would fall short!
How many would appear infinitely below the size
or magnitud. for which heaven evidently designed
them! How many would be seen creeping like
pigmys Of, the arth! Tha. every man can DO tall,
in the sense which we use the word, we do not
pretend 10 say;-that most men might arrive at a
stature greater than they do attain, few will deny.
1t has been said, with equal truth, by another pos
ct, that tits education forms the mind; therefore
upon ones education depends his stature. How
important then, is i: that the education be good
one, such an one isworthy the noble powers with
which the human being is endowed by his creator.
Parents and those TO whom the charge and educa-
ton of the generation about to succeed the present
ON the stage of active lfe is entrusted. should re-
fleet, that on their action depends the characters of
those in their hands. If the minds of youth are
stored with knowledge, if taste for the more cie-
waited Equipments OF the Intellect is Degotten and
dstase and utter detestation for the baser, more
degrading and vulgar pleasures of the appetite,
then will the rising hope of age be SAFE But il
education is neglected, ifignorance is suffered to
take posson OF the mind, them farwell TO liberty!
We need not say that the ignorant liable to
become slaves, that they are exposed to oppression
and imposturc, and may be led captves by any
one who innagines they will subserve his purpose.
They are the slaves of vice. Ofwhom are tho nobs
and riotous assembages that often inest our ci-
ties and towns composed! Chiefly of the unletter-
ed, the small men, or men Of rninstructed minds.
Who frequen, those haunts Of misery and degrada-
ton, known by the digniied appellation of Grocc-
ries and Grog Shops, where is imbibed the seed
from which spring poverty and crime, and ultimate
death! They who have nothing within themselves
which can render solitude and meditation a luxury
they who aie as much the slaves OF appetite as
the beast of tho field. This insigniicancy of sta
ture we say is the consequences of defective edu-
cation. Although much is said of the intelligence
Of our peope--of the high state of our schools, of
our free government, there yet remains much to De
done before we can reasonably boast of our intell-
gencc and freedom. When we lay aside the ,ral IN
nels of ignorance--when we cease to be the slaves
of sensual appetite and Of vice-when our minds
are unbiased by the prejudice OF party, and nie
solely governed by reason and the dictates OF en-
ghtened consci ence--then, and then only, can we
be said to have assumed the true and proper stature
of the MAN. r.