The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-16
Mental Development.

Civilization is a progressive work-thcre is
no standing still-its principle is continual
advancement. The nation that ceases to go
forward must certainly 90 back. When
Rome lost her virtue, sac soon lost her pow
CIR, and with the loss Of her power soon came
the night of her Gothic darkness. The use
of history, is to teach us upon what rocks and
shoals nations and men have have been
wrecked, so that we may avoid the evils which
have always resulted by adeviati0n from those
principles which in all ages have exalted
man. Ii we wish to be good we must be viz
tuous. IF we desire 10 be noble, we must be
generous. If we wish to be great, we must
be energetic, and If we wish to be great,
good and powerful, we must be virtuous, in
du5trioGs and just. The most proper direc-
ton, therefore, Of the mental faculties must
be towards some object CT objects for the
good of man. If there is continual reach =
ing Of the mind to grasp some new idea, un-
less it studies the consequences as we'll as the
mere discovery, the most important endow-
mcnt Of the souls power has been led a5tray
in search Of an imaginary toiblc-a toibic for
earthly fame or selfish aggt&ndzemcnt.-Yhe
man who merely studies for a great name or
to invent something that shall make him rich,
may well lie lduUcd for some successful
scheme, but surely not for his motives, Eve
ry action ought to spring from upright mo-
ItivaS. When the fountain is pure the water
will be sweet. Therefore in the mental de
velopment Of the rising generation, She pr;n-
IcipaI object should be virtue for the moral
guidance and The requirement useful, prac-
tical knowledge before attention is paid to
mere elegance. The children of our farmers
should be taught the principles ofaericnltare,
and The children Of our mechanics tie primer
pies t.at govern the mechaniy arts. ] here
is Il wide field for mental expansion in every
department Of science, and unless the chill
dren exceed tN0 parents, we surely cannot
expect 70 be making Announcements in ciyiii-
cation, but ii there is direct and positive at
tention paid TO the right education OF the lis
| ing generation, nay we notjusliy expect that
our children will surpass their parents, and if
there is not, they will certainly fall far be-
| hind-Every mechanic ought TO learn his son
to draw before he would learn him to dance
or sing, and mathematics in preference to
! Latin Every chemists yer or painter should
learn his son chemistry in preference to any
elegant study, music or poetry's charms, and
| if alter having acquired the useful, in fact
the positive instruction for an useful life, he
finds that he has time to acquire more, but
less practical information, then he may do SO,
but the mind should first be directed to the
useful before the ornamental This much
we have said in regard to mental develop.
ment., knowing that If the rising minds Of our
| people progress, our country must--our po0-
pie is our country. We have thrown out
these few hintsdirccted 10 our mechanic faith
ers, and orr mechanic youth. We would
sincerely desire to see oura apprentices spend
ing thoirspare moments in acquiring useful
( information regarding their several oecupa-
lions, for we are sorry to say that there is
too much ignorance of the very principles
with which they ought best to be acquainted.
Let them keep good company, use pure Ian.
guago and study for the baneft Of man, and
inc may then expect to see amental develop
mont in the rising generation which will car
ry our country forward i'll the career of civ
! ilzation with wing as strong as the Gag os
{ Of our mountain.-.SctsHlJie american.