Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-12-06
HABITS OF MENTAL
LABOR

"Perhaps may not improperly here introduce
what may by possibility be useful to the rising
generation, the little know of Mr.. w. system
of mental culture.
81 had directions from client, in 1918 or 'l9,
to consult him upon case of some Importance,
a case in which were presented numerous cross
questions of law and equity, so ensnared and
entangled, that it required days and weeks OF
hard labor to discover channel way over its
shoals, and amid its rocks. called on Mr.. w.
on the evening of my arrival in Boston, and sta
ted the nature Of the case. He saw its difficult
ties, and observed that the early morning was
the period for such labor, and requested me
to meet him in his study at an early hour, which
| accordingly did. Before the hour of dinner,
he had threaded all the avenues and cross-paths
Of the labyrinth, and he gave an opinion SO clear
and so comprehensive, that at the dinner table ]
was induced to ask him what had been his sys-
TEN of mental culture. He gave an outline, and
the reasons in support of it. 1t was this, that
so far as training was concerned, the system
which experience had shown to be most condu-
Give to mental power That the training in both
cases should be the same that it was a law of
our nature, that the body or the mind that la
bored constantly, must necessarily labor moder-
atey He instanced the race horse, which by oc-
casiona efforts in which all its power is excited
followed by periods Of entire rest, would in
time add very largely to its speed and all the
great walkers or runners of our own race, who,
from small beginnings, when fifteen or twenty
miles n day fatigued them, would in the end,
walk over fifty miles at the rate of five or six
miles an hour. think he also mentioned the
London porter who, at first staggering under
load of $50 or 200 pounds, would in time walk
off with 600 or 800 pounds with apparent ease.
The same laws govern the mind When employ
ed at all, all its powers should be exerted to its
utmost. Its fatigue should be followed by its
entire rest He stated that he was generally in
his study at five in the morning; that whatev-
er mental occupation employed him, he put out
all his power, and when his mental vision be-
gan to be obscure he ceased entirely, and re-
sorted to some amusement or light business as
a relaxation. | remember distinctly his quota
ton from Chesterfield; DO one thing at
time; whatever is worth doing at all is worth
| doing WELL
81 cannot remember the language bu. mere
! ly his general views. His views of mental cul-
ture led me to some thought and reflection
which ended in the entire conviction, that the
great object in view was mental power and not
mental acquisition alone. The greatest readers
are seldom the most profound thinkers. The
mechanics with the greatest variety of tools are
not always the best workmen. Books, as Ba-
con observes are but helps to the mind. Elo-
quence, such as Hamilton's, Henry's, Dexter's,
and Webster's, or Shakspeare's and Demosthe-
nes rarely proceeds from men Of great learning
1t is intense thinking, the slow and painful pro-
cess of concentrating all the powers upon Civ
en- subject, that lies at the foundation of elo-
quence. Mr.. Webster was an eminent instance
| was in Washington during the debate in the
Senate principally by Hayne and Webster, but
my professional engagements deprived me of
the pleasure Of listening to it. After the dev-
cry of the speech Of Mr.. Webster, many if not
all the members at our table, among many 9TH
er laudatory remarks, commended it for the nov
city of its views of the Constitution. When
came to the reading of the printed speech, rec.
ognized what had seen or heard before, and f.
naly traced the source Of these impressions
back to Mr.. Webster himself In long walk
on Rhode Island, in the year 1922, he PROFOUND
ed to me, for my opinions, number of suppo-
sed cases of conflict between the General and
the State Governments. replied that they
were questions of entire novelty which had
never thought Of He went on to give his
views, which he did somewhat at large. From
that day up to the reading of his great argument
| had not bestowed thought upon them. The
first opportunity had, asked Mr.. Webster if
he recollected our walk upon Rhode Island
He said perfectly well, and he also said that he
had occupied large portion of his leisure hours
upon the Constitution of the United States aud
that probably no question could well arise be-
tween the power Of the States and that of the
United States, which he was not as ready to dis
cuss as he ever could be- Mr.. Justice Story, to
whom told the circumstance, also stated that
to his certain knowledge, Mr.. Webster required
little or no preparation for questions of that
character. That he had tho't deeply and intense.
J " on the subject for years, and was therefore
, prepared at any time and upon any occasion.
, hope may be pardoned for this episode"
SOMETHING NEw.-An invention which must
become popular consists in small paddock, with
the owners name engraved upon it, which is
affixed to an umbrella in such a way that it can
, not be taken off, nor the umbrella opened. This
il is supposed, will guard against the stealing Of
umbrellas and in this light will, if successful, be
' by some considered an Infringement of natura
rights.
Especially on rainy day.]
SuBLrMrTY.-The following specimen of III,
sublime is from the lips of an itinerant vender o
soaps, &C., and was delivered at fair held few
days since at Keene, N. H.:-"Oh that wer,
an eagle would seize Coumbia's flag unfurl
ed, and soar aoft until ! reached the upper air
lH