Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-01-31
LETTERS or ADVICE FROM THE
LATE PROF. r. w. GILMER.
NO. II.
Wmenrsrra. Anril s.h. 1917. /.

MlNeHEsrER, April pm, 1911
DeAR 1872 lam glad TO hear BY your letter Of he
9Th Of March, that You and -- are well, that
YOU are pleased with my TREND DR. -, and en-
coaraged by his appreciation in the prosecution q
your studies. AT your age, impressions from pres
enf objects are much more vivid than those which
any representations however strnng of remote con-
sequences can be, that whatever counsel may Dc
given YOU will produce but temporary and an
uncertain effect. Il will be nearly impossible 70
make you believe, that The entire view which you
are now capsule Of taking OF human life and hap
piness IS bal an illusion and am not sure, that
Il would be either kind or proper, altogether 70
dissipaSe 50 pleasing vision. will howeyeren,
deayor 10 dissolve what may be most fantastic, and
pernicicus in your youthful decisions, and Leave
The rest TO the sure but lingering operauen OF ume
Ia our country, and in our age, u IS easy 70 ne
useful and happy but hard, very hard 70 be really
great. /, Is easy to be useful because hold any
man valuable member OF society; who by honest
industry contributes 10 make his parents and iam-.
ily happy and in his season raises family wno
NAV enjoy the same pleasures With himself And
as This Of itself is enough content the minds OF
ordinary men and is easy attained II is also easy
TO reach thai mediocTty Of Happiness TO which alone
the generality of mankind aspire II IS Uncut 70
be great for thousand reasons. Twill enumerale
some OF them:
10 the first place esteem him only as great who
employs extraordinary talents in The accomplish
nent OF some great moral good. LIZ this sense even
BouaparIe was an extraordinary but not great
q
he 10 more deserves 10 be called great than Miltuls
Satan. On the other hand. Epan1nondas aud
AriS!ides among the Greeks and Gen. Washington
among ourselves with TAR less talent, were much
greater men. But in a-eountry where intelligence
is so generally and equally difiused, where POI
IIical power is so q divided and dr.
irihnied, where Government goes or rather 81 the
inherent principle OF its E,sn notion than the acct
dental impulse OF particular men, it would be as
absurd !" exrSci among US any more such men as
Cen w. as il would be TO expect Scion or l4y-
eurgus TO teach Us new principles OF clvlilzaupn
and of law As 10 distinction in literature or sci
ence the obstacles are full great We hage
neither lhes libraries nor the learned ASSOCIATIONS,
nor the mnnifeent patronage under whose genial
influence the arts and learning of Europe hare
spread their branches OVER the world. You see that
all your education hitherto has been to teach you
what Virgil. and Horace and Cicero knew and wroe
nearly 1000 years ago.
But be not discouraged by these Considerations.
Tho some paths of ambition be closed upon us,
there are enough, and glorious ones still open. Fhe
.Unied States has been the first country 10 place
The useful professions above all the acts of peace
war In the ancient Republics war and eloqnence
were the Two departments which conferred the. mos
glorious and lasting distinction. In France, wal
and science have been, but science far in the rear
in England wealth and political power, sometimes
obtained by artihce, sumetimesby talent but often
er BY corruption, have engrossed all the interest;
and all me efforts OF ambition. In our country
more than in any which has existed, public
4 spirit patriotism, genius, eloquence and allltht
i qualities which ennohle our nature meet with az
/ ample and even prodigal reward. But TO gain
this faeung prize considerable natural.talen ssr ri
required, patient and perseverng industry, an Gle
4 walton and recttude Of character such jas we i'm
/ agine in Aristdes himself; an engaging and fas-
cinating manner like that OF Alcibiades but WITHOUT
his vices or discrimination; and constant attention
4 TO all our words and actions so that we may never
i even be betrayed into an mprudent expression, or
| situation in short, where the focus Of pu bic obser-
/ walton is thrown each individual with its fall
power by freedom Of the press and-of opinion Dor
dering Righteousness must moi only be as pure
as diamond, but like Caesars wife must appear SO,
! 10 avoid being consumed by the fire.
have written TO you as if you were man in
stead of boy, and shall by the effects of my
letter whether have done wrong. You and ~
must both read Plutareh's lives, frequently had
rather you should read nohistory for or years.
if you can obtain Biographies of great men great
in my sense OF the word You cannot read Plutareh
too often You should get Mddletons life of Ci.
cero if possible --- is not ready forfit al this
time. You must both. study Geography on the
maps; reading about places is loss Of lime. There
Is boy here not years Of age who has answered
(and they have been many as to counties, rivers,
towns, &C., &c, nor do | remem3er tina. he ever
missed one Above all things enter into your school
exercises with pleasure and enthusiasm ,endeavbr
70 translate with neatness and precision, without
obscure gpesses AT the meaning of your author.
Have you read Gil Bias in French II is an epitome
of human life in Europe-in America the tints are
rather more bright and cheering. Ii will be more
useful to you than Don Quixote. Study 10 write
fair and clear hand il is necessary 10 the charae-
ter OF every accomplished gentleman.
You cannot study too much to make yourself the
friend your companions especially ofthose youn-
gerthan youtsef To you should be like an el-
derbrother, Whenyou write againlet me know what
you had rather be in life and ask - the same
question. Present my Warmest affections TO my
excellent friend DR.. -- and remember me to all
myafriends Of - and the neighborhood Remem-
Der that nothing great can be done without labour
and with il everything
Yours afecticnately,
+ F. w GIL MFR r