The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-20

Guilty lies, and it is at the threshold that the
thoughtless and unguided linger until overtaken
by chronic listlessness, or infatuated with the
vain and frivolous objects that absorb the atten.
ton of the thousands around them.
1t is pity that consciousness of the pow
ers within them and the opportunities before
them is realized by so few of the hand-
craftsmen among US. There Is not an in
telligent, sober, and industrious journeyman
mechanic in this or any other city who canno:
in two years, without the loss OF day from
his usual duties, Ard without the expenditure
OF dime year more than he is now expend-
Ing, become SO perfectly acquainted with some
particular branch of valuable knowledge as to
readily obtain at the end of that time twice or
thrice his present wages for the devotion of but
third of his present hours of labor to lighter
and more agreeable pursuit. But it must be
by fixing the mind upon given object, which
many feSard as prostitution of the mind but
which we regard as essential to true greatness
and worldly success.
For the intelligence usually denominated
general, we have but little respect. 1t is to
know little of many things, and, as conse-
quence, much of nothing. Your man of general
intelligence takes general views of every thing,
and particular views of nothing. He can talk
glibiy of many things, and instructvely of
nOthiuy. He wins the admiration of the I'm
learned, whoare many, byincurring the contempt
of the learned and discerning, who are few
He appears wise in speech TO those who can
not Judge, but falls in every effort at superior
usefulness when properly tested. Such men
sink to their level in the conflicts of life, and
men of concentrated Notwithstanding con
! temptuously denominated one-idea men-as
cend In prosperity and in the esteem of the
world
Had COLUMBUS been one of these men of
general Intelligence, he would have applied it
to the acquisition of an immense fortune of five
hundred pounds, instead of making the dis
coyery of an unknown continent Had
FRANKLIN squandered the energies Of his
vast and Herculean mind in gliding gently
over the surface of myriad of impracticable
subjects, instead Of dwelling with fervid
energy upon those with which his name will
forever be honorably associated, he would
no doubt have become the proprietor of pros
porous printing house, and died out of debt,
respected and amented by-al who knew
him." Had Professor MORSE been a man of
general intelligence he would now be envied
as the lucky inheritor and improver no doubt,
(Which he ISL of MoR.E's Geography, and due
praise therefor would be inscribed in his cpl
taph. But fortunately for the world these per-
sons, though their eyes were open to all that
I passed around them, realized higher duty in
! life than merely TO take cognzance of the
moving panorama, and each one of them brought
his intellectual powers to focus upon given
object worthy Of them, and conferred blessings
on the world and Immortality on his name.
There are many, it is true, the nature OF
whose pursuits meaSurably for a time forbid the
adoption of this course, but working mechanics
are not of these. Their task of ten hours
labor we'll performed, the world and their own
interests will prosper. Notwithstanding the
withdrawal of their attention almost wholly
from all except the leading object of thought,
as well as though the affairs of the whole COM
munity should be daily investigated and de-
bated by them. 1t is in this respect alone that
the aphorism of "Cobber, stick to your last %
may be applied. While it is your means of
support, stick to it well, and prove by so doing
| your ability to stick to whatever may be your
primary object of pursuit. Stick to it as SHER
MAN, CLIFFORD, and a thousand others have
stuck to it, and like them leave it when duties
more profitable to the world and to yourselves
call you hence. Than the lapstonc, the ham
mer, the loom, and the plough. there are no
implements of trade more honorable; yet are they
justly in the estimation of all MEN valued only
as they afford the means of securing present
comfort and future advancement, and it is hence
| that we commend the diigent use of them and
of all other judicous means and appliances, to
whomsoever would attain to wealth and honor
| able distinction