Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-01

/ Whoever will take the trouble to look in
to Gritty, or any other book of pleadngs.
will find that the form given of declaration
for an assault and battery amounts to MANY
folios, Astounding with the most ludicrous
asseverations, and fctions. Why not pre-
fer truth, simply and concisey stated, to d
large bundle of verbosity and ialsehood!
~ The following is an extract from the
Address OF Charming on "Self Culture"
delivered in Boston, Sept. 1888. We should
be glad if all could have an opportunity to
read the whole of this address. There are
but few minds that would not be awakened
TO new and profitable thought, by the sound
and noble sentiments which meet the eye
on every page:
The truly great are TO be found every
where, nor is 1t easy TO say, in what con-
dition they spring up most plentlfully. Real
greatness has nothing TO do with man S
sphere. ltdoes not lie in the magnitude of
his outward agency, in the extent Of the
effects which he produces. The great
est men may do mparatlyely little abroad.
Perhaps the greatest in our city at this mo-
ment are buried in obscurity. Grandeur of
character lies wholly in force of soul, that
is, in the force of thought, moral principle,
and love, and his may be found in the
humblest condition of life. A man brought
up 10 an obscure trade, and hemmcd in by
the wants OF a growing family, may, in his
narrow sphere, perceive more clearly, dis
crlminate more kcenly, weigh evidence
more wisely, seize on the means more de-
cislvely, and have more presence Of mind in
difficulty, than another who has accumula-
ted vast of knowledge by Iahorious study 4;
and he has more of intellectual greatness
Many man, who has gene but few miles
from home, understands human nature bet
ter, detects motives and weighs character
more sagaciouslv, than another, who has
travelled over the known world, and made a
name by his his reports Of different coun-
tries. 1t is force of thought which meas
ures intellectual, and SO its force Of princi-
pie which measures moral greatness, that
highest of human endowments, that bright
est manifestation of the Divinity. The
greatest man is he who chooses the Right
with inyinciblc resolution, who resists the
sorcst temptations from within and Without,
who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfullv,
who Is calmest in storms and is most fear
less under menancc and frowns, whose re-
| lance on truth, on virtue, on God, is most
unfaltering; and is this greatness which is
| 4 n IA p 81 oh IL iEp-
| ~ TO abound in conspicuous station! The
solemn conflicts Of reason with passion; the
victories of moral and religious principle
over urgent and almost irresistible soicita-
tons to sell-indulgence the hardest sacri-
! fees of duty, those of deep-seated affection
and of the hearts londest hopes the conso-
lations, hopes, joys, and peace, OF disap-
pointed, prosecuted, scOrned, deserted vir-
tue; these are of course unseen; so that the
true q eatness ofhuman life is almost wholly
out Ofsight. Perhaps in our presence, the
most heroic deed on earth is done in some
silent spirit, the loftiest purpose cherished,
the most generous sacrifice made, and we
do not suspect it. | believe this greatness
10 be most common among the multitude,
whose names are never heard Among
common people will be found more hard
ship borne mantully, more of unvarnished
truth, more of religious trust, more of that
generosity which gives what the giver needs
himself, and more of wise estimate of life
and death, than among the more prosperous.
And even in regard to influence over other
beings, which is thought the peculiar pre-
rogative of distinguished station, | believe,
that the difference between the conspicuous
and the obscure does not amount to much.
influence is to be measured, not by the OK
tent of surface ii covers, but by It's kind
A man may spread his mind, his feelings,
and opinions, through a great extent;
but if his mind be low one, he manfests
no greatness. A wretched artist may fill a
city with daubs, aud by false, snowy
style. achieve a reputation; but the man OF
genius, who leaves behind him one great
picture, in which immortal beauty is en-
bodied. and which is silently 10 spread a
true taste in art, exerts an lncomparabiy
hioher influence. Now the noblcst influ |
ence on earth is that exerted on character
and he who puts forth this, does great
work, no matter how narrow or obscure his |
sphere, The father and mother of an I'M |
noticed family. who, in their seclusion,
awaken the mind of one child to the idea
and love ofpertect goodness, who awaken in
strength of will to repel temptation, and
who send him out prepared TO profit by the
conflicts of life, surpass in influence Ma
poleon breaking the world TO his sway
And not only is their work higher in kind /: |
who knows, but that they are doing greater
work even as 10 extent or surface than the "
conqueror? Who knows, but that the be-
ing whom they inspire with holy and dis
interested principles, may communicate