The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-07-14
From The Southern Literary Messenger.
FORMATION OF CHARACTER.

FORMATION OF CHARACTER.
| "To the acquisition of en-.
tensiye knowledge, ineessanf appIicafion
and industry are necessary. No,hinp
great or good has ever been schieyed
without them. BE willing then TO labor
i-oe not satisfied with superficial attain
ments, but accustom yourselves 10 habi,s
Of accurate and thorough investigation.
Explore the foundations and first princi-
pies Of every science. II is observed by
Locke that there are Fundamental truths
mat lie at the bottom the basis unon
which great many others rest-and in
which they have their consistency: there
are seemlng truths, rich in stores with
which they furnish the mind: and like The
lights Of heaven, are not only beautiful
aud interesting in themselves, but give
light and evidence TO other things, that.
without them, could not be seen or
known" These are The truths with
which we should endeayor 10 enrich our
minds. BE select in your reading-be.
come familiar with the writings of the
great master spirits ofthe world, who will
enrich your minds with the profound. en-
larged and exalted views; and who, while
they form you to habits Of Just and noble
thinking, will also teach you to cherish
pure and generous feelings. If YOU
would make these thorough acquisitions.
you must guard against the immoderate
indulgence Of your passions, and the Sc
auctions Of evil companions. A life of
dissipation and pleasure is death TO supe
nor excellence. A body inyigoraied by
habits OF temperance and self denial, and
mind undisturbed by unholy passions.
serene and cheerful in conscious rectitude
are most powerful auxiliaries in the pur-
suit Of science.
II will be equally important for You to
guard against self sufliciency and vanity.
This temper is an effectual barrier to high
Intellectual Improvements. Frequently
effect upon the small extent and imper-
ectlon Of your attainments-on the vast
egions Of science that are YET unexplored
" you-on the hidden stores of learning
Which are contained in the ten thous and
looks that you have never read or seen, ,
r OF which, perhaps, you have not even /
card. Remember too, the lofty attain. I
tents that have been made by some pro- !
ound scholars both Of ancient and modern I
avs. | would recommend 10 you to s
cad, IN early life, few well-selected bio i
raphles of men who were distinguished
" their general knowledge. Read the G
YES OF Demosthenes, of Erasmus, of \
Iewton. of Locke, Of Hale, of Haller, OF b
oddridge, Of Johnson, and Of such ac- n
and illustrious scholars. OBJ .,
rye the ardent attachment and intense .,
dustry with which they cultivated sci Al
ice, and the astonishing requirements D,
hich they made.--,heir high valuation ir
time and careful improvement Of it, o,
mpare your attainments and habits with Of
elrs-not to repose in sluggish despon-
ncy-but to rouse yourselffrom apathy
d sloth to noble emulation Of rising to
equality with them. II was by no ca
cret magic that these mighty scholars sv
lalned to distinction and fame-it was es
pdfienf-iperseuering -unfiring in to
sfry. Ii the eloquence of Demosthe-l ca
shook, with its thunder, the throne of sc
ruled the fierce democracy du
Athens-and if the vehement denunci- OF
0ns and powerful anDeals of Cicero "a,
,ve Catalina from the senate house, and po
lde Caesar tremble, il was by the pri- Of
e studies and profound meditations of on
closet. their minds having been invig> III,
tied and expanded and enriched and tic
obled with diversified knowledge, lofty VI
itiment and generous feeling. IfNew.
!, with flight more adventurous than
eagles, scared to the very boundaries sal
crealion,-ifhe explained the laws that N.
Verned the universe, and let in new so