The North-Carolina standard., 1841-08-18
COMMU TIONS.
Reviea0 Of Mr.. SheparFs address at Wake
Forest COLLere.

IL au dltSuIlVc duu CdCcluI peIuSoA' 6AS
tion it is perfect; address it is eloquent and
instructing. The writer seems to avoid practice,
quite too common and deeterious in its effects that
of laboring only to make his address very pleasing
to the minds of the audience by profuse attery and
soft adulation. Young men at the moment they
are quitting their alma mater apt to indulge too
fond anlicipations for the future. Accustomed 10
the narrow precincts of College wall, where the
tumults and the ag gtaons of the great world enter
not to ruffle the pure streams of literature and
science, and where they are taught more what the
world should be than what it really is-theirminds
more deeply imbued with the classical lore of other
times, than the practical wisdom and deep secret
policy of this world-they illprepared to enter
Immediately upon the theatre of human contention
where to succeed requires one to be skilled in
the arts that deceive mankind. They naturally
imagine that the clouds of disappointment will re-
cede as they advance, and their excited hopes and
warm imaginations, paint the pathway oflife spread
out before them, adorned with the Laurel and the
Wreath, the sure rewards Of superior learning and
requirements. Hear what the author himself says:
sThe reputation acquired among his fellows pre-
cedes his entr ance upon the stage OF life
Friends receive him with JOY, and strangers are on
tiptoe to witness the demeanor of this young can
didate for renown: invitations rapidly succeed
each other from those who desire an acquaintance:
some wish TO win and others conciliate. One
offers the right hand citizenship from the prospect
of making you steadfast friend to him In his game
| for popularity and power another desires TO re-
ceive your countenance advance his speculations,
and thus selfish interest propes many to press their
civilites upon whom the mantle OF rePuta-
tation and wealth has soon fallen. Having been
for years immured in the precincts OF a college he
! is totally unknowing how to act. He regards the
world as an institution Of which this is miniature
specimen, where nothing is expected but the same
exertons as he has employed heretofore. He de-
mands immediate Difference to his opinions on mat
tiers Of practical importance, because his mathemat
les and latin obtained it for him different thea
tire. Hoping to find obedience he meets with neg
lect, and begins to suppose that people too
stupid to worship at the footstool of pre-eminent
Knowledge."
He who seeks rather TO impart instruction than
to please will endeavor to restrain these delusive
hopes. He will strive TO impart to their minds a
knowledge of the world, to prepare them for the
SORROWS, and disappointments of life instead of ex
citing in their minds, visions of glorious future
cloudless and serene. This Mr.. S. endeavors to do
give his own words.
ssWith young hearts not yet polluted by contact
with this busy worldits disg gusting squabbles,
and selfish designs and degrading pursuits-the fu-
ure presents no view that does not appear dec ked
out in all the flowers of blooming spring, the cus-
tering foliage of summer, the maturity flovey au
tumn. Then we really believe ourselves not only |
able to perform any part any station, but
reap also the harvest of great actions and heroic
deeds. The sordid admission that riches or other |
mere circumstances can nentraliZe the endowments
of mind, the triumphs of genius the labors Of
learning is not tolerated for instant. But the |
dream of ffancied perfection vanshes beneath |
the startling truths which crowd around. Intrigue,
cunning malice, haired persecution, bold artifce
and senseless clamor, convince the late inmate
of those enchanted cells that his Elysium existed
In fancy only-that it has abiding place else
where. A he makes diccov-
cry. Jealousy, fear and folly meet him under every
possible disguise. He perceives the imperious ne
cessy of resisting insolence, of evading the secret
contriVances of enemies of enlightening the igno-
rant, soothing the stubborn and mparting vigor TO
the weak. The youth who has been feasting him
self on the euogies which await his entrance upon
life, and whose confding temper antci pates kind
ness and respect from those TO whose esteem he |
deems himself entitled must be sadly disappointed
to find indifference even from those whom he had
a right TO regard friends, who are deferred from
confessing lest they should be compelled to com.
pensate his real worth.''
The writer goes on to show the Importance of
difusing the benefits of education amongst the great
body of the people. He contrasts with our own
the character of those distant ages of the world,
when the light Of learning cast its rays but faint
and glimmering upon the minds of men. His
illusions to the States of antiquity which have ia
ded and crumbled away and have left no memorial,
Ysl
save the wrecks of Temples and the ruins of mag
nifcent edi6ces, are elegant and eloquent. The
splendid remains of the antq ue and forgotten arts
of Egypt. The Pyramids which proudly rise above
the buried glories of a once powerful empire-the
splendid monuments which have survived the waste
and desoation of Greece and Rome-"conrince u.s.
says he, that dpeople once lUed 1ohich no succeed
ing race has been able to rirak.'' "And why, he
asks, should those nations which were more scien-
t6c and warlike, than any of later date, have fall
'len2 1t was the want of,hat mental and moral
refinement, without which none can preserve what
the unassisted efforts of naked intellect, may pro-
duce. No power can long exist which does not
possess an intelligent yeomanry." Withhold the
benefits of education from the of the people,
and no State can preserve its freedom, no people
maintain inviolate their liberties.
But there is one point upon which beg leave to
differ with Mr.. Shepard. He gives the orators of
the ancient too great superiority over those of the
modern world He says "Modern Kingdoms have