The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-17

1
that beneath his roof be would Ind
Shakespeare, or Milton, or Irving, pr
Claiming, seated,in actual presence by
his fresiae. and waiting 10 converse,
with him, who would tak Of wanting
leisure or of fatiguel Would he not
bound forward to meet them, as the,
painting hart bounds 10 the water
brooks? Would not the stars grow
pale in the sky before he would think
OF weariness9 Well, there is not an
individual in the community who can
not for a few dollars, surround his fire.
side with those kindred spirits, the
lights and guides Of humanity; not in
bodily, but in intellectual presence.
They will speak to his understands
ing, not through the ear, but through
The eyes. They will discourse TO him,
not in their every day language, IN
which, perhaps, they do not greatly ex-'
cell their fellows, but 10 the choice, and
purest strains TO which by study and
meditation they have elevated their
thoughts, and this they will do. not for
hasty moment in a brief visit, but
again and again, for days and for years;
yea, until, by long continued intercourse
| with the noblest inteliects Of our race,
his own becomes expanded, exalted
and purified. | wruld remark here
that it is not enough that we merely
read; we mus! understand what we
read in order TO improve by it. In H.
ustrating my remark, permit me to
quote Watts on tins point. "Reinem-
Der that your business in reading, or in
conversation, especially on subjects of
natural, moral or divine science, is not
merely to know the opinion of the au-
thor or speaker, for this is the mere
knowledge of history; but your chief
business is TO consider whether their
opinions are right or not, and to i'm
prove your own solid knowledge Of
that subject, by meditation on the
themes Of their writing or discourse.
Deal freely with every author you read,.
and yield by your assent only to evil,
dence and just reasoning on that SUBJ
iect. Remember you are man as
we'll as they; and it is not their reason
but your own that is 10 guide you when
you arrive at the years OF discretion."'
The next requisite to the improve
ment of the mind is, asI have before.
hinled, to have standard of moral lex-
cellence. There can be but little real
improvement made in selE-culture, or
anv other noble undertaking unless it's
accompanied by moral worth and in
trinsic virtue. ~"
True dignity and worth depend not
on the outward but on the inward man.
Be not satisfied with your present at
inments-iorsake your vicious indul-
gences-make no mean condescensions
| Jet your motto be onward and still
onward to higher degrees Of moral ex-
cellence. Let not your views be hem
med in by narrow bounds. Consider
what change will have taken place at
the expiration of the year 1850. and
awake to the future? Doubtless ahost
of starlike ideas are clustering around
your innaginaton. Usefulness. veraci-.
ty, duty, love, obligations discharged,
happiness won, prosperous families.
kindred neighborhoods, all these may
be youls if you will but elevate your
siandardRof excellence to meet them.
They will never descend to you. '
Fix then your mind upon some mod
ell of excellence worthy Of your rigid
imitation. We have ansexcellent mod
ell in our Washington, over whose his
tory our hearts swell and our eyes over
flow with admiration, delight and SYM
pathy; whom we have only to initiate
to become immortal. Tue it was a
peculiar crisis that called out his vir-
tues; but the crisis would have. done.
nothing for him, had not his character
stood ready to match it. Acquire his
character, and fear not the recurrence,
ola crisis to call forth itssglory. Strive
to acquire his modesty, his disinteres-
tedness, his singleness Of heart, his de.
termined devotion to his country, his
candor in deliberation, his accuracy in
/ Judgment, his invincble firmness of re-
solve, and then you may hope 10 be. in
your age what he was inhis. Let this
be your standard, and strive with all
your power to come up TO it, and dare
say you will in a good degree effect it.
There is one other topic TO which l
will allude. Man is religious being,
and as far as human means and inffu-
ences go, well disciplined mind and
an Illuminated understanding, is the ma
tural basis Of religious belief. fcpo
Chris stianity addresses the understan-
ding as well as the heart. Ii commands
US to search the scriptures, to be ready
to give a reason for the faith that is in