The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-07-28

Importance Of ChccrtulnesS, which occupied
about an hour and quarter The following
is an ah>trac: Of his remarks =
If cmpiricism. said he, be practice based
upon a knowledge Of fact rather than prin-
ciplc>. then the grand cmpirici>m OF the
world Is the use OF the human mind Itself
1t IS almost purely a matter o: experience
ard routine. Little is known Of The soul
Those who have revealed the secrets OF the
outward world, have .iven little TO our stock
of knowledge respecting The mind The soui
yet goes muii.cd. Ii looks out and sees. but
is Itself unseen, undiscovered. Eycrytiiin.
else WITHIN the rcaCi. Oi Anow!tuoc - sap
posed to conform to exact laws. These Laws
BEN. known. we can calculate their life and
changes. The mind itself is supposed to bc
under law only 50 far as relates to the body.
but i'll itself it opens AMI shuts, iarkcns and
flashes, Ike the clouds that c!o:he the SUM
mcr air Eduration is therefore simply a
KEY 10 the memory. a catalogue Of sclsc.-
Education in Itself is mostly piece Of pure
cniririci>m. We DO not learn the scale of
the mind we DO not know and master the
instrument: we learn only a catalogue oi
tunes which W. play lv roc. Tie rcvcr-
cncc FOR mans Immortality and tie dread of
rc'lucin. the soul to mI;erial!>m. have made
scientific research slow. and vet until the
subject shall be submitted to the most ricor-
ou> research, we shall not know the law Of
mind.
lie regarded il As >inHular that men should
submit their rmpIoymcnt>, their ornaments
ald everything pertaining to the outward
world. 10 the test of science, and Vet should
hesitate to anavzc the immortal >Yr, As 1t
now Is. certain faculties Of the m.rd crow
venerable. nnta>hionablc. and even vulgar
One ace follows reason, and another pUrsucS
fancy, reason having zone ont Of date An
other community DESTROYS both reason and
imagination. and Yields itself >uprcmclv to
views Of faith. Ii happens sometimes untor-
I tunatclv tina, portions Of the sou, come to hc
regarded a. >upcri'uou> and to he entirely
shut up. The Imagination. Ike silver clos
ct. or picture gallery, is rarely visited hv
the >c!a'e and practical. The reverend
sometimes smile, but the realms of fancy are
apartments haunted hv spectral !cyi,ic>, and
they do not like to intrulc upon them The
2 it' tiiit illtil tie hUOWcT l.
himself unknown. He has power to tly with
the hir';s, and 20 know their aboIc> and sea.
sons, but he has no power 70 dive Nto the
nests of bis own heart Man NAV dir INTO
the bowels OF III" mountains. and apIv the
microscope TO minute PARTICLES of natter =
the courses OF the stars are measured. the
currents Of Ieht and electricity are explored,
tie whole "'ohe is Described bat man. 70,
whom the whole was made the crownint
glory OF the universe. who shall 1--we when
systems are no mGrc-Mln himself remains q
profound mystery. He is left TO wlrl down
the stream Of life as if hc were the mrane,t.
most worthless burden the stream carries. 4
las for man
Men will be observed to hc most afraid Of
qualities in minds Of which they are least in
danger, and most need The frugal man is
wont to deScant upon the evils of proiu>lon.
as If hr were in the slightest DANCER of debt
and the pro'ligal tortilie> himself against
>'In@ines> The thoughtful are alarmed at
lcvi'y. and the gay dread the shoaI OF >oblie-
". The industrious argue against harness.
and the ncrcUrlal set themselves ayain>,
slownc>s. Thus all dread the very Qualities
which are impossible with thcn rs il is of
individuals. ~ of communities a., arr. fall o,
dread of the qualities they lack lfonc were
to warn the people Of our commercial citirS
OF matcriali>ln. cxhaustinr sobrirtv. or petty.
sordid sclfshne>s, he would rain the ears.
but not the hearts Of his hearers but let
him speak OF the dangers Of unbridcd fan
cy, and Imagination, and the wickcdncss of I
and b.., .t
AUDIENCE and cause shrinking shuldcr;n.
terror. 1t is because they need these very
qUa!ItItS. since all business mcn lave mar
row view OF imn.aterialitv
1t Is dIihcu!t TO commend the quality Of /
ciiccr.ulne>S in sober discourse. ON accouut
OF the almost universal impression OF It's low
ness, II not wlckcdnc>s. Men are dr>poScIto
view sotrlctv as 4 necessary ingredient of (
religion, and 70 regard mirthfInc>s As need !
les, or at least TO be >parinclv indul.rcd in.
1t Is thus compelled! to be a yaoa!mnG-,
companion OF r!leneSs - bc-cn. its bread
from door TO door. Itmust not sit with schol
ar>, lest It's quipS should di>concrrt their
teachers; 1t must not be found in the couut
in@ room; It must not do military duty. The
judges on the bench regard it as an intruder.
ana dr!vc 1t down among the LAWYERS. Its
appearance at church shocks devotion. and
awiskenS whole drowSv rows to in,licnaton.
Driven from all places it is ollircd to con
sort with men who will take it. and it re,,,vs
them. MytholoyicalIy it would be set down
as the child of mischief and folly, baptized
IN mist patron of empty souls. steering lives
to oblivion along the slitterinc. eaud, path /
way OF the rainbow
Mlth'uIncs> is an original faculty Of the
mnd, having the power to rivc a necul;ar
quality to any other faculty with which il
happens to blend. II has no cxrrcss;op or
faculty OF It's own. II is a cuckoo. and laws
eggs IN other faculties nests 1t bclonrs 10
that iaF-c class which have no outlet exccnt
through other channels. and whose Office is
to give to other faculties a flavor nor ,bc;r
own There can be no definition Of il: cv.
cry attempt has failed. An original emotion
cannot be defined, for is definition is merely
'hc expression OF ones own appreciation of
a 'eeiinE. Emotions always sprinr from the
hcart, and we know other men only from ,hat
which We have in common with them. W..
Know even God, ONLY as much as we are mar
ticipators in His nature.
MI good men know what are The sensations
OF mhrihiulnc>s. 1t enters into combination
with all the mora! faculties, but not with the
passions or avpetltes. Laughter is its na,u-
raj language The perccptiye faculties lea
'ened with 1t perceive outward objects with
peculiar SAVIOR Of lutlicrousncss Nth
orni, 1t becomes grOtcs,luenesS in REGARD to
'"nah forms 1t Is caricature. Joined to 9th
r faculties. 1t leads 20 ludicrous acts-to luf.
oohery and to burlesIe, which is the bufloon-
,rs r, oi words. Refined or intellectual wit is :
ne combination Of mirth.uness with the 70. ,
lec'''e faculties OF the intellect. Nirthtu]- :
',>s a'So In'tes with combativcncss, and /,