Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-09
For Young Wen.
Formation of Character,

Formation of Character.
To the acquisition of extensive knowledge
incessant application and industry are necessary
Nothing great or good has ever been achieved
without them. Be willing, then, to labor be
not satisfied with superficial attanments, and ac-
custom yourself to habits of accurate and thor
ough investigation. Explore the foundations
and first principles of every science II is OBJ
served by Locke, that 3" there are fundamental
truths that lie at the bottom-the basis upon
which great many others rest-and in which
they have their consistency there are teeming
truths, rich in store, with which they furnish the
mind and, like the lights of heaven, are not
only beautiful and interesting in themselves,
but give light and evidence to other things, that,
without them, could not be seen or known"
These are the truths with which we should en-
deavor to enrich our minds. Be select in your
reading-become familiar with the writings of the
great master-sprits of the world, who will enrich
your minds with profound enlarged, and exalted
views and who, while they form you to habits
of Just and noble thinking will also teach you
to cherish pure aud generous feelings If you
would make these thorough acquisitions, you
must guard against the immoderate Indulgence
of your passions, and the seductons of evil COM
panions. A life of dissipation and pleasure is
death to superior excellence. A body invigorated
by habits of temperance and sefdenial, and a
mind undisturbed by unholy passions, serene
and cheerful in conscious rectitude, are most
powerful auxiliaries in the pursuit of science
1t will be equally important for you to guard
against selfsufficieucy and vanity. This temper
is an enectua barrier to high intellectual improve
ments Frequently reflect upon the small extent
and imperGection Of your attainments on the
vast regions of science that are yet unexplored
by you on the hidden stores Of learning which
are contained in ten thousand books, that you
have never read or seen, or ofwhicb, perhaps, you
have never heard Remember, too, the lofty
attachments that have been made by some
profound scholars, both of ancient and modern
days We would recommend you to read, in
early life, few we-selected biographies ofmen
who were distinguished for their general knowl-
edge Read the lives of Demosthenes, Of New
ton, of Locke, of Hale, of Haer, Of bod
bridge, of johnson, and of such accomplished
and illusrious scholars Observe the ardent at
tachment and intense industry with which they
cultivated science, and the astonishing acquire
ments which they made-their high valuation of
time, and careful improvement Of it; compare
your attainments and habits with theirs-not to
repose in sluggish spondency-but to rouse
yourself from apathy and sloth, to noble emu
laton of rising to an equality with them. 1t
was by no secret magic that these mighty schol-
ars attained to distinction and fame-it was by
patient, perseyering, untir.ng industry If the
eloquence of Demoshenes shook with thunder
the throne OF Philip, and ruled the fierce de-
mocracy of Athens; and il the vehement de-
nunciations and powerful appeals of Cicero,
drove Catalina from the Senate house, and made
Caesar tremble it was by the private studies and
profound meditatons of the closet-their minds
having been invigorated, and expanded, and en-
riched, and ennobled, with diversified know-
edge, lofty sentiment, and generous feeling. If
Newton, with flight more adventurous than the
eagles, scared to the very boundaries of crea-
ton; if he explained the laws that govern the
universe and let in a flood of light upon the
worId-it was ardent attachment to science it
was intense, patient, untirng industry, that gave
to the pinions of his mind, that vigor which ele-
waited and sustained him at so lofty a height
If Locke and Reid have dispelled the darkness
that had for ages settled on the human intellect,
and have freed the sciences of the mind from
the intricaces and subtetes of the schools, it
was not merely by the force of their own gen
ius, bu: by deep, patient, and repeated medita-
ton and study. If Burke charmed listening
Senates by the masculine strength and brillian-
cy of his thoughts; if Mansfield and our own
Hamilton ilumined the Bar by the splendor of
their learning and eloquence if Hall and Chalm-
ers proclaimed from the Pulpit immortal truths
in their Hottest strains, it was not only because
they ranked among the first scholars, but also
among the most laborous men of the age. Con-
template the character of these ilustrious men,
initiate their industry, their eager love Of learn
ing, and the zeal with which they pursued it,
and you may equal them.
!
Faar God md keen his comm and ments