The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-03-22
Acquaintance with the Eminent.
Some men are acquainted with a geo

Some men are acquainted with good
many books; others with q good many
wealthy people. But intercourse with
the latter does not make them rich, and
familiarity with the former does not make
them scholars. Extensive and promiscu-
Gus intercourse with mankind has few ad-
vantages for the man of thought. Ac.
cess is not thus to be obtained to what is
most valuable in others. Better for the
studious, thinking man, to be much alone,
cultivating acquaintance with the insides
of good books and himself, than with the
outsides of other people, however emf
nent.
No men, although called great, are SO
full of pearls of thought, as to run over
in the presence of ordinary company
To be admitted into familiar intercourse
with those who are largely accomplished
in knowledge of the world and books and
things, is indeed an inestimable privilege.
Transmitted property is nothing in COM
parison with intellect and information,
which comes spontaneously, without any
effort, by inheritance from parents of
broad and finished education. What priv
ilege equals that of possessing private
key in early youth to the memory of one
eminent for talent, scholarship or profess
sional learningl Equally, if not more to
be priced, is the privilege to be admitted
to the chamber of the good man ere be
meets his fate, as well as aclsere be meets
it.
The privation most to be lamented is
not only the want of formal instruction in
early life, but also that of intelligent daily
and hourly conversation with friends of
solid and deep information on some sub
jects. There is a vast deal which can
never be obtained from books, and yet it
is necessary to progress. When this is
attained with felicity, By the way as it
were, advancement is rapid and easy
When not thus acquired, these things so
necessary to be known, become serious
obstacles in the path of the solitary stu
dents, which few seasonable hints from
a learned friend would have Immediately
removed, if he could have come by such.
An acquaintance like that with the great
and learned, is of inappreciable value, of
which one has right to be proud. But
the sight of philosopher or sage, or e.
ven frequent position by his side, will
not impart any of his knowledge or vir-
tue. One cannot get either by absorp.
ton. There are manv who reVolve thro'
life on the outside of intellectual society,
but never have access to its esoteric priv
ileges. They know no more of men of
note, than travellers who visit foreign coun-
tries and never see parlors, do of its pri-
vata mansions and domestic life. 1t is
very petty and contemplate ambition to
know just enough of such men, as to ena-
bic one to boast of their acquaintance
Generally speaking, the best knowledge
Of distinguished orator, for example,
may be got from studying his speeches; of
poet, by reading his poems; of an auth
or, by familiarity with his works, and so
on. This is the greatest advantage of
which they can be to US, unless their
friendship and intimacy may be granted;
for that is the greatest benefit to all. This
great prerogative is reserved, however, to
a few, and commonly to those who are a.
bic to pay for it by fair exchange Of
gifts. To consort with princes, one must
be prince; to have intercourse with a
shop-keeper. to any purp2se, you must
have change in your pockets to balance
against your goods; and to be admitted
to the conversation of talent and learning,
one must have both, in some respectable
degree.