Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-12
EDUCATIoN-lN HOWARD d BOONE.


We have received two communcations-on
in reference TO the Bonnie Femme Academy, in
Boone county, and the other as will be seen
below, in commentator of the Seminary al
Monticello. We concur with our correspond
snt from Boone in deprecatug "the liuleness Of
soul which is too often shown by the mass oil
our race, when another person, or another insti.
tuition, with the promotion Of which they have
no immediate connexion towers above them"
II, as charged by our correspondent "this general
law Of our nature is beginning TO be exemplfed
in reference to the Academy at Bonnie Femme,
we beg leave 10 commend 10 the worthy and &C.
complished gentlemen whom we learn are con.
nected with the institution another axiom, the
truth Of which we have just realized in politics,
and which is as reliable in morals as in any thing
else. "Truth is omnipotent, and public justice
certain" Having no jealousies 10 stihe or re.
press in reference to the institutions Of other
neighborhoods, or other counties, we are graft
fed TO learn that the Academy at Bonnie Femme,
under Messrs. Roche and Cunningham, bids fair
to be permanently and amply patronized-and
we in no respect doubt that its police and system
Of instruction will continue to be such as 10 jus.
,ify continuance Of the high commentator
with which it has hitherto been associated.
The remarks OF our correspondent concerning
the Seminary at Monticello will repay perusal
in proportion as they elicit the qualification Of
the enlightened and liberal, We hope to hear
from him again--and often
FOR THE TIMES.
Reflections on Intellectual cultivation and the
State of Literature in Ho,card county.
1t has long since passed into adage, "that
knowledge is power" and every days experience
confirms the truth of this proposition. The time
has passed when mere brute force can accomplish
any vast achievements, in opposition to the will and
dearest rights Of mankind Among untutored saw
ages, where the very term intellect is unknown,
those only regarded as worthy of pre-eminence,
whose muscular power is greatest, and whose fero-
city and intrepdity, have more nearly allied them
to ravenous beasts, than to the human race. But
wherever civilization has dawned upon the world
and dissipatcd the clouds of moral and intellectual
night, mind has been permitted to assert its pre-
emnence, and to assume that rank in the estima-
ton of mankind, which seems to have been de-
signed in its original structure The vast accession
made TO the happiness and comfort of civilized
life, compared with savage rudeness and unletered
wildness, abundunty show that man has only made
some advancement towards the ultimate end of
his existence. when mind is exalted to it's proper
dignity and when that attention. is paid to its cult
walton, which its Importance demands That this
may be set in as clear light possible, let US for
a moment contrast the condition Of those whose
minds are amply stored with knowledge, with un-
lettered, and uninnitiated vulgar. Compare the
state of the arts of life and intellectual improve
nent, in Europe, and in many parts Of America,
. with the deep degradation and ignorance Of
the rude hordes Of Asia or of Africa, and
any one will OF once see how essential to happi-
ness is intellectual culture, and Low igno-
rance, vice, and wretchednoss 60 hand in hand to-
gether Wherever proper attention is bestowed
upon the mind, we behold that people duly appre.
ciating those virtues that adorn and honor him and
nature, and reuder mankind happy in their inter-
course with one another. Men must be uncomfor-
table and unhappy, who are deprived Of tho conve-
niences and necessaries of life. And whence have
these emanated, but from the energies Of well d.
fected intellectual efforts! Whence but from the
creation of Power Wisdom and knowledge!
Who were the projectors of oil the improve
ments made in navigation, in architecture and com
merce, as well as in agriculture and manufactures!
Who but the men whose days and nights have
been given to study! Mental cultivation is of higl
importance to mankind as we have shown, from
the very additions it gives to the means of ra,ona
enjoyment, to say nothing of those refined pleas
ures which it ever confers upon it's fortunate re-
cip;ents.
There are some, however, who decry learning
and who pretend to believe that it is only essential
to those who intend to pursue the learned profess
sions, and that the farmer and mechanic should
content themselves to plod in the steps of their
cestors, without making any attempt TO improve
their minds and taste The refined enjoymcnts Of
literature. But surely such persons have yet to
learn what distinguishes between RATIONAL bengs0 and
brutes that perish II our chief pleasure consisted
in sensuality and besa qualification, such senti-
ments might be INDUCED. But if the mind is the
seat Of all our happiness or wo, it certainly be-
comes the duty of every one TO make suitable exer.
tons to put it in condition to enjoy the real CON-
forts and blessings Of life. This can only be done
by training 1t in the paths of science and storing
il with that kind of knowledge, on which alone
II can feed with pleasure in every condition of life
am led to make these hasty remarks, in refer
ence 10 this highly important subject, from having
witnessed for several years the praise worthy eff
forts made in many parts of our State TO improve