The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-30
THE YOUNG MANS WAY
TO INTELLIGENCE, RESPECTABIITY, no.
NOR AND USEFULNESS.
WANT OF TASTE.

thus spent of all others, are the most un-
pleasant and irksome. Here is the principal
difficulty after all. No man will long prac-,
tice that for. which he has no liking. Hard
work in the nature of things, is not easy,
and he who is more fond of company, a
public meeting, or sitting in dirty bar-room,
smoking cigar, and hearing the idle gossip
of the neighborhood, than persuing valu-
able book, will most likely, soon sink to
his level, whatever be his talents, and remain
there during life.
But mems tastes arise from habit, and
though not with equal case, may be REFORM
ed as we'll as formed. In order to emil
nence in any business or profession, the
first thing to be acquired, is a taste for it.
And it is astonishing, how soon such taste
may be imbibed, by little practice. Let a
young man accustom himself to any course
of life, for month or two, and though ever
so disgracefu to his character, and offensive
in the eyes Of others-to himself it will be
pleasant and inviting. In like manner let
him compel his attention to books, during
his leisure hours, and evenings, for season,
and soon, what was an irksome and un-
pleasant task, will be his greatest pleasure.
No longer will he have to complain of want
Of taste for literary pursuits, but he will
perhaps find some need Of care, lest fond
ness for it, lead him to suffer too great en-
croachment upon the hours of business
This bar therefore, although a real one, is
quite easily taken out Of the way. And is
not the object worthy the effort necessary
to its attainment? Nothing Of any value is
gained without toll. Nor will studious
disposition, essential to mental cultivation,
be possessed by any, unless it be diligently
acquired.
Sir Walter Scott thus writes to his son,
| cannot too strongly impress upon your
mind, labor is the condition which God has
imposed on us in every station Of life
There is nothing worth having that can be
had without it, from the bread which the
peasent wins by the sweat of his brow, to
the sports by which the rich man must get
rid Of his ennui. The only difference be-
twiXt them is, that the poor man labors to
get dinner to his appetite--the rich man,
to get an appetite to his dinner. As for
knowledge, it can no more be planted in the
human mind without labor, than field of
wheat can be produced without the previous
use ofthe plough. There is indeed this DIFF
ference, that chance or circumstances may
cause it, that another shall reap what the for
mer sows but no man can be deprived
whether by accident or misfortune, of the
fruits of his own studies; and the liberal
and extended acquisition of knowledge, which
he makes, are all for his own use. Labor
therefore, my dear boy, and improve the
time. In youth, our steps are light, and
our minds are ductile, and knowledge is
easily laid up. But, if we neglect our spring,
our summers will be useless and contempt
ible, our harvest will be chaff, and the win
ter of old age unexpected and desolate.o
Again, Read, my dear Charles, read, and
read that which is useful. Man, differs
from birds and beasts, only because he has
the means of availing himself of the know
ledge acquired by his predecessors. The
swallow builds the same nest, which its
father and mother built, and the sparrow
does not improve by the experience Of its
parents. The son of the learned pig, if it |
had one, would be mere brute, only fit to
lidhC VI. ~ 10 llOI 81 Will lllC llullldll
race. Our ancestors lodged in caves and
wigwams, where we construct palaces for
the rich and comfortable dwellings for the
poor; and why is this, but because our eye
is enabled to look upon the past, to improve
upon our ancestors improvements, and to
avoid their errors2 This can only be done
by studying history, and comparing it with
passing events"
There is natural Incidence common to-
our nature, which, fond of listless inaction
will ever be urging us to lay aside what is
painful and laborious and see that which is
amusing. This must be overcome before
any man will be student Having this out
of our way the work wllbe comparatively
easy, study will be pleasure, and thirst
for knowledge being the master passion, there
will be no difficulty in the way, or self denial
required. He who has cultivated this taste
and succeeded in acquiring this valuable ha-
bit is on the high road to usefulness and re-
spectability, if not to greatness, but he on the
contrary, who has it not and does not ac-
quire it, will havea narrow path to travel
through life, and will leave an inglorious
memorial Upon his tombstone it may be
written that he was born on one day, and
died upon another, an honor which the low
er animals can share with him. A man with |
c,;r ,,ot,,ra1 and oxyr,ontc con noporolIxy ,,c1 n