Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-06-23
EXTRACTS.
From Henry T. Tuckerman's Optimist.]

! oometImes, IN nuslng upon genius IN lis
simpler manifestations, it seems as if the
great art of human culture consisted chiefly
in preserving the glow and freshness of the
heart.
The danger is ever with us that we refer
our actions, thoughts and feelings, to the
ldolized standard of public opinion. We
believe too much in associations, and too
lille in ourselves.
| A lapse of integrity, an act of successful
fraud accomplished with consummate skill,
is infinitely more delestable than the tenn
porary abuse Of any natural appetite, for il.
argues the deliberate petversion Of the high
er faculies-a hopeless barrenness Of no.
bic feeling.
| Religion itself is but state of the affec-
tions. | once met beautiful peasant wo-
man in the valley of the Arno, and asked
the number of her children. 81 have three
here and two in Paradise,n she calmly re-
piled, with tone and manner Of touching
and grave simplicity. Her faith was Of the
heart.
Shakespeare undoubtedly owed his mar
velous insight into the human soul TO his
profound sympathy with man. He might
have conned whole libraries on the phio-
sophy Of the passions; he might have cold
ly observed facts for years, and never have
conceived Of jealousy like Othello's, the re-
morse Of Macbeth, or love like that of Juliet.
Technical information, and that quick
ness Of apprehension which New Eng gland
ers call smartness, are not so valuable TO
human being as sensiblity to The beautiful,
and spontaneous appreciation of the di-
vine influences which fill the realms of Wis
ion and of sound, and the world Of action
and feeling. The tastes, affections, and sem
llments are more absolutely the man than
his talent or requirements.
There is way of doing good in the
world, on small scale, that is scarcely ap-
preclated. 4 man who educates one child
faithfully, may effect work of greater be-
nevo!ence than one who has won the name
Of phllanthropist. The love concenlred on
a family may produce richer fruits than tha,
which embraces the world. lis action is
more intense and invisible, but its res,le-r-4.
of a community.
A young naval officer, when asked what
period of his first battle was most appalling =
replied, ssThe few hushed moments when
they sprInkled The decks with sand, TO drink
the human blood as yet unshed." Thus isl
i. with the contest for gold. Not in the
earneslness Of The sanguine miner, or the
tranquil industry Of the gainful devotee, or
the luxury Of the millionare-not in the
dawn or The consummation Of the pursuit
Of wealth, but in the premedilated reckless
ness of the gambler, do we fully see the de-
lirIum Of the gold fever.
The idea Of talent is associated more or
less with the idea of success; and on this
account the lucrative creed of the New
EngIander recognises it with indiscrimnate
admiration but there is whole armory Of
weapons in the human bosom, of more ce
eslial temper. 1t is nobler and happier
thing TO be capable Of self otion, loyalty,
and generous svmpahies, to cherish quick
sense Of honor, and find absolute comfort
only in being los. in another, than TO have
an eye for color, whereby the rainbow can
be transferred lo canvas, or felicity of die
ton that can embalm the ,ruest pictures in
immorlsl numbers.
The peasantry of southern Europe, and
the mos. ignorant Irish women, often excel
educated New Englanders in genuine cour-
,esy. Their richer feelings teach them how
10 deal with others. Reverence and tender
ness (no. self-possesslon and intellgence)
are the hallowed avenues through which
alone true souls come together. The cool
satisfaction with which character is aIyzed
and defined in New England, is an evidence
of the superficial test which observation
alone affords. Yankee dreams not of the
world which is revealed only through SEN
timen,. Men, and especially women, shrink
from unfolding the depths of their natures
to The cold and prying gaze which aims
to explore them only as an intellectual
diversion. 1t is the most presumptuous
thing in the world for an unadulterated New
Englander, however 'cue and s,udious, to
pretend TO know another human being, if
nobly endowed for he is the last person
TO elicit latent and cherished emotions. He
may read mental capacities and detect moral
tendencies, but no familiarity will unvell
the inner temple; only in the vestibule will
his prying step be endured.
remember two anecdotes of hats, which,
each in its way, may serve to redeem the
article in the Imagination of It's enemies
Some wears ego, famous duellist lived al
the principal hotel of Hamburg. He was
for ever seeing quarrels, and always shot
his man. One successful method of giving
offence was to come in late 10 dinner, and
abuse some unlucky stranger, who had in
adverten,ly appropriated his chair. A gen.
,leman newly arrived was warned Of this as
he was about 10 seat himself in the buIIy's