Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1833-1844, 1839-09-07

which is meant unculdvated genius. Some
would have us suppose that genius was an in
habilant Of some other orb, that descends r0-
bed in uneaTthly beauty-lhat il requires no
aid from education, 4, scarce q sphere IN which
70 act, but, like comet, 4 would unexpec.
teddy force itself into notice, shining, dazzling,
and astonishing all. This we conceive to be-
mistake. A person may possess all the es
sential qualifications Of genius and yet be un-
able 10 make any use Of his intellectual are
NOR child may possess a sword, but il ,e-
quiies the nerve Of man, added 10 long prac-
lice, before il can be welded with skill. Here
we shall be met with a long catalogue Of
those who have risen from obscuFity, among
which will be found the names Of Shakespeare,
a johnson, Sherman, and Franklin, min
gled with the names Of a host Of other wOr-
thies.
lfeducation consisted in porting over books
for thee, six, or dozen years, in some char
tered institution, we might say that good
share ofthe great men Of past ages were un.
educated men, But this is not the case, il ls
acquired by that intense continued applica-
ton which makes the knowledge sought per-
sonal property. Il consists, in part, Of actual
information obtained, but more il that discip-
line of the mind which enables it to grapple
with any subject. If a mind be thus discip.
lined, every faculty may be brought into re-
QUESTION, every energy may be made to bear
upon one point, the immediate effects Of which
will be clearnesS Of conception, beauty Of ar.
rangement, and failhfulness of delineatiOn.- -
Both these kinds of education may be acquiS
red without teachers; neither without intense
application. Both may be acquired at an adj
vanced period in life ;-and, we think the as
serton founded on facts, that none Of those
who have been ranked by their successors as
truly great, were destitute Of either kind Of
education.
Was Shakespeare an unculdvated genius
From any of his works, we would be led to
suppose that he was perfect book-worm.---
Here is an illustration drawn from real life,
and, side by side, is a gem sparkling aud Drills
Iliant, drawn from the sciences, and another
from the relics Of antiquity. Here he is The
practical philosopher, there the schoolmaster;
in every department he is at home in every
one the same-unrivalled and unapproacha-
bic. Is an ancient subject introduced ?-he
shows more minute knowledge Of the his
tory OF the times than its professed historian
| is ii a subject of fancy Tit teens with q
profusion OF beauties from his own magma
ton, it calls upon the heart with ''breath OIL
music" and pleads lis cause with tue en.ccT ay
Of s'soul of fire" II ShsssLspearc came intt
the verdi endowed with that magic fire thai
tinges every thing with which it comes in con
tacl with its own heavenly hue, it woulC
have given a faint, Pickering and uncertail
light, had it not been cherished by all thu
aids that science and research GOULD afford
Was franklin an uneducated man? h
ives a PRINrER's boy; he was not favored By
having his energies lulled into inactivity il
the lap Of afflnence. lie knew that he MAJ
to depend upon himself, and being endowed
with that application and perseverance tina
makes every thing easy, the difficulties o
science vanished before the youthful Nspirani
rapidly and constantly. Byimproving every
leisure moment, he was possessed, before h
became man, of a thorough education, no
snowy. but useful. Gibbon has said that ev
ely great man passes through two courses o
education, the first from his teachers, the Sc
cond, and more important from himself. |
DR.. Franklin was deficient in the first, tn
deficiency was more than supplied by the Sc
cond. Look at his plan for improvement II
composition? He says, ia one of his letters
that when be was quite young, he bought al
old volume Of the Spectator, and as he wa
pleased with the style, he wished to imitat
Il that he might do this, he selected some
the essays and diew off concise summaries
:. them; having laid them aside for few days
he attempted to restore them to their orIglna
forms, afterwards the faults were evident 3.
comparing his with the original essay. "B.
; continuing in this course" he says, q acqui
red the small skill that may possess as
writer;"--and this was his course in ever.
department. Being endowed with a min
that no difficulties could overcome, no hard
. ships tire, and whose chief characteristic wa
, perseverance,, his whole life was course 0
J improvement, ill OF length he was able t
take his seat, not only among those who ia
. red 10 brave the British Lion, and snatch th
, brightest jewel from the crown Of the British
King, but among the worlds sages, whose OBJ
, iect has been TO improve manknd-whos
! glory is not confined TO one nation, but
spread wherever there are minds to think, 0
+ hearts TO feel.
8 But, as this mistake with regard to naturO
, or uncultivated genius, is applied more partic
I ularly to authors, shall conine my remark
TO them. know that the hackneyed expires
D sion of Horace. stDoeta nascitus non III. y IL Il