Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-11-26


e0Llinq. There is for every man his own pec'i-
liar sphere of action and influence, and the
sooner he finds it out the better for him. 1t
saves the loss Of time aud many sad mistakes
There may be error in both directions in aim
ing too high, or sinking too low. A man who
would make but poor artist might be an ex-
cellent hod carrier. One who would make but
a poor figure at The bar, might make himself
usefuly familiar with the crowbar. Many a
young sentimentalist who has starved in gar
ret, might have been of some service to the
world if he had exercised his talents at the an
vii. Some of the saddest mistakes of life are
made in the choice of trade or profession. 1t
is as though a fish had taken it into his head
to be an eagle. or hummng- bird was ambi
tions to rival the monsters of the deep. Gent
us is a rare gift, and the fancy of possessing 1t
is dangerous, for the risk is great that one who
cherishes such fancy, is trading on borrowed
capital, and will turn out bankrupt. God has
bestowed great and intellectual gifts on few
men, but where he has done it, they bear his
own image and superscription. You can dis
cover their genuinencss without having to re-
sort to a bank note detector. They will work
their own way into notice. Deprcss them for
time you may, but like water they will rise
at last to their natural level The presumption
is against their being possessed till they dis
play themselves. 1t is, then a question at once
of wisdom and duty-where can l be most
uscfulI
A high and splendid station may be only the
candlestick of folly that should have been lid
under bushel A rude hand can only spoil
the delicate instrument of an optician. An ig.
noramGs, a piring to teach Legislators law, and
physicians medicine makes bat sorry figure.
His proper place Is on the bench of the scholar
and not in the teachers seat. Yet there are
few men who in the exercise of plain common
sense, cannot find out station for which they
are, or by effort can be fitted. If there be any,
let them float as society's drift wood, to teach
us slessons, just as the Spartans of old made their
drunken Heots teach their children the heastly
nature of intemperance. 1t is better to fill an
humble station well than to become a mark for
rdlcule in one more conspicuous. One that
understands ditching meadows and can do it
well, is more honorable object than one that
buys his Senatorial dignity by intrigues A
man above his station Is in danger of becoming
giddy as well as of sacrificing important inte,
rests. 1t is not the place that honors the man,
but the man that digniiies the place. Rarely
'>lsy tharas-heca retort uttered more sorcibly
than that of Lord Thurlow in reply to the Duke
of Graf, IN, who rcproached him for his plebeian
extraction. Claiming responsibility as a man
in that character alone. in which "the noble
duke would think i, an affront to be considered,
he exclaimed-"no one 'enerates the Peerage
more thar | debut nv lids. must say that
So should it ever be- Let merit n.' ke ITS OVID
order of nobility, weave its own ribba..' ds, ana
weave its own coronet.
In choosing ores calling there is danger Of
being dazzled by mere show. The fashions
and opinions of society are a poor guide There
are thousands of young men to day in col
leges and cities, of whom patriot would have
had better hopes, if they had continued to han
die the saw or follow the plow. A sad mistake
they have made which they never will regret
but once, but that will be as long as they live.
They have mistaken their calling. They have
ventured out at sea without the skill that can
avoid the breakers. We would say then to ev.
cry young man-put by that false pride which
forbds you to wear anything but broadc.oth,
and which teaches you to regard any kind of
honest labor as humliating drudgery. Seek
out that occupation which is useful rather than
snowy, which you are fitted for, rather than
that which you fancy, remembering
THAT he who labors firm and gains his point,
Be what it will, which crowns him with sue
cess,
He is the son of fortune and of fame