The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-11-08
Miscellaneous.
TO THE JUNG.
ny HORACE GREELEY.


r,,,o millions of youth, between the ages of six
,wcnty.one, are now rapidly coming forward, to
WI .,,k ne the future husbands and fathers, legis-
n md diynes, instructors and governors, polti-
M -, and VOTERS capitalists and laborers, artizans and
troors, of this vast country, whose destinies are
III ,wt so family imagined, much less developed.
M ,n e is so humble that he will not certainly exert
AZ ,aencc-i may be an immense and impersha-
W Influence, on the happiness and elevation Of his
"A ,,ty and his race. The humblest cottage maid
III now telling thankfully as the household servant
Ga zone proud family by whom che is regarded as
81 n]y. may yet be the mother of future President
X -n nober still, of some unaspirng but God direct
man. who as teacher of righteousness, an ame-
# ,aor of human suffering, successful reprover Of
a ons, scnsuality or selishness, may leave his inn
n ys on the annals Of the world as lover and serv-
III rhis race. Nearly all our now eminent men,
\ lIy-Jockson, Clay, etc. were not merely of
r and humble parentage, but left orphans in early
A he and thus deprived of the support and counsel
rEch seems most emnently necessary to success in
MnvUds rugged ways.
81 hhe higher walks of genuine usefulness, the pro
Rmm those enjoying no advantages of family in
u fraau hereditary wealth, who attain the oftiest
emi1ence is very great Call to mind the first TWEEN
a names that occur to you of mon distinguished for
EHIn, energy, philanthropy, or lofty achievement,
4 nd generally hreefourths Of them will be those of
\ hen tOrn in obscurity and dependence
Al Literature is full Of anecdotes illustrative of
&lmno he r.
4 swhich have never seen recorded 7 have often
&uBhpped in BAPTIST meeting house in Vermont
iGcon at its construction some thirty years since
zdOHs and exemplary young man was for some
4 me employed as carpenter, who afterward quail
dhmself and entered upon the responsibilities of
\ christian Ministry. That young man was Jared
IEpks, since Editor of the North American Review,
EiWahington's voluminous Writings, sc. and now
.NNgr2ed as one of the foremost scholars, histori-
Mengl critics in America.
NJ Impose here to set forth few important max
Mas Tor The guidance and encouragement of those
EEMh who will hearken to me-maxms based on my
Em immature experience and observation, but which
&pdmbtless in substance been propounded and
= freed by elder and wiser men long ago and often
as they do not yet appear to have exerted their
and proper effect the ripening intellect Of the
Emry-as thousands on thousands are toiIesomely,
Painfully struggling forward in the for position
n knowledge, in palpabe defiance of tSeir scope
Fa SPIRIT will hope that their presentation at this
Fine cannot be without some effect at least few
FP1nding minds. They are as follows:
]. Avoid the common error Of esteelning college
Edacation necessary to usefulness or eminence in
Ee Such an education may be desirable and bene-
FnI-o many it doubtless is so. But Greek and
LATIN arc not real knowledge; they are only means
/ acqurig such knowledge; there have been great
End wise, and surprisingly useful men who knew
nTage but their mother tongue. Beside, in our
The treasures of ancient aud contemporary foreign
Literature are brought home to every mans door by
fansatlons, which embody the substance if they do
j" exhibit all the beauties of the originals IF your
'''ansances in life enable you to enjoy the advan-
yea Of college education, do not neglect them
'NSc all, do not msimprove them. But if your lot
Ndierent, waste no time in idle repining, in humil
4 Jung begsary. The stern, selfrespecting indepen
I 0ace Of your own soul is worth whole shelves of
s'asscs' All men cannot and need not be college
'SS--n"t even those who arc born to instruct and
improve their kind. You can never be justly deemed
S"OanI nor your requirements contemplate, ifyou
,o'e and fully improve the opportunities which
'h'Iy offered you.
IL AVOID likewise the kindred and equally pernici
~C'fOr that you must have PROFESSIONALISM be
clergyman, Lawyer, Doctor, or something ofthe
I'll order to be influential, useful, respected
''S'ate the case in its best aspect, that you may
oil Intellectual life. Nothing ofthe kind is necessa
very lar from it. Ifyour tendencies are intellec-
-n you love knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue for
,ASei'es- you will CROWN them whether you
bread by profession, trade, or tillng the
~, 1'' Nay, 1t may be doubted whether the Farmer
=. a'.'anlc who devotes his leisure hours to intel
NJ pursuits from pure leve of them has not some
"''0ges therein over the professional man, He
H, 10 MS book at evening with his head clear and
b.. "'a appetite sharpened by the manual labors,
ri lightly the spirit or brain; while the lawyer,
A., nus oeen running over dry books for precedents,
an O''Or' who has been racking his wits for rem
Il. rOap'ed TO some new modification of disease, or
h.. '"e who, immured in his closet, has been busy
s,.1 rug his next sermon, many well approach the
H.. s volume with faculties jaded and palled,-
lew men, and perhaps fewer women, who