Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-22

it all the beauties Of the original. II
your circumstances IN life enable you to
enjoy the advantages Of a college educa-
ton, do not neglect tbem-above ell, do
not misimprove them. But if your lot be
different, waste not time in idle repining,
in humilating beggary. The stern, self
respecting Independence Of your soul is
worth whole shelves Of classics. All
men cannot and need not be college
bred-not even those who are born to in
struct and improve their kind. You can
never be justly deemed ignorant, or your
requirements contemplate, if You en-
brace and fully improve the opportuni-
ties which are fairly offered you.
IL. Avoid likewise the kindred and e.
qualify peruicious error that you must
have proiesslon-must be Clergyman,
Lawyer, Doctor, or something of the
sort--in order 10 be influential, useful, re.
spected--or, state the case in its best as
pect, that you may lead an intellectual
life. Nothing Of the kind is necessary
very far from it. If your tendencies are
intelectuai---if you love knowledge,
Wisdom, Virtue for themselves--you will
grow in them, whether you earn your
bread by profession, trade or by til
ling the ground. Nay, it may be doubt
ed that the Farmer or Mechanic who de-
votes bis intellectual pursuits from pure
love Of them has not some advantages,
therein over a professional man. He
comes to his book at evening with his
head clear an6 his mental appetite shar-
pened by the manual labors taxing light
ly the spirit or brain while the lawyer
who has been running over dry old books
for precedents, the doctor, who has been
raking his wits for remedy adapted to
some new modification OF disease, or the
divine who immured in his closet, has been
busy preparing his next sermon, may
well approach the evening volume with
senses jaded and paled. There are few
men, and perhaps fewer women, who do
not spend uselessly in sleep or play, or
frivolous employments, more time than
would be required to renderlh at thirty
well versed in History, Philosophy, Eth
les, as well as Physical Sciences, &c.
Ill. Neither is any advantageous loca.
tion essential 10 the prosecution of emo
bling studies, or 10 an intellectual life /; on
this point misapprehensi OH is very preva-
lent and very pernicious. A youth born
in some rural or but some thinly settled
districts, where books are few and unfit
aud the means Of intellectual culture ap.
parently scanty, feels within him the STIR
rings of a spirit of enquiry, craving TO
acquire and to know, aspirations for an
intellectual condition above the dead
level around him. At once he jumps to
the conclusion that change Of place is
necessary to the satisfaction of his de-
slres--tbat he must resort to the universe.
ty or seminary, at least the City or the
Village. He Iancies he must alter his
whole mannersof life-that persistence
in manual labor is unsulted to, if not alb.
soiutely Inconsistent with aspirations a.
wakened within him-that he must be-
come, if not an author, professor, law
yer, at least a merchant or follower Of
some calling unlike that Of his fathers.
Wrapped in this delusion, he betakes
himself TO the City's dusty ways, where
sooner or later the nature and extent of
his mistake breaks upon him. If he finds
satisfactory employment and is prospered
in the way of life which he prefers, the
cares and demands of business almost
constrain him to yelinquish those pursuits
tor which he abandoned his more quiet
and natural life. If he is less fortunate,
anxietes for the morrow, a constant and
difficult struggle for the means of credita-
Bile subsistence, and to avoid becoming a
burthen or detrlment to others who have
trusted or endeavored to sustain him,
crowd out of being the thought or the
hope of mental culture and advancement.
In tumultuous strife Of business and
money getting, whether successful or
otherwise, the very desire Of intellectual
elevation is too often stfed or greatly
enfeebled, and that death of the soul en-
sues ip which satisfaction Of the physical
appetite becomes the aim of life-the
man is sunk in the capitalist or trader,
and the gathering of shining dust made
the great end of his being.
But what shall the youth do who finds
his means of intellectual culture made.
quate to his wants hesitate not TO
say that he should CREATE more aud bet
ter Just where be is. Not that would
have him reject any real opportunity or
prefer of any increased facilities which
NAV open before him. will not say thai
he should not accept university educa.
ton, the means Of studying for profes.
sion, if such should come fairly in his
way, and seconded by his own inclina-
ton. But do insist that nothing of this
sort is essential to the great end he has or
should have in view-nom nelly, SelfCu
ture to this end it is only needfu that
he should put forth all The power within
him and rightly mould the circumstances
by which he is surrounded. Are the
books within reach few and faulty le,
him purchase few of the best and study
them intently and thoroughly. He who
is truly acquainted with the writings Of a
very few of the worlds master spirits
can never after be deemed ignorant or un.
developed. To know intimately the
Bible and Shakespeare, and the elements of
History and the physical sciences, is to
have imbibed the substance Of all human
l..,.loI,a That kpntutad,ra y,nay No