Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-15
Es=Rsv. G. S. WEAvER.-Will preach at
the Christian Church this Thursday evening at
early candle light.
A life Of Literature.


A life Of literature is not life Of case. The
gentleman or the farmer who sends his dullest
son 10 College because he is fit for nothing else,
commits deplorable mistake. Although there
is an excitement and species Of pleasure in lit
erary uborS, yet that excitement is of the most
wearing kind. Others have confessed, with tie
German poet Schiller, that the only pleasure
they ever knew was in manual labor.
Neither is literary life one, ordinarily, of
cmolument. Occasionally, indeed, an author
may hit the public vein, and draw into his cot.
fers Californian treasures. More especially is
this the case with those who deal in light read
ing, in novels, or in school books that become
populaS But your genuine author is generally
poor. While he tolls for others, and sows for
others, others reap. The catalogue of distin-
guiShed authors and benefactors Of their race is
catalogue, full indeed of shining names, but al
so full Of names doomed TO neglect and penury.
lnthe literary world the rrOth has too often swum
and glittered upon the surface, the solid worth
has sunk in obscurity 10 the bottom. And how
many professional men, after spending large
sum, and toing many years TO prepare FOR their
professions, then spend bright talents in a most
laborouS, but, TO themselves, most proftless toll!
How many editors, coming pleasure and profit
to their readers out OF the very marrow of their
brains are also obliged TO spend the solemn hours
Of night over their desks, setting up the type and
printing the lines that are to greet their fellow
citizens when they start refreshed from the gen.
tie slumbers that wed them to their pillows
Yet a literary life is not without its pleasures
The intellectual joys of knowledge are many an,
great. They are also enduring. They afTsrd t
the mind stimulOus, high and pure. They Civ
it food for its meditations by day and its dream
by night. They keep its possessor from low
and degrading pleasures. They strengthen III
mind for stronger lObOrs. They remain after tn
Joys Of sense have palled and faded away, to floy
in rivers Of freshness and verdure over the sou
It is also not without its honors. Almost a
honor is the fruit Of intellectual greatness, or il
tellectual labor. tits true, the hero often wade
to lofty destination through seas Of blood. D,
almost all military heroes, even, have bee
strong minded men. Philip of Macedon, az
Alexander, Cyrus and Cesar, Napoleon an
Wellington, Charles XII and the Car Pete
Frederick the great and Washington, indeed a
most all the men Of martial note, were also me
Of distinguished mind, and many of them distir
guished for intellectual labOrs, But literar
culture and literary pursuits are, in their yer
nature, the paths best fitted to wake the stun
bering mind from its lethargy, fill it with stor,
of useful information, and plume it for its loft
est flights. The path of literary and profession
al life, is also a path strown with honOrs; brig
galaxy, milky way, burning with CluIterir
stars Of superior magnitude and infinite number
The walks of Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemi
try, Mathematics, and the professions of Law
divinity, and medicine, as we'll the Statesman