Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-23

woodsman, have been demonstrated to be
but learned fools. Such idle dolls deserve
the sting Of scorpions, but their own MORT.
fcaton is keener than the lash of the ex.
terminating angel.
This is no fancy sketch, for we have seen
its prototype IN real life a hundred times.
Nor is it to be much wondered at; but 10 1t not
passing strange, that so many Of our modern
Improvements are based upon similar errori
No man has ever arisen to eminence who was
not remarkable for hi, powers Of thought and
assiduous application. With these, numbers
have reached the highest pinnacle Of fame,
without classical advantages. AZ examples
take Franklin and Goblet; the one an Anne ri.
can philosopher, the other British states
man; one was the glory Of q former age, the
other the admiration Of the present. What
was the secret Of their eRinencef We all
know the history Of Franklin. Goblet cult.
| waited his mind and stored il with knowledge
| under the most disadyantageous circumstances.
He had TO struggle with poverty, and study in
he midst Of oil the disorders Of q camp. But
| he succeeded. as we all know, and his name is
| but another word for expanded and exalted in,
| tellect. Here was dicipline, here was the hab,
| 1t Of self control, OF patient, close and vIgo-
rous thought. And here, | would say 10 the
young ladies' Of this school; if your teachers
can during several sessions, only secure to you
| the habit Of thought, and teach you how to
use it, your time will have been most profia-
| bly, spent. Many persons suppose residing
substitute for thinking. This is a great mis-.
take, and has been the curse Of thousands.
The present age is, empha,icslly, a reading one.
We read from infancy 10 old age. So soon as
the infant opens his eyes upon the world, he is
tied to a bench, with a book in his hands
And man is considered an ignoramus, who
has not read a thousand volumes. Parents
sometimes, congratulate themselves, on the
genius of their children, because they are fond
Of reading. They seem to think tho mind q
repository and the way TO make great man is
to fill it up with books, and then to put it in
some important station, to give occasion to its
operations; as though the mind were q tea
kettle and you could fill it up, and set it over
the fire and produce the ebultions Of intellect.
To such parents, | would say, beware lest your
children prove TO be intellectual epicures,
dreaming fools. This caution is especially
necessary at the present day because much Of
the reading matter is not only worthless, but
absolutely deleterious TO mind and morality
In word, tell you, it is from close, patient
thought, and a habit of untiring investigation,
more than Fl ON any other advantages, you are
10 expec, 10 attain TO eminence In the walks OF
literature. What is the secret Of all success:
in the learned professional Thought, close
thought. Do we not see many young persons
who are proverbialy devoted to books, and
yet, who are never distinguished for any high
er attainment, than making bow or courtesy
or holding tete d.tete on some common pac,
| L., L.
lawyer, doctor, divine? He who is devoted
TO patient observation and reflection. Show
me the Philosopher, who spent more of bis
time with books than with nature. Was il
Bacon, who poured such a flood Of light on
Philosophy Was it Newton, who unrsyelleC
The laws Of the universei Was i, Locke, who
applied the laws of inductive Philosophy 10
mind! Or Bichat, who applied the same prin>
clpie 10 the Physiological sciencesl No, no
Ye gormandizers Of books, tell me what vol
umes did Homer have, The universe was biz
alma mater. The scenery Of nature spread
around. supplied hun with ideas, and like ,h'
ol in the widows cruise, il has never been ex
hausted by his using The naked rocks of The
Eyean sea fired his mind. And he has left
monument of his genus, that no one has ever
yet been able to rival. What gave TO Shakes
peare his power' Surely, he knew iule o
books. He read nothing bat human nature
Hence he drew all the fire, the beauty, the
sublimity of his song-hence that irresistible
charm spread over all his pages. Would they
we're sanctlfied! Having dweIt so long on thl:
habit, YOU may wish TO know how it can bt
acquired After an attentive and thorough
course of elementary instruction, the study o
the higher departments Of English Literature
with the Latin and Greek Languages, will de-
much towards establishing the habit Of deeE
and close thought. Indeed. except so far a
thew discipline the mind, and induce reflection
and untiring application, can see no grea
utility in spending several years 10 acquire
knowledge Of Languages, long since dead
The same may be said Of several branches o
the higher mathematics. But for the purpos
Of strengthening the mind, and preparing u
to be learned and intellectual, know of n
substitute for them. But, 10 such as may no
extend their education so far, would say Iha
all the sciences, and indeed every part Q
learning, when properly pursued, will tend t
strengh hen and. invlgorate this faculty. An
so on the contrary, i! you are careless in YOU
studies If YOU depend too much On the aSsls
lance OF others, and are satisfied TO pass owe
YOUR lessons without a thorough knowledge {
them, you are only weakening the powers {
your mind, embedding your habits Of invest
, cation, and preparing for life Of comparatv
ignorance and mental imbecilty. do sincere
ly trust, as this is an age of improvement
that every teacher will be more attentive
nurng his pupils TO think closely, and stud
profoundly, what they undertake, than 10 III
fashionable custom Of hurrying them throug
! half dozen different sciences, while none al
understood In closing nv remarks on IN