The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-04-11
)EN SOUTH CAROLINA, TUESDAY MORNNG APRIL II, 1854


II1sroRY.-IIow few of our young peoPre
nad history! 1t requires but cursory OBJ
srvation to convince us of the fact. We new:
tr hear them aIlude to historical authors in
heir conversation, or to any Of the great wri-
trs of former times, whilst it is common e.
Rough to hear pretty free expression of opin.
on in regard to the ephcheral productions of
he day; and it is easy to learn from the gene
lal tenor of their remarks that even these are
'ead in many cases, mostly with the view Of
'eing fashionable, aDl not from hearty relish
or any kind of reading. O.
The truth is that the profusion of cheap and
nercenary books has produced kind Of satie-
g of feeling in the reading public, and there
b far less steady, patient reading in any class
Of society than three was in old times. There
s so much news, anecdote, and miscellany of
Every description constantly engaging the rea.
1er's attention, that those who have taste for
iterary enioyments, have little disposition to
withdraw themselves from the scene of cotem
porary affairs, to survey the wonderful, phan-
tom-like procession of generations long depar-
ted, even though the hand of genius has embel-
lshed the drama with the most splendid de-
coratons of art Such is the false and delusive
influence which present events exercise upon
the imagination, that it requXes considerable
sefcontrol to resist their power. The last
political movement, the last explosion or col
lisiOn, or the last reported case of murder, for
gerry or seduction, are the topics which gene.
rally interest the private circle and engross the
conversation Of elderly acquaintances, whilst
the last novel of Dickens, Bulwer, Miss Bronte
Hawthorne, Thackcray, or somebody else Gus
demgcaeris, is almost the only literary subject
which our bellies and exquisites will conde
scend to notice. The rising generation, edu-
Gated under such influences, is nsensibly suf
fering an immense loss They know not how
vast store Of instructive facts and elevated
enjoynfents they have abandoned, nor upon
what chaf they are feeding their immortal
minds, They have, perhaps, inferred from the
few historical lessons they have received in a
catechetical way at school, that history is like
grammar, rhetoric, and logic, (too often taught
in the same way very dull study, and one
by no means calculated to fit them for fashion.
able life. But this only shows how profound
is their Ignorance, and how desirable it is that
it should be eilectually dispeed.
Let any Of our young friends, who are will
| ling to take valuable hint, but tsst the thing
practically for year, and our word for it,
, they will not at the end of that time willingly
abandon course of reading at once so delight.
ful and so improving. Let them try.
ScuoLARs.-No one can be made scholar
almost all persons can make themselves schol.
ars. Labor saving machines do not apply to
the mental world in the same sense as to the
physical. 1t is not among vast libraries, sur
rounded by numerous teachers and professors,
I shat prHdigips OF learning arr prpdnced / ne
! pcrs.,n who in youth learns to exercise his own
powers Of mind, is sure to turn out Il scholar,
and useful practical man, if he lives to the
middle period of life. If he does not learn to
think for himself, rs well as to read books and
receive facts from Others he will never become
really learned Who ever heard of q scholar
made by lectures, or by teachers in any form
Has not every scholar who has yet appeared in
the world become such by his own efforts-by
personal applicato the patient and per.
severing use of the machinery within him
! Who ever heard of hereditary learning, or oI
ideas manufactured like cotton cloth-by steam
or water power9 The history of American
colleges, for the last ten or twenty years, fully
proves that studeuts who perform the most
mental labor for themselves and not those who
hear the greatest number of professors, make
the strongest and most valuable men. . 4 large
library is another facility in education, which
by abuse, is liable to DO injury; which has
done much injury to students. \ great reader
and especially miscellaneous reader, is seldom
a good scholar or a useful man. He may have
large mass of materials collected, but he has
no power to use them, either for himself OF
his fellow men. Ills mind is mere lumber
yard, and himself an intellectual miser-a
blank in the beautiful and harmonious creation
around him.