Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-09-14
RAID OF THE TIMES.

oblivion by the lapse and Injuries Of time,
bot this is not only immortal in itself but
gives Immortality TO them. What should we
know ofihe glories Of the ancient world but
for The classic literature Of Greece and ROM:
Comparatively nothing. Carthage and Egypt
would have been TO us what now are the
monuments of civilization lately discovered
N Ceatrai America. the subject Of ignorant
wonder. Every where We see the limits Of
this knowledge marked by the boundaries Of
that light shed upon them by the luininaries
Of the classics /; within their sphere Of ra-
dance all is light beyond. all is darkness.
ln the scale Of Nations every people takes
rank according to their eminence in classic
literature. This is the standard by which
that rank is assigned and graduated (; in
which the whole world is agreed always
have been and always will be agreed. without
difference Of opinion or a shade OF difference.
This springs from a sentiment natural to the
mind of man-the admiration Of intellectual
greciness.-Now a classic literature is in it.
s.lfa monument Of intellectual greatness.
and the greatest of human achieveincni.-
For it involves the culiivatinn to perfeclio
Of all the faculties Of The human mind. both
intellectual and ethical, enriched with know.
Pogt, HHu Hfutu Ny Ns Vcsou'Ccs,
~ The philosophy OF mon and .hlngs.
! You will observe that speak oi classic
literature all inferior literature is ephe mcral
and like all mortal things is doomed Ia NOR
tality. The mass of that inferior literature,
both in Greece ana Rome, was immense
But where is it now not n trace of it is left,
nor would ns existence be known, but for an
occasional ulluslon 10 i, in their surviving
classics.
| Here, then, young gentlemen, is field oi
glory opPn"d Ia you: and the noblest ever
offered To the ambition Of man. For, con-
slider what a country we have What it is
to be In extent, hardly less than all Europe.
to be populated, and at no distant day, by
tive hundred millions Of people. all freenen.
and all speaking The same language. For
we have discovered and realized the secret.
(so long unknown 20 the world OF recsncil-
ing freedom Ia the dominion Of n great ex.
t,Dt of territory ana even of increasing It's
security by that vcyy extent. And freedom
il The nurse nf genius aud The paren, of all
that ~ great and sublime in literature. What
an immense audience the poci, tho historian,
and The orator is 10 have Oh THIS theatre lis.
tening to his immortal verse. and TO their
equally immortal eloqnencc IN prose. And
our language, 700, though not brought, 10 lis
ultimate rciincmrnt. yet possessing almost
infinite resources Ia the precision, the
strength. and euphony Of composition; and
especially IN cxhlOl'Ing the affections in pic.
lnre in all ihoT variety of lights and shade
on which so much depends in pnc,ry and clio.
qu"nce, and indeed IN a i The works of CLASSIC
literature.
The path that leadsio that elevated hcigh,
on which a classic litcrntnr" Is placed, Is n
plain one; howtvcr lnbofhins the ascent,
there need be no mistake as 10 the path. OF
all The valuable things which The ancicnts
have left us, except their perfect models.
nothing Is so valuaS'e a. their Instructions ns
To The means by whIca they wcr" produced
and may be again produced They leave
nothing more 10 be- desired on the subject
A classic literature is the production of.ari,
"r rather of combination Of arts and it Is
idle To suppose u can otherwise be produced.
Nothing Is more illusory than the idea that
the spontaneous literature Of uninstrncieJ
genius can be classic literature. TO be an
artist, you must possess a knowledge nf the
art ;your practice must be guided by ITS rules
rs cxemphfrd 10 lis pcriec. modrls---these
models must be your study by day, your
meditation by night. Fortunately, you have
no, like The painter or statuary'to leave your
country To study these models you have
these models IN yonr own honsrs-you may
make them at any time, and AT all times, your
pocket companion wherever you 60.
] conclude, by Recommending 10 yon and
10 all orr young men who are ambitious to-
give Immortal fame To their country, as well
rs to themselves, to think "f 'hese things.