Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-11-24
[WHoLE No. ca,
TO THE YOUNG,
BY u. GREEIy.

aud divines, instructors and governors,
laborers, artisans aud cullivaiors, Of this
! vast country, whose dcstinies are even
yet so iaintly imagined, much less de-
velopcd, Not one is so humble that he
will nat certainly exert an inhuence-it
may Le an immense and imperishabla
influence on the happiness apd elevation
Of his country and race. The hunblest
cottage maiden, now toiliOg thankiulW
as the household servant OF some proud
family by whom she is regarded - mo-
body, may yet be the nsother of u future
President-or, noblcr still, Of some nn-
aspiring but God directed man, who as
teacher Of righteousness. an amell-
orator ofhuman suffering, successful
reprover ofwrong, sensuality or selfish
ness, may leave his impress OH the an
nails of the world as lover aud server
Of his race. Nearly all our now emit
nent men, poli,ically-Jackson, Clay,
Van Buren, etc, were not merely Of
poor and humble parentage, bu, left or
phans in early life, and thus deprived of
the support and counsel which seems
emincntly necessary TO success IN tie
worlds rugged ways.
II In the higher walks Of genuine USE
funess, the proportion of these enjoying
no advantage of family influence or
hereditary wealth, who attain The loltiest
cmincnce, is very great. Call 10 mad
the first twenty names that occur to you
Of men distinguished for ability, energy,
philanthrophy, or lofty achievement,
and generally ihrce-four,hs of them will
be those Of men born in ohscuiliy and
dependence.
/ All literature is full of anecdotes IL
Illustrative ofihese encouraging fruigs;
single fact occurs to me which have
often worshipped in Baptist meeting
mouse IN cTUODl, WHtTtoH At Ho SoH-
struction some thirty years since stu
dious young man was for some tlmo
employed as a carpenter who nfterward
ounlilicd himself and entered upon th0
responsibilities ofthe christian Ministry
That young man was Jared Sparks,
since editor of the North American Re-
view, of ogWashing,on's voluminous Writ
! ings, sc, and now recognized as one
! Of the foremost scholars, historians and
: critics 10 America.
\ | propose here to set forth a few i'm
! portant maxims for the guidance and GU
+ couragement Of those youth who Will
! heark IN 10 me -maxiWs based upon INV
own immature experience and ohserva-
ton. but which have doubtless IN SUBJ
stance been propounded and enforced
by older and wiser men long ago and
often. Still "a they do not yet appear
to have cxerted their full and proper
effect on the ripening intellect ct the
coun,ry-as thousands on thousands are
toilsomely, painfully struggling forward
| in the race for position aud knowledge,
in palpable defiance of their scope and
spirit Il will hope that the presentation
at this time cannot be without some
fleet on at least few expanding m'nds.
|, They are as follows:
II !. Avoid the common error Of cs-
teeming college education necessary
Ito usefulness or eminence IN lie
Such All education may be desirable and
beneficial--to many it doubtless is so.
But Greek and Ln,n are not real knowl-
edge they are only measures OF ac-
quiring such knowledge there have
been great and wise, and surprising
useful men in all ages who knew no
language but their mother tongue.
Beside, ia our day, the treasures ot
ancient and contemporary ioreign i'l-
erature arc brought home to every
! mans door by translntions, which eW-
body the substance they do not ey'
hibit the beaulies of the originals, "
YOUR circumstances IN life enable you
to enjoy the advantages of a college cd
Iucation, do mol neglect them - above oil
do not misimpruyo them. Bu, II your
lot be different, waste M timo ~ 'dlo
repining, in humilioting bcggary' 1ho
stern, selfrespectcd independence ol
your own is worth whole shelves "t
classics. All men cannot aud need
no, be college hred--not even 'hose
who arc born to instruct aud improve
liheir kind. You can never be justly
deemed ignorant, or your ncqu'rem"n's
contemplate, &C you embrace and fully
Improve ihe opportunities wh'eh are
fairly offered you.