Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-04-28

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generation and his race is enhanced a thous-
and fold by the greater power over others
which his scholastic attainments impart.
The occasion on which we are now assem-
bled, calls me to address such company Of
young men as | have described-thOse who
have just completed their academic course Of
study, and are soon to step forth into life, and
who are hereafter to be regarded as men, in
the full sense which the capabilities and res
possibilities Of that term convey.
| have chosen as the theme Of remark, ap-
propriate 10 the occasion, a saying Of the
wisest Of men No mere man was probably
ever better qualified to give good counsel to
the young, than Solomon. Not only his pre-
eminent wisdom special endowment of God
but his enlarged sphere Of observation, and
his long and varied experience, fitted him for
this in a high degree. Hence his writings are
among the most valuable Of the sacred canon
for displaying an insight into the devious
workings Of human nature. There is scarce
ly vice or a virtue, which, at some time Of
life he had not practiced, or the operations Of
which he had not observed.
The text Of which have taken from him
to-day, is not Of the nature Of counsel, but
rather simple expression Of his estimate Of
young men; and for a correct judgment on
this point, also, he was well qualified. He
knew their intrinsic worth, and their impor-
tance in society From the inherent power
they possess, from the noble deeds which they
may accomplish. and from the imperishable
lustre which surrounds the characters they
may and should form, he seems to invest them
with halo Of glory" and be points out to
US in what that glory consists. He names
that which constitutes its radience and splen-
dor =" The Glory of young men is their
strength"
Let US analyze this.
lie pictures to himself young man Jul
Of the rigor Of animal life His step is
elastic His arm is strong. Hiseye is clear
His nerves are steady. Every function Of
his physical nature performs its Office we'll
The human machine which David pronounced
fearfully and wonderfully made" is seen in
its perfection in the young man. It's "glory"
lies in its strength" There is no capability
Of nature to which it is unequal. How un-
like the old man! 81 His eye is dim, his
natural force abated" His arm is palsied
with age. Wrinkles furrow his cheek. Gray
hairs cover bis temples. His hand trembles.
His step is unsteady. "The grinders have
ceased because they are few" His desires
have failed" "The grasshopper has become
burden" No longer fitted for the activities
Of rugged life, he totters upon the very
brink Of the grave! 1t is the contrast to all
this in the young man, which constitutes at
least one ray Of that glory" with which Solo
mon surrounds him. The perfection Of his
physical energies, upon which 50 large de-
mand is made in the great struggle Of life, is
no small part of that strength Of which
his "glory" is made up.
But there is ray Of "g glory " with which
the young man is here invested, Of superior
brilliancy still tits the natiUe " strength :"
Of his intellectual pOlcers. Such is the
sympathy between mans physical and mental
nature, that we scarcely need look for sound
ness in the one without we find it in the other.
Hence the importance Of the remark Of
Horace" mems sana in coypore sanO." In
the young man Of sound body, we ought to
find strength Of native intellect. And if bis
powers have been developed by education, If
In the severe conflict Of mind with mind, as
be is brought into contact with those intellec-
tual giants whose works are examined and
mastered, il in any good degree he avails
himself Of the advantages which a Collegiate
course affords, his developed native abilities
must Of necessity impart strength " and
a power to bis mental nature. which consti-
tutes bright ray Of his true glory" among
men.
1t is the mind that makes the man and it
is the symmetrical development and the full
invigoration Of its native powers, bya proper
training, which is the "glory" Of the mind.
This we look for in the young man Of educa-
ton. The endowments Of native intellect in
him, are invested with thousand fold greater
power than il others.
The intellect Of the aged passes into Sc
cond childhood. Feebleness Of body enhances
imbecility Of mind. Though the man may
have been renowned in bis earlier years for
learning; though his name may have been
inscribed high upon the roll Of fame, as an
orator, a statesman, q scollar, q divine
though his reasonings may have silenced op-
position and convinced gain-sayers, and his
elOquence entranced the stolid and carried
captive the incredulous; still as be draws
near his earthly goal, his mental strength "
is worsted, bis glory" is gone. lie be-
comes the sport of every whim, and the prey of