Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-11
FOR The MARTissBURe GAZETTE.
THE LEARNED GNORAMUSA NDTHE
MAN OF ONE IDEA---THE RESULT
OF DEEElTlNE OBLIGATION.

Mr.. Editor. u. may be aaradoxlcal
to say that many learned men are guo-
rant and many ignorant men are learned,
but i, IS so much Ike the truth that per.
baps your readers will agree with mo
that these faults exls, as great defects in
the modes OF education or the habits which
men uuconscIencely fall INTO. The de.
scnpllon OF persons who have the fewest
ideas Of all otner are those who read but
do not think. 1t is better to be able 10
neither read nor write than 10 be able to
do nothing else. A lounger who is ord.
narily SEEN with book IN his hand is in
too many instances equally without the
power or inclination to attend either 10
what passes around him. OF IN his own
mind. Such one may be SAID to carry
his understanding about with him in his
pocket, or leave 1t at home on his library
shelves. He Is afraid of veniuriDg on
any observations that is not mechanically
suggested TO him by passing his eyes over
certain legible characters shrinks from
the fat que of thought, which, for want of
practice, becomes lnsdpportable to him;
and sits down with an endless wearsome
succession OF words ard half formed ina
ges, which I'll The void of the mind, aud
continually efi'dce one another Learning
is in many instances foil TO common
sense, a substitute for true knowledge;
books are less olIen made use OF as spec
tacles 10 look at nature with, than as
blinds to keep on. ITS strong light and
shifting scenery from weak eyes and in.
dolent dispositions. The bookworm wraps
himself up in lis web Of verbal generalI.
ties, ana sees only the glmer:pg shadows
OF things reflected irm the minds Of
oth,rs. Nature puis him out The I'M.
pressons of real objects stripped OF the
DISCUSSES OF words and voumnOus round
ebout descilpt tons. are blows that staggar
him their variety distracts Their rapidly
exhausts him. snd he turns from The bus
tie, the nose, and glare, and whrling
motlon Of the world around HIM 10 The
quiet mono,ony Of the dead languages,
and the less startling and more int-llig-
Bile combinations Of the letters Of the al
paabel. You nigh. as well ask the par
alytic TO leap from his chair and throw
away his crutch, or, without miracle
"take up his bed and walk"-as 10 expect
the learned reader to throw down his book
aud think for himself. He clings TO II for
his intellectual support, and his dread Of
being lett TO himself is Ike the horror ola
vacuum. He can only breathe learned
atmosphere as other men breathe common
air. He is borrower OF sense. He has
no ideas OF his own, has never eccusiom.
ed himself 10 draw upon his own resuur-
ces, and must live on those Of other peo-
pie. The habit of supplying our ideas
from foreign sources enieebies al inieliec-
tusl strength Of thought as course OF
intoxlcaiion destroys the stomach. Inc
faculties OF the mind wien not exerted, or
when cramped by custom and authority,
becomes lslless, torpid, and unfit for the
purposes Of thought or action. Con we
wonder a, the langutr end assliude wh'ch
is thus produced by llie Of learned SION
and ignorance by pouring over nss ana
syllables that excite little more ldra or
interest than ;f they were the characters
oG an unknown tongue till the eye closes
on the vacancy and the book drops from
| the feeble hand II would be better to
saw wood, or be the meanest hired, that
all day "sweais 10 the eyes OF Ph@bus'
and at night sleeps in Eysium," Than
wear GU, lie so between dreaming and
awake. The learned student Of this De.
scripuon is the verIest :ool Tor all VINO
put their thoughts TO paper.
Bu, there are those who have ou'
one idea. al least If they have more, they
keep il in profound secrecy, for they
never :alk but of one subject. You WIZ
meet with friend, he has but one 'dss