The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-10-13
SEI.E-MADE MEN.

We make the following beautiful and
striking extract from an address of John A.
McEweu, Esq, recently delivered before
the Literary Societies of Union University:
ain the popular nomenclature of Life, We
hear much of "self made men," the designa-
ton attaching honor to those who receive
il. But all men are self-made, who are made
at all. Such is the nature of the human
mind, that its greatness is to be achieved by
means within itself, ard which can receive
little aid from The appliances, that constitute
the routine of ordinary education. The dis
cipline of an enlarged humanity is not to be
found in books, or in the rules of the school
master These are but part, and mea-
gre portion Of the pabHLum, on which the
soul feeds. But it transcends this narrow
circle, and seeks its nourlshment throughout
the extent of nature and of knowledge, in
the study of the beauty, the wonderfulness
and the eloquent spirit of the creation; IN the
elements and operations of its own faculties,
and in whatever a1ters into the multliorm
experience of hun / life. This is education,
and it is the prerogatiye of n capacious ma
ture, ever watchful of its own progress and
of external circumstances, to receive it in IFS
fitness and power. Birth cannot purchase,
nor wealth monopolize it, But it exists in
unappropriated abundance, like all the gifts of
an impartial Providence. 1t is by means such
us these, that true men are made 1t is the
very mysteries, the uncertainties and the dith-
cuties OF Life, against which the mind rises,
commensurate with them in its ambition, its
courage and its strength. Were the life ex.
terna to the mind state of perfect blessed
ness, that fact would cut off the possibility of
the development.
This is the lesson first, and, perhaps, hard
est to be learned, rs we emerge from the
dream land of youth, and begin to deal with
the realities of the world. Many 4 hope Of
friendly aid, many an expection of encour-
agement, must wither and die in the breast,
ere il shall be perfectly learned. What
generous young heart has not felt this as
he advanced farther and farther into the
field of action! His first steps were proud
and quick and trustiul, until his feet acquired
a solemn, measured gait, as if he were tread
ing on the grave of his hope. The hands
that, at first, seemed to beckon him in the
distance, turned to spectres OF the lmaglna-
ton, as he approached and gazed on them
with the real eye, But, as he rose higher
and higher on the tide of life, in the con-
scious strength of n self-reiant spirit, with
out aid or furthcrance, those spectral hands
changed once again to vertable flesh and
bone. They, who stood off at cold dis
lance, and gazed OF him with suspicious
eyes, now quicken the laufels that spring
about his footsteps, with the sunshine of
their admiration. So orthodox David Deans
despared of Reubin Butler the poor "usher
of Liberton, and frowned on his love for the
admirable JEANNE, while the honest Scotch
man conceived n sudden glory in "Reubin
Butler, placed minister of the Kirk of Scot
land" and actually wrought himself into the
delusion that he had "advsed his puir grand
mother, who was but silly woman, to breed
him up to the mi nstry; and prophesied that,
with blessing on his endeavors, he would
become polished shaft in the temple" But
too fair a specimen of the world is this Scot
fish peasant living only on the page of Ro-
nance.
There are smiles enough for those who
do not need them, and, with the pIaudits of
the crowd, are mingled voices that would rob
their favorite of the honor dearest to him
that of sef.tormaton. The youthful SOL
dier in Lies battle must learn neither to de-
spse nor TO rely on these. He must go
forth in his own strength, unfateringly, brave
ly 90 forth, feeling, if he can, what he will
one day learn that these very disappoint-
ments, and every doubt and fear and trial
that gives him pause, are but the promoters
of his faith and the builders of his greatness.
AS often as have seen the young aspirant
(and who has not watched him with almost
fearful eyesD start into this treacherous
struggle, from his peaceful shades where
were his early dreams, have envied the
girl of the Ganges-her beautiful supersti-
ton, rs she launches her flower wreath boat
upon that golden stream, freghted with VOWS
and simple offering for the safe voyage of
some loved one far away, battling with the
winds and tides of the relentless main. Like
that fair and faithful idolater, would send
my prayers after the young mariner on LIES
sea, that its very storms might strengthen
his gallant ship, and bear him only the more
swiftly TO some point ofhonorable safety"