Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-05-17
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| SELF-CULTURE-s[t L is force of thought
which measures intellectual, and so it is
/ force of principle which measures moral
/ greatness, that highest of human endow-
ments, that brighte.s manifestation of the
+ Divinity. The greatest man is he who
/ chooses the Right ysith invincible resolu-
| tiOn, who resists the sorest temptations
| from within aud without, who bears the
| heaviest burdens cl.eerfully. and who Is
calmest in storms and most fearless under
menace and frowlis, whose reliance on truth
/ on virtue, on God, is most unfaltering !;
and IS this a greatness, which Is apt to
make show, OF which is most likely to
alb, und IN a conspicuous station The
solemn conflicts of reason with passion !;
the victories of moral and religious prin-
ciple over urgent and almost irresistible
solicitations to self-indulgenee; the hard
est sacrifices of duty those of deep-seated
affection and Of the hearts fondest hopes
the consultations, hopes, joys. and peace, of
disappointed, prosecuted, ,scorned deserted
virtue; these are o. colse unseen, so that
the true greatness OF human life is almost
wholly out of sight. Perhaps in our pres
ence, the most heroic deed on earth is done
in some silent spirit. the loftlest purpose
cherished, the most glorious sacrifice made,
and we do not suspect 1t. L believe this
greatness to be most; common among the
multitude, whose DaIaes are never heard.
Among common people will be found
more of hardship borne manfully, more of
unyarnished truth more of religious trust,
more of that generosity which gives what
the giver needs himselt,and more Of wise
estimate Of life and death than among the
more prosperous And even in regard to
influence over other beings, whichis thought
the peculiar perogatlve Of distinguished
station, | believe, that the difference be-
tween the conspicuous and obscure, does
not amount to much, Influence is to be
measured, not by the extent of surface it
covers, but by It's kis1d. 4 man may
spread his mind, his feelings, and opinions,
through a great extent, but if his mind is
low one, be manifests no greatness. A
wretched artist may fill a city with daubs
and by false, snowy style, achieve rep
utation; but the man of genius, who leaves
behind him one grand picture, IN which inn
mortal beauty is embodied, and which is
silently to spread true taste in his art
exerts an incomparatiy higher influence.
Now, the nobiest Influence on earth is that
exerted on characters and he who puts
forth this, does 3 grFat work, no matter
how narrow or obscufe his sphere The
father and mother Of an unnoticed family,
who, in their secInsioa, awaken the mind
Of one child to the idea and love of perfect
goodness, who ag2kel, in him a strength
of will to repel all temptation, and who
send him out prepared to profit by tho
conflicts of life, surpass in influence a Ma
poleon breaking the world to his sway
And not only is their work higher in kind
who knows but tLey are doing greater
work even as to extent Of surface, than
the conqueror2 Who knows, but that
the being, whom they inspire with holy
and disinterested principles, may commu-
nieate himself to others and that, by
spreading agency Of which they were the
silent origin, improvements may spread
through nation, through the world