Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-12-16
miscellaneous.
THE STRUGGLE OF LIFE.
DY }. II. HAyAFoRp.
eBe not like dumb, driven cattle.
BE hero in the strifeH-LoRgfeiioR.


Yes, young men, fight manfully the great
contests of life. Bring into action every
power Of body and mind with which be-
nevolent Creator has endowed you. Grid on
your armor, and meet every foe of virtue,
good order, and universal education, and con-
quer ere you leave this bloodless field of con-
fict Look well to your weapons, (which
are not carnal,' but let them be mighty to
the pulling down Of the strongholds" of iui-
guilty and misrulc.
Soon the weight of the duties and respon-
sibIlities of government will be rolled upon
you, and in bis age of novelties, innovations.
and pnequaled progress, almost Atalantean
shoulders are requisite. These responsible
ties and duties will be yours. You can not
avoid them if you would
The stream of mortal life is not only bear
ing those who now hold the rcins of govern
ment ever ceaselessly onward, but it is hur
ryiug you to take their new positions. BE,
then, d readiness to occupy their places, to
assume their responsibilities. Flatter not
yourselves with the idea that human life is a
round of pleasures unalloyed with pain, or
taat it is scene Of inactivity. Ii brings
with it many cares, and labors unceasing, if
we would be useful
Foes will assail you, and perchanco they
may be of the "household of your friends +"
Many obstacles will present themselves, and
often they may seem almost insurmountable
The tongue of SANDER may be heard, and the
intrigues of the vilifer may be employed but
there is an antidote for such poisons, and a
life of consistent action will develop it.
There will be lights as well as shadows -
If the clouds sometimes wear threatening
aspect, they will occasionally break away,
and the sun of prosperity will beam upon
you. Tempests may often howl and rage
around, but placid calm will follow, if you
give them proper direction.
In the 'secd time" Of life store the mind
well with useful and pleasing knowledge -
Acquaint yourselves not only with the more
practical sciences, but with such as may be
within your power that may please, refine.
aud enlarge the mind. After acquiring such
as are more necessary and practical, become
familiar with those that will embrace the sum
of human happiness.
Life is not all work shop, nor its round
of duties mere tasks of drudgcry. Man has
right to ENJOY as well as labor. Indeed
there may be more of sunshine than of dark
ness. Our fortunes and destines, to GER
tain extent. are in our own hands We nav
be happy or miserable as we decree, if placed
under ordinary circumstances. Ignorance is
the bane Of enjoyment
As a necessary part Of the stock Of know
lodge, become acquainted with your physical
organization, with your constitution "know
thyselt" so intimate are the relations 0.
the mind and body that one can not long
exist in perfection without corresponding
soundness in the other A sane mind can
not long dwell in an unsound body
1t is not too much to say that most Of the
chickering's and difficulties in community, re-
suit, directly or remotely, from an unnatural
or diseased state of the physical system =
The violation of physical law, though pen
atty be net immediately executed viii sub
ject the offender to condign punishment
Hence the raging fevers, the joint wrenehine
govt, the rheumatisms, and all the varied
forms of disease which prevail in community
knowledge Of the laws of digestion. ar.
FERTILIZATION, circulation, respiration, aud per,
spiIation, might ameliorate, if not eradicate
most of the ma!adies which now affict suffer
ing humanity. Pain and disease are not the
inevitable lot of man. Their causes can be
known, and their infections avoided
Seek an acquaintance with "men and
things" From the relation of things We
must associate much with our fellows and
mingle often in varied society A knowledge
of individual and social characteristics, and
above ALL with the laws and dependencies OIL
the human mind. will obviate a world Of EN-
barrassment and vexation So true is this
that shrewdness and observation have given
many superiority over men who were well
educated, in the useful acceptation of the
term, but who had confined themselves more
particularly to abstruse and abstract sciences
study carefully the principles Of the gov
ernment of the United States. Ii has nc
equel on earth none under which I'll bran
ches OF industry can flourish to such an OK.
tent; none under which all may become wise
and plany mona in which iba pafh ~ eyni