The American patriot., 1855-01-03

Where Ger mans lot may be frightened,
Let the watch-word be Reform! .a "a
Acovsaisstasace with the Eminent.
Some men are acquainted with a good many
books; others with good many wealthy people,
Rut intercourse with the latter does not make
then, rich, nor familiarity with the former does
not make them scholars. Extensive and promis-
cuous intercourse with mankind has few advan-
tares for the man of thought Access is not thus
to he obtained to what is most valuable in others.
Better for the studious, thinking man TO be much
alone, cultiyating acquaintance with the inside OF
good books and himself, than with the outsidcs OF
other people, however eminent.
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 IA
miliar Intercourse with those who are largely ac-
complished in knowledge Of the world, and books
and things, is indeed an inestimable privilege,
Transmitted property is nothing in comparison
with intellect and information, which comes spon-
taneously. without any effort by inheritance from
parents Of broad and finished education. What
privilege equals that Of possessing a private key
in early youth to the library of one eminent for
talent, scholarship, or professional learning P
Equally, if not to be priced, is the privilege
to be admitted to the chamber of the good man
ere he meets his fate as we'll as where he 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 conversa
ton with friends Of solid and deep information on
some subjects There is vast deal which can
never be obtained from books, and yet is necessa-
ry to progress When this is attained with facili-
tv, by the way as it were, advancement is rapid
and easy. When not thus acquired, these things
so necessary to be known, become serious obsta-
cles in the path of the solitary student, which a
Ia from learned
have Immediately removed, if he could have come
by such. An acquaintance like that with the
preat and learned is of iaappreciable value, of
which one has right to be proud. But Che sight
of a philosopher or sage, or even a frequent posi-
ton by his Side will not impart any of his know
ledge or virtue. One cannot get either by absorp-
ton, There are many through life who revolye on
the outside of intellectual society, but never have
access to its esoteric privileges. They know no
more of men of note, than travellers who visit for
eign countries and never see parlors, do of its
private mansions and domestic life 1t is very
petty and contemplate ambition to know just
enough of such men, as to enable one to boast OF
their acquaintance. Generally speaking, the best
knowledge of distinguished orator, for example,
may be got from his speeches; of poet from
reading his poems; of an author, 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 of ALL This great preroga-
tive is reserved, however, to few, and commonly
those who are able to pay for it by fair exchange
of gifts 10 consort with princes, one must be a
prince; to have intercourse with shopkecper to
any purpose, you must have change in your
pocket to balance against his goods and to be
admitted to the conversation of talent and learn
ing one must have both in some respectable
degree iE tHf{
TnE LEVERS OF THE AGE.--The following beau
tiful extract from the pen of the Rev. Z. Chaplin,
is applicable to the times aud well worthy peru
SAL He says:
ocause is 50 bound up with religion as politi-
cal liberty and the rights Of man. Unless have
read history backwards, unless Magma Charta is q
mistake, and the Bill of Rights sham, the Decla-
ration of Independence contunacous falsehood
unless sages, and heroes, and martyrs, who fought
and died. are impostors; unless the sublimesl
translation in modern history, on Tower Hill, il
the Parliaments Of London, on the sea-tossed
Mayhower; unless these are all deceitfn there is
no cause so linked with religion as the cause ol
Democratic liberty.
And sir not only are all the moral principles
which VIC can summon up on the side Of this
great cause, but the physical movements of the
age attend and advance it. Nature is Republican
The discoveries of science are Republican. Sir
what are these new forces steam and electricity
Dut powers tnaV are leVet1nS IactlOuS DISTRACTIONS
Have they not already propelled the Nineteenth
Century a thousand years ahead? What ar,
they but servtors of people, and not of a class
Does the poor man to-day not ride in car dragged
by forces such as never waited on kings, or droy,
the wheels Of triumphant chariots? Docs he no
yoke the lightning, and touch the magnet nerve
of the world? The steam engine is Democrat
1t is the popular hearts that throb in its irol
pulses And the Electric Telegraph writes ,upol
the walls of Despotisn, Neae, Meme 1eket, Uphag
sia There is 4 process going on in the mora
and political world, crumbling the old Sau1ial
form of past ages, and breaking up the old land
marks and this moral process is under Neapol;
tan dungeons and Austrian thrones; and, sir,
will tumble over your Metternichcs aud Nicholas
es, and convert your Josephs into fossils. re
peat, sir, not only are all the moral principles {
the age, but all the physical principles Of Na,urt
as developed man, all are at work in behalf c
freedom
'Genty the dows are DER ,ne stealing as til
man said when he had five due bills presented
him at once
Il don't believe il is any use to vaccinate fe
small pox said back-wood kentuckan. for
had 4 child V3,,ripsf,S and he f,ll out nj j, W..