Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-02-14
ar = u u e Z. ~ ~ y
SELF CULTURE

We subon an extract from Rev DR. Chan
mugs admirable icc,ure upon tn, sui Get, re-
Gently delivered IN Boston.
Bot II - said that any considerable ed.
ucaiion lifts men above their work. makes
ihem look with disgust on their trades as
/ mean and low, and makes drudcery in
toleraOIe. j reply that man becomes
interested IN labor. just in proportion as
the mind works with the hands Amen
ishtened idrGer, who understands agli.
cultural chemistry. the la~s of vegetation,
the structure Of plants, the properties Of
manure. the influences Of climate. who
looks intelligenily on his ok. and brings
his knowledge 10 bear on eNigencies. Is a
much more cheerful as we'll as more Dig
nihed laborer than tie peasant. whose
mind Is akin To- the clod on which lie
treads, and whose life Is the same duh
unthink'ng, 1nimprovIng tU,l. But hi,
Is not all. Why is 1t, ask, that We call
manual labor low. that We associate with
IT The idea vi meenness. and think tina, an
intelligent person must scorn IL; The
reason Is. that. IN most counlIirs, 40 few
intelligent people have been engaged IN
IT. Once let cultivated men plough and
Gig aud follow the commonrst labors. aud
! pIoughlng. digging and trades will cease
10 be mean. IL Is the man who deter
mines the dignity of the occupation, not
the occupation. which measures the dig.
nity Of the man.
Physicians ana surgeons perform ore.
IatIons less cl-anly than TALL 10 the lot of
most mechanics. have seen "A dIsiin-
g0ished chemist covered with dust like
ldborer. Still these men are not degraded.
Their intelligence gave dignity 10 their
work. ana 80 our laborers. once educated
will give digni-. 10 their toils Let me
add that see little difference IA point u
dignity. between the various VoCaiions If
m"n. " hen ] see clerk spending has
days 40 adding Ggures perhaps merely
copying, or a teller OF bank oountinp
money, or a merchant selling shoes aud
hides, ] cannot see ia these OCCUPATIONS
greater resPeciobleness than IN making
leather. shoes. or furniture. do rotsee
IN them greater intellectual activity than
an several trades. \ mao ~ the field
seems 10 have more chances OF impfo,e.
mcnt ~ las work than a man behind The
counter or man diving the gull. IL -
the sign Of narrow mud "a imagine. -
many seem 10 do, that there IS arepug-
nance between the PLAIN. coarse exterior
ct a laborer aud mental culture especially
tie more refining culture. The laborer
under bs dust and sweat. carries the
grand elements Of humanity. and be may
pot forth ia highes. po~ers. doebt BOT
there - az genuine enthusiasm 10 The
contemplation oi nature and ~ the pcIG.
sal OF works 81 genius. under homespun
gsrb as under hnefy. We have heard If
Distinguished author Who never vrole
so well a. when be W4s toll die..ed Gf
company. Bui profound thought and 90.
r,ical inspiration have tnost generally -.
/ sited men when from narrow Cifcumstao-
ces or Negligent habits the rent coat o.
shaggy face have made them qui.e unfit
ipf polished saloons A man nav zee
roth ADD may be thrilled ~iih beauty.
In one c0-iume OF dHcii,ng a. acil as
another. sud he should respect h,nself
The more iof the hardshtps under winch
his Intellectual fofce had been developed
Bot u will be- asked. how can the o..
bounne clas,es find time for self culture f,
answer have already iniisna'sd that
40 eafne.t purpose Gnds time or makes
ine. SEXES On spsfe moments, snd
turns larger fragments Of leisure io golden
scc0unt \ an who follows ns csihbg
18th Industry and sTln' and uses b.
canning economically. Will slvsys have
some portion Il The day 81 command ane
q - astonishing hoW lruffui 81 improve.
ineni a short reason becomes when eager,
" seized snd fslthfully used. II hss ~.
ten been observed ihsi they. vh0 have
most lime 81 their Disposal profit ~ u
least. A single hour 10 the day. steadily
gwen e. the study ~ ~ ioieresiinr sub.
jsct. brings unexpected accumulation 81
kboWlsdge. The improvement made BY
veil disposed pupils. 70 many Of our coos.
W school, which are opsO bot three
months "a the year. snd ~ our sunday
schools. which are kept but one o. iso
hours 10 the week. shoss y bat csn BE-
bfoogbt 70 psss ~ slender means The
affections. u - cad. sometnss crowd
years into momsnls asd The inisllsei las