The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-12
Ccunsc!s TO the Young.
by HORACE GREEDY.

ages of six and twenty one, are now
rapidly coming forward to take rank as
the future husbands and fathers, legisla-
tors and dvines, instructors and COVER
nors, politicians and voters. capitalists and
laborers, artisans and cultivators, of this
vast country, whose deslines are even
vet so family imaged, much less develo-
ned. Not one is so humble that he will
not certainly exert an nnuence--it may
be an immense and imperlshable influence
ON the happiness and elevation of his
country and his race. The humblest cot
tage maiden, now toiling thankfully as the
household servant of some proud family,
by whom she is regarded as nobody, may
vet be the mother of future president
or nobler still, of some unaspiring God
directed man, who, as a teacher Of righ-
teousness, an ameiator of human suffer
ing, successful reprover of wrong, sen.
suality or selfshness, may leave his i'm
press on the annals of world as a lover
and server of his race. Nearly all are
now eminent men-Jackson, Clay, Van
Buren,, ETC., were not merely of poor and
humble parentage, but left orphans in
early life, and thus deprived Of the sup
port and counsel which seems most emf
nently necessary 10 success in the worlds
rugged ways.
In the higher walks of genuine useful
ness, the proportion of those enjoying no
advantages of family influence or heredi-
tary wealth, who attain the lofiiest emf
nence, is very great. Call to mind the
first twenty names that occur to you of
men distinguished for ability. energy. phi
lanthropy, or lofty achievement, and gene
rally three.four.hs of them will be those
of men born in obscurity and dependence.
All literature is full of anecdotes illus
trative of these encouraging truths; a
single fact now occurs to me which
have never seen recorded: have often
worshlpped in Baptist meeting house in
Vermont, whereon, at its construction,
some thirty years since, studious and
exemplary young man was for some time
employed as carpenter, who ar,erward
qualified himself and entered upon the re-
sponsibili,ies of the Christian ministry.
That young man was Jared Sparks, since
editor of the North American Review, of
Washington's voluminous writings, &C.,
and now recognized as one of the fore
most scholars, historians and critics in
America.
| propose here 10 set forth a few i'm
portant maxms for the guidance and en-
enlargement of those youth who will
hearken to mc-naXims based on my own
immature experience and observation, bu,
which have doubtless in substance been
propounded and enforced by older and
wiser men long ago and often. Sill, as
they do not yet apper TO have excrted
their full and proper ellcc, on the ripcning
intellect of the country-as thousands on
thousands are toilsomely, painfully strug
Cling forward in the race for position and
knowledge, in palpable defiance Of theiJ
scope aud spirit will hope tina; their
presentation al this time cannot be without
some effect on at least few expanding
minds. They are as follows:
!. Avoid the common error of esteem.
ling college education necessary to use.
(ulness or emincnce in life. Such an edu'
cation may be desirable and beneficial
to many it doubtless is so. But Gree,
and Latin are not real knowledge they
are only the means Of acquiring ,uc
knowledge; there have been great, and
wise, and surprising useful men, in all
ages, who knew no language but theil
mother tongue. Beside, in our day the
treasures of ancient and contemporary
foreign literature are brought home &c
every mans door by transations, which
emboly the substance if they do not ex
hibi, all the beauties of the originals. |
your circums ances in life enable you lC
enjoy the advantages of a college educa
ton, do not neglec! them-above all, dc
misimprove them. But, if your lot bt
different, waste no time in idle replning
in humiliating beggary. The stern, self
respecting independence Of your owr
soul is worth whole shelves. If classics
All men cannot and need not be college
bred--not even those who are born 10 in
s'ruct and improve their kind: You cal
never be justly deemed ignorant, or you
requirements contemplate. you embrac,
and fully improve the opportunities whicl
are fairly offered you.
II. Avoid likewise the kindred an