Spirit of the age., 1853-05-25
Universal Mental Cultivation.

lone are disposed to question. Mind teaches !
he nature of the delicate and momentous re- |
ations which unite society, preserves their
beauty and uniformity, and develops their
power and usefulness. This mind dwells
With the mass of mankind We would then,
that society may be elevated, ,and have the rays
of knowledge penetrate and expand this mind.
We would have the genius of learning cour-
ted and wooed from her mountain home, that
literature and science might come down and
walk radiant with truth and loveliness through /
every grade of the community-thatthe bright /
light struck out from the mind of the mass, +
might reach the uttermost boundaries of the t
land. An elegant writer has said that men
tai cultivation is not the expansion of any
single power or susceptibility. There should
be no brilliant intellect unmellowed by the
radiancy of moral feeling-no strength of
passion or sentiment uninfuenced by other
of the minds faculties. There must be a
mental balance, which is the great secret of
all education. From the want of such bal
ance, Ignorance, with her offspring, Super
stition and Prejudice, has ever weighed down
the intellectual scale and destroyed the no
blest results of mental effort. That system
should be discarded which develops only the
powers ofintellect. Variety. the high thought,
the virtuous sentiment, the beautiful and
sublime emotion, the chaste passion, all, in
happy union, raise communities to power
and happiness.
The opinion has too long prevailed, that
superior mental cultivation belongs exclusive
| ly to the learned professions. 1t is to com
bat this fatal delusion, that we now call the
attention Of the mass to this destructive er-
ror. The Mechanic possessing the same men
tai gifts, enjoying the same rights, holding
the same momentous relations to society as
the professional man, should likewise have
his heart and intellect fully developed. 1t is
not sufficient that he be mere mechanic
It is not sufficient that he be master work
man, though he be as skillful and precise il
the use Of his instrument, as was the Moor
ish King Of Saladin, in SCOTS story Of the
Talisman. principles ofsciencea are close
ly interviewer in every piece of mechanism
He should master we'll these principles, tn,
effect Of their application, consider them a.
the solid basis Of the comforts and convenien
ces of life, and not the least among the mean
of human power and enjoyment. He shoult
love his trade because Of the science engraft
ed in it, because Of its usefulness, because O
its afording him an enduring place in til
proud temple of Fame. The productions G
Newton and Franklin, of the past, and Eu
, bank, and other great lights, of the present
. should be the aliment of his mind thei
thoughts, which when sought, como clea
and inspiriting from the living page, shoul
be familiar to him as household words an
how they studied and thought, he shoul
learn to study and think. And like then
y he should not be ignorant Of whatever is ez
i cellent in religion, useful in philosophy, G
; thrilling in eloquence. lie will thus exhib
! a mind not controlled by any one desire, br
a mind, like Milton's tree ofparadise, weighe
down with rich and delicious fruits-a min
$ elevated, useful and polished. He will thr
exalt his trade, and add to it new and brigh
: er excellencies.
# But the elevation of Professions and NJ
t. chanical trades, is not sufficient to produC
, the general elevation of society. They con
|, pose but half the great mass of mind The
J. is the Merchant, who should also be raise
- to like eminence. His occupation shoul
1t not be regarded as q mere disposer Of sill
.e and calicoes, broad-cloths and domestics-
V for viewed in this avaricious light, he sinl
,e into the insignifcance Of mere pedlar
0 wares. But viewed in connection with Con
1T merce, as influencing the business and inte
t. ests of men, as entering into every social I
It lation, as drawing on the resources of cart
a air and water, as connected with foreig
e climes, and uniting nations by golden linl
n of sympathy and interest, it is by far Il
i most comprehensive and important of a
A. life's yocations. The Merchant should DO
or sess q mind sure, deep and searching. II
duties and obligations arising from the mar
relations which his calling creates, shou
es likewise be fully known to him. lie shou
at be historian, scholar and Christian.
l. And shall the mind Of the Farmer rema
= uncultivated? Is he an isolated being, u
n. connected with any of the relations of soc
&C. ty? Is there no knowledge of science
e Agriculture Agriculture is closely ALI
If to Commerce, and has a bearing, greater
IS, less, on every pursuit in life. 1t may
o. called an unfailing source of national veal
o. and prosperity, supplying the wants of ma
and imparting new life, and stirring, cea
less activity to trade of every kind. Besid
rs It's Observation-Disclosures by the vices a
y vanities Of the world, so terminating, so
40 basing to the mind-arc the repositories
e. the integrity and patriotism of society.
OF deed, we may say that the Farmer is
'ss guardian Of government, rights and Law
the sleepless watchman on the outposts of
fence. We would then have his mind Gu
IN waited. both morally and intellectuallv, Il
Is he may know and observe the duties impo,
~ upon him by society and by God that