The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-16
For the Register.
Notes of Hand.

benefits Of are in its use, and the honor
of it is in the liberal spirit which il
shows. This is as true Of little as it
is of much, aud thovcry plain farmer or
very humble mechanic, who settlSs down
in rudeucss because he has not spiril,to
beuutify the spot he lives upon, shows a
lack of cultivation as plainly, as the man
of acres and miles, who is merely sordid
and ordinary in his desires. Intelligence
is not civilization Like properly, il
can serve to make the want Of it the
more conspicuous. Civilization implies
an advancement in manners and the arts
Of life, because the soul which is refined
by it, enjoys the excellence of them, their
grace, propricty or convenience, and can
no more be content without them, than
without neatncss or honesty. Pride is
not civilization. None have so much of
self exaltaiion as the people of lalf-bar-
barous and secluded countries. We arc
proud bccluse We cannot see our own
Deficiencies, ard are ignorant of the su.
pcriorty of the characters or circum-
stances Of others. Pride is the principal
enemy of civilization with us. Having
considerable advantages. especially that
Of which savagcs have as much. personal
Independence, we are at liberty to in.
dulgo a churlsh spirit and hing ourselves
in the want Of tastes above the instincts
of animal lifl. Our temper Of pride, if
wounded by the better impulses If other
men. or provoked to compare our own
condition with that Of social life where
mora ref cement exists and a higher civ
iIizaiion rcisns, may settle down in
jealousy AMI envy, aud avcngc itself in
abuse Of its dsturbers.
Civilization implies a cultivation of
men by which property obtains value
for the benefits it confcrs; by which even
pride is turned to account in clcvating
the principles If honor and propricty.
and divcrsifying their application by
which intelligence opens the way to moro
expansive desires and more refined on-
joymonts. Diligence is not civilization.
though it may earn the means of it A
man may boast of his activity or per
severance in his pursuit. with no more
merit in it, than that Of a water wheel
or wcathcr-cock Learning is not civ
ilization. Few indeed have enough of It
to affect them much, and those who have
are apt not TO have learned to apply i.
well. As with other advantages, it may
be directed in a proper spirit, or may DO
abused to supercliousncss and rudeness
Religion is not civilization. Its princi-
pies are rudcly entertained by many.
while It's true spirit softens, refncs and
clevates, and is that Of the purcst, most
perfect civilization. As we look upon
society, civilization is initiated by intel.
ligcnoe. supplied by diligent industry
developed in that sentiment of affection
or aspiration, which the heart demands,
by principles Of science or taste which
knowledge or refnen ent affords Itap
pears as consummaiion or effect. the
consummate flower of progress, and when
not apparent indicates tho absence or Sc
rious misdirection of tho capacities which
produce it,
Churches will indicate the religious
civilization of mon, and bespcak the cul.
tivation of tho minds which arc impelled
to value them Their completeness of
arrangement and elegance of finish will
indicate this,and the good order in which
they are maintained attest the sincerity
of the feeling which provides them, not
perhaps Of faith, but Of the love Of it.
Roads Indicate civilization. In coun.
try Of universal business activity, the
convenience of all demands facility of
circulation to endure the want Of il
from the impelfection of roads, and
adopt no system to correct this, must ar.
que want of ability or of disposition to
improve them; vigor Of character. per.
haps. in the wrong direction. Bridges
arc tests Of civilization evory where, as
are durable public structures of every
sort They may be built ehoaply for
present convenience, but permoneucy be.
longs to their nature, and pertains even
10 economy with them, as beauty aud iit-
ness do to their position. Public
grounds, qs laid out for any Purposes of
nse OF ornament, are tests Of civilization.
Designed for enjoyment and beauty, they
imply sense Of those uses in those who
provided them, separated as they we're
by an ago of hardness from its refined
qualification neglected and repulsive,
may they not reveal temper of degen-
oracy in those who inherit them, ndica.
ting decline Of civilization The high.
ways of somo countries, of some districts
OF our own country, are adorned with