Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-05-04
v hole Number 4l6.
Self Education,
BY w NJ. WRIT.


And this leads me, gentlemen, 10 another remark
10 which invite your attention. 1t is this. he
education moral and intellectual, of eceru indi-
vidnai, must be, chiefly, his olOn ,Cork. There
is Il prevailing and fatal mistake on this subject
II seems 10 be supposed that if Young man DO
sent to grammar school, and then TO coge, he
must Of course become scholar; and the pupil
himself, is apt 10 imagine that he is 10 be the mere
passive recipient Of instruction, as he is Of The
light and air which surround him. But this dream
of Incidence must be dissipaed, aud YOU must be
awakened 10 the important truth, that if you as.
pre TO excellence, you must become active coop
prntora with your teachers, and work out your dis
tinction with an nrdor that cannot be quenched,
und perseverance that considers nothing done
while any thing yet remains TO be done Rely up.
on II, that The ancienls were right Quisque suae
lIoftHnae Ia0Cr-both III morals and intellect, lre
give their final shape 10 our own characters, and
thus become emphutically the architects Of our
own fortunes. llOw else should il happen, gen.
temen, that young men who have had previously
the same opportunities, should he continually,
presenting with such different results and rush
ing to such opposite destines? Difference of tai
cnl will not solve ii, because the difference is very
often IN favor OF the disappointed candidate. You
shall see issuing from the walls Of the same school
-nHy, sometimes from the bosom of the same
iuiniy-tw0 young men, Of whom The one shall
be admitted 10 be genius Of high order, the 9TH
or, scarcely above the point Of nediocrty yet YOU
shall sec the genius sinking and pershng in pow
erty, obscurlly. and wretChedness; while on the
other hand you shall observe the medi0cre pIod-
ding his slow but sure way up the hill of life,
gaining seadlast footing at every step, and mount
ing at length 10 eminence and distinction, an orna-
ment 10 his family, blessing 10 his county. Now,
whose work is this? Nlanilestly their own. Ihev
are the architects Of their respective fortunes The
best seminary OF learning that can open lis portals
can do no more than 10 afford The opportunity Of
instruction; but it must depend at least on your
selves, whether you will he instructed or not, or TO
wha, point You will push your instruction. And
Of this be assured speak from observation, a Ger
tain truth; There is no excellence 1UiMout great
iuJor. |, is the fat Of FATE from which no pow
er of genius can absoye you. Genius, unexerted,
is like poor moth that hulters around Il candle
ill it scorches irseif,o death Ifgenus be desira-
bic at all, it is only of that great and magnanim-
Gus kind, which, like the Condor of South Ameri-
ca, pitches from the summit of Chimborazo above
the clouds, and sustalns Itself at pleasure in that
imperial region, with an energy rather nvigorated
than weakened by the effort 1t is this capacity
for high and long continued exerlion--ths vgor-
Gus power OF profound and searching investigation
this careeIIng and widesweeping comprehension
of mind-nnd those lorg reaches Of thought tina,
Think bright honor from the pale faced moon,
Or dive into the bottom Of the deep,
Where line could never reach the ground,
And drag up drowned by The locks.
This is the proves and these the hardy achevo-
ments which are to enrol our names among the
great men Of the earth.
But how nre ycu 10 gain the nerve and cour-
age for the enterprise of this pilh and moment
will tell YOU. As Milton gained that hoe stgno
rtnces; lot This must be your work, not that Of
your leachers. BE you not wanting 10 yourselves,
and you will accomplish all that your parents,
friends, and country have right 10 expect.