Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-07-05

wisdom could ever have been made, no examples
or warnings, beyond the little round of our per-
sonal experience or observation, could have been
brought to bear upon our lives History is I" phi
losophy teaching by example," or what is more to
our purpose, it Offers experience without COST
dowed with passions like our own, and acting on
so conspicuous stage, that the workings and eff
fects of these passions are rendered more striking
than in private lfe Governments are subject to
the laws of God and nature; and when they trans
gress these laws they suffer, as do individuals ;
and their sufferings for the benefit Of all who
live, if they will take the trouble to observe and
reason. Merely to know that thing has been
done, would be trife indeed, if it were possible
for any intelligent and sentient being to know a
fact without drawing any deductions from it. But
it is not. Whether consciously or not, we reason
and conclude upon everything that presents itself
to our minds. When we read the life and the fate
of Mary of Scotland, do we not in our own minds
say What pity she did-this or that!" When
we study the history of Charles l. of England, can
we fail to see what were the errors which made
him bad ruler and bad man! If we study the
character of Washington, are we so much taken
up with following him through his career, that our
hearts do not glow and feel noble expansion as
we contemplate his virtues And not only with
regard to the broad distinctions of virtue and vice
good and bad-does the study of history have
its effect in the formation of our sentiments, but
in those subtlef and less palpable gradatons be-
tween right and wrong, which can hardly from
their multitude be taught by express precept, ex-
empticaton in the case of others is ofincaculable
value. The young may not perceive this inffu-
ence, but it is irresistible. Its unsuspected pow
er is that which makes bad novels so intensely
bad for the young. History, if it tells the truth,
exposes the natural providental results of GER
tain courses of action or traits of character bad
novel often reverses this order of things-makes
evil tempers appear happy and successful, ,chich
they necer are, and shows that the right may be
Improbable, irreligion charming and amiable,
falsehood justi6able, and the whole course of hu-
man affairs so altered in the case of certain ind-
vduals, that cause and effect are no longer indis.
soluble-a fallacy which is destructive to wisdom
and virtue in the youthful mind. The more we
become acquainted with the truth of the past, the
more shall we be impressed with Gods overrulling
power,-the less shall we hope any exception in
his laws for our relief in case of disobedience.-
Human governments, as we'll as individuals, some
times undertake to set aside these laws, on con-
sideration of what they deem expediency, and for
the present, or to the superficial observer, they
may seem successful. But one may as well place
himself on the railroad track, and expect God s
him to pieces, as to transgress any OF the immuta-
BILE moral laws and dream of eluding their conse-
quences. If our study of history have not taught
US this, it has not been carried far enough We
have but discovered mystery; further investiga-
ton will furnish US with its key.
But there is another advantage Of The study
of history which must not be overlooked II
furnishes rational and innocen. subjects of
though, and conversation, for which if we
make no provision. we must be content 10 take
our places With those whose talk is as the
perpetual dropping" which makes their soci-
ely inlolerabIe TO people of sense. would put
il TO the candor of any reader, whether the con-
velsation of the circle which she frequents is
what it should be whether there are not per.
sons whose entrance causes sensation of plea
sure from our consciousness that what they
say will have some value. | hate pedanlry
/ should Aee The woman who prosed history 10
me, or anything else !; dread common place,
droning moraIizer as i do musqulo but do
Iove.-and so does everybody ,ha. ever had
an opportunity Of observing, person tina, can
say something! Many people talk immensely,
yet never by any chance say anything iha,
dwells 10 thu mind OF The hearer for momen.
after the speaker IL out OF sight. Far from
getting an idea from them, we cannot fa,ter
ourselves hat we have succeeded in impaHing
one. Now no one study can be depended upon
for providing materials for agreeable conversa-
lion i, requires a general furnishing and en-
Iiching of The mind. We nigh. grow silent
BY cullivating ourselves exclusively in one di-
-ecion form that ease we should but seldom
ind an inierOcut0r--but we should rot grow
agreeable. One who pursues anything inlen.-
y will never be an empty chalterer but wo-
nan wants something beside such negative
qualification as this, 10 fl her for her place in
society; which SIN here,ical enonghto .hlnk.
lfter all The wise things that have been said,
s distinct one. A woman who would NIL
he station for which God evidently desisned
Ter, must make being agreeable part OF her