Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-08-31

most valuable and practical description,
and pregnant with truths with which they
cannot be too well acquainted. The
young are too much inclined to be dissatis-
fed with their actual condition, as to neg
lect their immediate duties in vain. aspira-
tons after others beyond their lot; and they
need the monitions Of such kind, but Wig
orous and emphatic adviser as Mr.. CARLYLE,
and to have It impressed on their minds,
that So
IS 94fa S To do sss s@..s, : s.
lYsb That which before US lies in daily life
| Is the prime wisdom.
DEAR SIR: Some time ago your letter
was delivered me; take literally the FIRST
free half hour have had since to write
you word of answer.
1t would give me true satisfaction could
any advice OF mine contribute to forward
you in your honorable course of self i'm
proyement, but long experience has
taught me that advice can profit but little;
that there is good reason why advice is SC
seldom followed: this reason, namely, tina,
It is so seldom, and can almost never be-
rightly given. Nc man knows the. state
Of another; it is always to some more or
less imaginary man that the wisest and
most honest adviser is speaking. s
As 10 the books which you, whom
know so little OF, should read, there is
hardly anything definite that can be seid.--
For one thing you may be strenuously ad-
yised to keep reading. Any good book,
2 " book that is wiser than yourself, will
teach You something-a great j. many
things, indirectly and directly, if your
mind be open 10 learn. This old coun-
sci OIL bhnson's is also good, and uni
versa3 applicable: '.Read the book
You do honestly feel wish and Curl
osity TO read" The very wish and GU
riosity indicates that you, then. and there,
are the person likely to get good Of it,
Sour wishes are presenliments Of our
capabilities" that is noble saying, of deep
encouragement TO all true men; applicable
to our wishes and efforts in regard TO read
ing as to other things. Among all tbs. OBJ
jects that look wonderful or beautiful to
you, follow with fresh hope the one which
looks wonderfullest, beantifullest. You
will gradually find, by various trials, (Which
trials see that you make honest, maniul
ones, not silly, short, ,fitful ones, what Is
for you the wonderfullest, beauiifullest-
that is your true element and province, and
be able TO profit by that. True desire,
the monition of nature, is much to be at
tended to. But here also you are to dis
criminate carefully between true desire and
false. The medical men tell US we should
eat what truly have an appetite for; but
what we only falsely have. an appetite for
we should resolutely avoid. Il, is very
true; and fimsy, desultory readers, who
fly from foolish book to foolish book, and
get good OF none, and mischief of all--are
not these as foolish, unhealthy eaters, who
mistake their superficial false desire after
spiceries and confectioneries for their real
appetite, of which even they are MT desti-
tute, though it lies far deeper, far quieter,
after solil nutritiye food. With these IL
Illustrations, will recommend Johnson's
advice to you. ,s
Another thing and only one other l will
say. All books are properly the record of
the history Of past men; what thoughts past
men had in them; what actions past men
did-thc summary Of all books what's ever
lies there. 1t is on this ground that the
class Of books specifically named history
can be safely recommended as the basis OF
all study Of books, the preliminary to all
right and full understanding Of anything
we can expect to find in books. Past his
tory, and especially the past history Of
ones own native country-every body
may be advised to begin with that. Let
him study that faithfully; innumerable in
quiries will branch out from it; he has
broad-beaten highway, from which all the
country is more or less visible there trav-
cling, let him choose where he will dwell. |
Neither let mistakes and wrong direc-
which every man in his studies
and elsewhere falls into many--discourage
you. There is precious instruction to Be
got by finding that we are wrong. Let a
man try faithfully, maniull7, to be right,
he will grow daily more and more right.
1t is, at bottom, the condition on which all
men have to- cultivate themselves. Our
very walking is an incessant Elling-a
falling and catching of ourselves before
we come actually to the pavement; it is
e,nblematic Of all things . man. dees..
In conclusion, / will remind you that it |
is not books alone, or by books chiefly, |
that a man becomes in all points man.
Study to do faithfully whatsoever thing in
your actual situation, there and now, you
lind either expressly or tacitly laid to your
charge; that is your post; stand in it like
. true soldier. Silently deyeur the mary
shagrins OF it as all human situations have
many. and see you aim not to quit it with
lnt doing all that i, at least, required Of
on. A man perfects himself By work
much, more than BY reading. They are
kind of men that can wisely o0n-
line the two things -wissiy. valiantly, OAR,
10 what is laid to their hand in the present
.,here, and prepare the,nselves withals Tor
..,ing osher wider things, il such he before.
lem.an ssass asSa ransi xssssf~;b sf5s +