The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-15
y = THE YOUNG MANS Way
TO INTELIIGENCE, RESPECTABlLITY, HO-
s9 msas NOR AND USEFULNESS.
TOO LATE TO BE GIN.


Discouragement with some arises from the
circumstance, that they conceive themselves
too fur advanced in life ever to hope for sue
cess, though they were now to make the al
tempt to improve their minds. lwould COM
mend such to the noble examples of DIR.
Adam Clarke, Rev. Samuel Drew, the writer
on the philosophy Of fmind, whose works will
ever praise him, and DIR. Franklin, all OF
whom, with many others that might be ma
med, are evidences of what can be done af-
ter the usual time of completing an academ-
ical course is past. Edmund Stone, also is
case in point to encourage those who be-
gan study late. AT eighteen years of age, he
was in the employ Of the Duke of Argyle,
to whom his father was gardener. The
Duke one day, finding copy Of Newton's
Prmcipia on the grass plat in the garden,
was astonished at hearing the gardener'sson
claim the book. He Immediately enquired
Of him, Do you understand geometry and
Latin and Newton n' 81 know a little of
them said the young man. '9But how, en-
qnined the Duke, did you gain this know
ledger" Stone replied, ga servent taught
me ten years since to read. Does any one
need more than the twenty-four letters in or
der to learn every thing else that one
wishes?" After giving the Duke anaccount
Of the manner in which he had acquired his
learning, he ended by saying, g And this, my
lord, is what | have done. Ii seems to me
we may learn every thing, when we know
the twenty-four letters Of the alphabet
knowledge is not only source Of gain,
but q means Of happiness. And if it has
been neglected at the most suitable time Of
life, it certainly should not be urged as a
reason for its neglect during life. IF it is.
calculated to tighten the burdens Of life, and
confer measure Of comfort not attainable
without il, surely it can never be too late to
undertake it.
There is great error prevailing, which
seems to have become common sentiment,
that education beyond bare reading, writing,
and some knowledge offgures, is useful on
merchants, and mechanics, it is altogether
unnecessary. And as the course of life is
most generally fixed by the time men reach
majority, II is deemed needless to pursue any
branch Of education, except that which has
direct bearing upon the business we intend
to follow. But this is reducing the value of
knowledge to most pitiabie standard, and
degrading that which is intended for food to
the mind, into a mere article of trade and
merchandise. Whereas, learning derives its
principal importance from other and far lof-
tier considerations, yiz:-from its enlarging
the intellectual capacity, and the influence it
has directly or remotely upon the happiness
ofindividuals and communities in time and
eternity. If men were mere animals, then
their chief wisdom would consist in simply
making living. But as they possess lof-
ty nature, and immeasurable capacities, it is
netgood for them to be without knowledge
This remark is true of all men, in every
employment, care not how menal Many
rich gem now lies hid beneath the vast ocean,
which, brought up and polished, would be
ofgreat service to mankind And there can
be no question but there are many minds
buried and hid by circumstances, which if
properly brought out, would shine astonish-
ingly, and be of vast service to the world.
Nor has any man right to say that his mind
is not Of that cast, until he has fully tried its
powers and tested its capacities.