The North-Carolina standard., 1841-08-18
AN ADDRESS

AN ADDRESS
delivered before the TWO Literary Societies OF
VAR Forest College, by JAMES b. SHEP-
ARD, ESQ., June II, 194l.
[Continuedl
prt nerhaps the most faulty part of education
=, Drosent. is in the branch Of composition.
ur6x ~ barangue with no merit except It's length
iPaooives annIause, and the writer is led to fancy
,b,t his production is really something uncom'
mon In our country, public speakers are very
numerous as every day brings forth new one
Each subject calls up all the learning and rhet-
orc at command, and matters by no means con-
uoc,ed are huddled together A man OF ordln-
arr, industry shuns the announcement OF speech
and seldom attempts its perusal, presuming tha'
i is but history ofthe individual author IN par
ucular, and of his race in general Inc Orator'
indeed, after going through what ne mas seen
heard or thought, and after ha7lng treated oe
omnibus rebus ct quibuscam alns. usually closes
with The regret that he has not leisure to exam
;na the subject in all its bearings. This is
nroduious evil, and instructors should devote
much time to remove it. 1t is a moral lmpossI-
biliv that this country can possess three hund-
red Cceros; many must in the nature OF things
he mere pretenders Most public men therefore
can onlv repeat the ideas OF others, and :hus by
gathering together in their speeches the views
of different men, often cut very queer hgnre
II each one thought for himself and delivered
onv what he thought, it would greatly advance
Improvement. This morbid desire for notoriety
produces imitation, whereby many ape the &C.
centricities ola Swift, who possess not his merit
Imitation being part Of our nature, those who
have risen to distinction should be clrcumSpect
lest others find an excuse for their misconduct un-
der the plea that it has been sanctioned by wise
and prudent men, A good man must ever regret
that his action was so ambiguous or his oplnl'
ons so equvocal as to breed error and promote
vice On the contrary, he should omit no effor.
which may tend to inspire confidence in those
things essential to true happiness He should
remember that admirers who are unable TO imi-
tate the beauties cau copy the faults Of his charac
ter and that vanity will induce such, to make as
near an approach as possible to that perfection
which thev hope TO rival. Many weak young
persons delight in attaching themselves to one
they consider great man. Like barnacles to
the war-ship, they cling to him through good
and evil report and thus obtain some little no.
lice which is the only way they have to avoid
an obscurity to which Nature and their stars
devoted them. A man oil sense will scorn imita-
lion in any and every thing, though very few
years will satisfy you OF the obstacles you must
must submit if you aTe desrous to establish a
name among men, and take no one for your
model The very attempt summons up a host
Of enemies of every age, degree and condition.
Those who are honest with open front and In
genuous brow, meet you at once; while malice
hesitates not to fabricate the grossest tales to
YOUR injury. The multitude which your pre-
tensions will array in opposition it is not easy to
conceive Having never In jured your assailant
in word or deed, he yet exhibits a malignty
with no apparent reason; without personal in
lerest in the matter he maintains every inch of
ground to PROSTATE your hopes even to elevate
another whom he sincerel hates, but whose
pretensions will not tread upon his own 1t
will be source Of comfort to you, however. to
reflect that no man ever was anxious to sup
press the claims of young aspirant, that did
not fear his elevation would eclipse the mlder
beams Of his own Pickering light 1t would
much diminish the peris OF the conflict If the
warfare could be of an equal nature. You ight
then perceive whom you had to oppose, while
cowardice would deter many from entering the
lss Under the present regime however, every
stupid Ounce or political hack aiming at the mo,
4ey Of the people, NAV secretly undermine you.
VINO then can Withstand the hatred of admitted
'Oes the jealousy of excited apprehension and the
Iervlle pursuits of the peoples money? After
i.S nS honestly tried to serve your country the
saun!S and reproaehes of intriguing men will
.eacA your domestic privacy, the rancor of ene-
nles and the grati6ed vengeance of political as
SasSlns will penetrate your retirement. and abuse
IInLneflted Iuted will proceed from those whose
UOunaen duty it was to sustain and encourage,
W u;H Eneer and reward To silence you forever they
~iII r.iII not scruple much about the means. They
%lll mistake defamation for argument, relate in
toisStent Stories insinuate improbable sugges-
ruIs nuns string together contradictory charges, and
make reckless assertion. Now though separate &
sOuYe sOu these petty insects of an hour, to whom
ro.e fortunate circumstances either as it regards
iIrS.Gence IoaG or otherwise have given neighbor-
nUol nUuI influence, should be despised, yet you
NMlsn' II possible to treat them with clvility-
bo,n brret cease TO bea gentleman because they were
vo". O,m Olherwlse-never forget the manners of
6ah; 1IJi station because their breeding has been
ruO,an. emO,: Though single they might excite no
nuon ono.I but that OF contempt, yet, when banded
oS@aer NS'] they become formidable, just as the
F'"! 'net who rObs ben-roost is Insignificant