Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-11-06
Constitutional Talent.

The following extract from Habits paper on the
Qualifications Necessary to Success in Life contains
much truth:
There is nothing that floats man sooner into the
tide of reputation, oftener passes current for ge-
MUS than what might be called constitutional talent.
A man without this, whatever may be his worth or
real powers will no more get on in the world than
leaden Mercury will fly into the air. any pretend
with it, and with quality beside to recon-
mend him, will be sure either to blunder upon sue
cess or will set failure at defiance BY constitution
al talent | mean, in general the warmth and vigor
given to mans ideas and pursuits by his bodily
Stamina, by mere physical organization. A weak
mind iii sound body is better, at least pro-
fitable, than sound mind in weak and crazy con-
formation. How many instances might quote Let
a have quick circulation, good digestion, the
bulk, and thews, and snews of a man, and the aac-
rity the unthinking confidence inspired by these; and
without atom shadow of the diriHiOr he
shall strut and swagger, and vapor and JoSte
his way through life, and have the upper hand Of
those who his betes every thing but health and
strength His ests shall be echoed with loud laugh
ter because his lungs begin to like chanti-
cleer before lie has uttered them while little hec-
tic nervous humorist shall shall stammer out an adj
mrable concet that damned in the doubtful deliv-
ery-Uor fdUcibHS hGSit. The first shall tell story
as long his arm, without interruption, while the
latter stops short in his attempts from weakness
of chest the shall be empty and noisy and sue
cessfu in argument putting forth the most common
place things .'with confident brow and throng of
words that with more than impudent sauciness
from him." while the latter Shrinks from nobserva-
ton ''too deep for his hearers, into the decacy and
unnoticed retirement Of his mind. The one shall
never feel the want of intellectual resources because
he can back his opinions with his person the Other
shall lose the advantages of mental superiority, seel
to anticipate contempt by giving offence, court mori
fication in despair of popularity, and even in the
midst of public and private admiration, extorteC
slowly by incontrovertble proofs of genius, shal
never get rid of the awkward, uneasy sense of per
sonal weakness and insgn6cance, contracted by ear
ly and long continued habit. What imports the in
ward to the outward man, when il is the last that i
the general and inevitable butt of ridcule objec
of admiration 1t has been said that good face Il
letter of recommendation But the finest face viii
not carry man far, unless it is set upon ACTIVE
body, and pair Of shoulders. The countenanc
is the index of mans talents and attainments: In
/ figure is the criterion of his progress through life
We may have faces that spoke "a soul as fair
"Bright the children Of yon azure sheen
vet that met with but an Indifferent reception in tn
! world-and that being supported by couple of spin
de-shanks and weak stomach, in fulfilling wha
was expected Of them,
.'Fell fiat, and shamed their wOrshippers."