The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-23
II Have no Time TO Read"

None? No half hours. no spare mo-
ments, even! No! But you have time to
eat. drink. and provide for the supply OF all
your physical wants. You have time to
build houses, shops and stores, and to la
Dor for money which you accumulate un-
til you are rich. or spend in sensual pleas
ure and remain poor. You have time to
shelter from heat and cold, body that
will walk but for a little season upon the
earth, and then be buried in its bosom.
You may have time to adorn it with pur
pie and ine linen, or it may be covered
with coarse attire. and although it posses
ses the beauty of Apollo. or the strength
of Hercules, it will soon be dust under the
feet Of the living. DO you sometimes for
get that this outer man dies. the soul lives
forever. and in too great anxiety for the
comfortable support Of the one forget the
Importance of the other?
Do you say, Men of strong muscles and
sinewy arms-men who plow the ground,
and fashion wood. iron and brass into ar
ticles of convenience and luxury. that you
have no time to read, and therefore no
time to think! Are there not hearts within
your breasts that sometimes beat with no.
BILE impulses. and have you not minds tha,
return an abundant harvest for the seeds
of knowledge sown within them! The
farmer who tills the soil will do so the
more successfully, il he can analyze lis
properties, and thus ascertain the kind OF
grains to which it is best adapted. The
mechanic who best understands those
scientific principles that are connected
with his trade, will WELD his tools with an
ability that leaves his ignorant competitor
far in ;the rear. The one guides every
stroke OF the hammer within an eve beam
ing with intellgence; the other brings to
his labor only that strength which he
shares in common with the lower animals
of creation. The one is well informed
upon the current topics Of the day, has
an intelligent opinion in relation TO poll
tics, and casts his vote according to hi.
own Judgment; the other is carried away
by popular excitement and falls an easy
prey to the wiles of the partisan and the
demagogue. The one exercises power.
ful conservative influence in favor of law
and Of order, the other swelis the mob, and
manifests his unitness to share in the gov
ernment Of others by failing to govern
himself. ,..
But if you have not time to read fol
your own sake and for society, there may
be those for whom it is your especial tlu,,
to live wisely. There are some tamiiie.
where children gather around cheertu
iresides at evening hours. and receive in
structon from the lips of parents and eide
brothers and sisters; not perhaps by -torna
question and parrot like reply, but with ,
quick and ready tact that obtains stores 0
valuable information from cheerful and in
telligent conversation.
Let US not complain because others hav,
greater riches and honors than ourselves
for where there are no laws of p,imogeni
ture, and no hereditary peerss riches ant
honors are the rewards of industry ant
perseverance. In this country, only vic,
and ignorance are disgracetul. while la
Dor is respected and honored The prin,
er-boy who sat up all night to read Dor
! rowed books that were TO be returned by
morning. conquered the lightning. and>wa!
courted and admired by the most polished
circles OF Europe; and the young black
smith, whose classical education begar
with Latin grammar al the forge. becam'
a welcome visiter in the first literary cir
| ces at home and abroad.