The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-15

but does not satisfy it; present another, an
another Of different description, and its d.
light will still be increased. Take it on a
excursion, it will be constantly making dii
coveries, and adding to its stock of know
edge, still wishing for change of scene, seek
ing new objects, finding subjects for ne,
thoughts, thus widening the circle of its in
tellectual excursions; and if thus kept activ
creating an Unsuitable desire for enlargin
the capacity Of its mind. At some time il
the life of every one of ordinary capacity
this love of learning this ardent thirst 70
knowledge, may be instlled and an actv
habit of mind formed that will never let it rest
but find its chief enjoyment in rejection an,
patient thought; and though there may b.
very few of whom il can be affirmed, as Car
lyle says Of Jean Paul, his thoughts were Sc
rapid and so true, "his was the rest of inin
lite motion the stiffness of a spinning top
Yet such habits Of reflection and contempla.
tion may be implanted a, an early age, SO ,ha,
they will become as other habits do asskind
Of second nature"
Anything of an exciting character impress.
es the mind, especially of child, very forci.
bly,, and consequently is more easily retained
by the memory. Battles, seiges, remarkable
events, strike deeper into the mind, & are re.
membered longer than cool reasoning, OF
dull calculations. History richly abounds
with these. To arouse the attention of q
child, therefore, acquaint him with some oil
the most striking facts in ancient or modern
history. Unfold to his view some of the beau
ties OF natural scenery in particular country,
tell him OF some of the wonderful achieve
ments, of some particular character that fig
ured in that nation, point him to some peculi-
arity common to that country and his own
and see if such thirst is not created in his
mind. which nothing but thorough investi-
CATION Of the annals OF that country can sat-
isfy! Instead of at first making him memoir
ize the dull rules Of arithmetic, or the dreary
pages of grammar, and requiring him to solve
obtuse geometrical problems, lead him by
gentle steps to admire the beautiful and grand
in nature, tell him Of the accounts we have of
the formation of our globe, present some ge-
illogical fact, point to the starry dome above,
talk of the trackless comet, refer to some in
teresting circumstance in history, tell him Of
the pyramids of Egypt; of
"Memnon's statue, whose magic strains insp ire
With vocal sounds that emulate the lyrc,"
Of Hannibal and Napoleon crossing the Alts,
Of the wooden horse entering Troy, of Gusta-
vus Vasa, Sweden's greatest monarch, work
ing in the mines of Dalecarlin. Here are
Immediately incentives for pursuing the study
Of history; and as there is mutual depen-
1ence between all branches of knowledge, al
ter becoming acquainted with individual char
acter, the manners, customs, and destiny, of a
he will wish to learn its geograpA ical
limits 81 oftEe arbitrary divisions o. kingdoms;
and then he will find that he is indebted to
Euclid for the precision with which they are
traced on the maps, and the figures that were
silent to him before are now required to fix
dates, determine distances, latitude, &C., he
goes to geology 20 learn the formation of the
soil, to chemistry to find why the immense
quantity of Vinegar, Hannibal used to decom-
pose the rock to make pass for his troops
on the Alps, accomplished the desired pur-
pose.
Thus as in the association of ideas, we are
led from the contemplation of one subject by
an accidental coincidence, from that train of
thought to another on infinitely, so we find
every branch OF science, bearing some rela-
ton, and in some measure dependent on an
other, and we shall often find pleasure in tra-
cling a resemblance in many objects and op-
erations where we least expected them.
AS ignorance is the parent of vice, all ad-
nit that the general diffusion of knowledge is
1 "consummation devoutly to be wished" as it
would facilitate the happiness ofman by lead
ng him in quest of objects worthy the pursuit
If an immortal being, g. as mans intellectual
faculties are the chief means of distinction be-
ween him and inferior animals, one whose
mind is accustomed to investigation will esti-
nate national and individual character by men,
al and moral endowments. And not only do
We observe that the most enlightened nations
ire generally the most happy, disposing to
freedom Of thaught on every subject and en-
a mutual interchange of opinion,
but the investigation OF science has ten
lency to form a bond Of union between those
engaged in the pursuit, no matter of what
nation those individuals may be, or the stale
Of affairs existing between their respective
and Of course then the greater
the number engaged in search of the great
truths of nature, the more favorable will
be the prospect for an amicabe intercourse
being maintained between nations. And
were this fraternal intercourse better secured
we might learn more intimately than we
have yet done, the history and policy of exist
ing nations, we should have more faith in
the authenticity of frecords, g. not be compell-
ed to depend SO much on conjectures drawn
from sketches and anecdotes given by tray
ellers whose object and designs were suspec-
ted.
However solid, beautiful and grand, the
works of art maybe, all are subject of decay,
those that csc ape the destructive hand of
man, eventually yield to the ravages of time;
yet the light of history shall make in the
mind, as it were daguerrean likeness Of all
the sublimities of events, actions, and scenery
and we are thus enabled to enjoy see, enac i.
and dwell in-all that has been, is, or may be.
Who has not thus experienced, that has IRA
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