The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-03
EDITED A N nd
THE YOUNG MANS WAY
TO INTELLIGENCE, RESPECTABILITY, HO
NOR AND USEFULNESS.

racter from his early boyhood. Fortune did
not favor him half SO much as resolution.
A man who, like him, fixes his course ia
wisdom, and then prefers living upon saw
dust puddings, rather than throw away his
principles, to please junto Of his pretend
ed friends or real patrons, need not fear the
frowns of fortune. We may form some idea
OF his undying perseverance and frmness
of purpose in the fact, that when attempting
to unlock hidden chamber Of science, he
daringly called fire from the clouds, duly to
temper and take the rust from his kew.
Tempting fashions and foolish amusements
were no doubt popular in his day as well
as IN ours. inducements were held out to
betray young men into improprietes, and
lead them to abandon their purposed course
OF life. In his case, however, they were
happily unsuccessful. Yet young men in
these days of rapid Improvement think
they have grown wiser than their ancestors,
and hope to be great by treading in the Sc
ductive paths Of fashion and folly. Mista-
ken men-they will soon find to their NOR
tification and fruitless regret that they have
made serious miscalculaton. Figs will
not grow from thistes, nor character and
standing from course Of thoughtless folly.
Character so gained, if it be allowed the
name, is as unlovely in the eyes ofthe tru-
ly wise, as it is painful and troublesome to
its possessor.
Firmness and decision of purpose is con-
splcuous as predominant quality of mind,
in every man who has distinguished him
self in the worlds history. History, both
sacred and protane, pays full tribute to
the truth of this remark. Noah stood al
most alone in his righteous course, in the
midst of world of wckedness Moses had
the courage to take most singular course,
and dared to tread upon the tempting ho-
nors of royalty. Daniel pursued unde viate-
ingiy the pious tenor Of his way, in the very
teeth of a royal decree, that consigned him
to the most fearful sepulchre ever opened
to man. And st. Paul has perhaps never
been equalled for the predominance Of his
excellent quality of mind. Killed he might
have been, but scared or turned aside he
never was. This was beyond the power of
friends or foes The former essayed it by
boding prophecies and tears at Cesarea
the latter, by throwing dust in the air at
Ephesus. But all was in vain, the undyng
firmness Of the Apostle was not in the least
shaken by it all.
The same unyielding disposition has cha
racterized every distinguished man who
has lived since Columbus had to over
come world of difficulty, in order to carry
out his cherished schemes of adventurous
discovery. Hundreds of men would have
shrunk from the attempt, though encour-
aged with abundance of preferred facilities.
Yet solitary and alone, by the might of his
own energy, he conquered popular opposi-
ton, and tainted not under the whitening
influence of royal apathy. A new world
has rewarded his resolute industry, nor
shall his name perish while the sun endures.
Your first point is to become intelligent,
so as to discern right from wrong course.
This may be attained by reading history
and biography, together with close observa-
tion of men and things about you. Living
men are good and profitable study. Mark
their rise, progress, business, mode Of life,
habits, tempers, standing, and all attending
circumstances. This over, choose your
own COURSE, ever uedlibS III iliuu, tudL ike
causes produce similar effects, all other
things being equal. Settling it in your
mind as an eternal principle, that nothing is
to be gained without labor. Never expect
fortune to do aught that you should do
yourselves. Then having laid your course,
like the mariner upon the trackless deep,
fix your eye upon the pole star, and don't
forget your reckoning. Your bark may be
slow sailer and at first left far behind
yet while others may be wrecked, you shall
reach the port in safety and triumph. The
race is not always to the swift, nor the bat
tie won by the strong. Never should any
be discouraged, because others seem natur-
ally endowed with more frmness and de-
cision than they. Habits are easily formed,
either of weakness, or strength Of vice or
virtue. Courage and the power of endur-
rance are the product of custom as well
as nature. You may make yourself effemi-
nate and indolent, or brave and persever-
ing. "Manual labor" says an excellent
author, i" is school in which men are
placed to get energy of purpose and charac-
ter; vastly more important endowment
than all the learning of all the schools.
They are placed, indeed, under hard mas
ters, physical suffering and wants, the
power of fearful elements, and the vicssi-
tudes OF all human things; but these stern