American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-06-13
DR.. FraEklin's scheme Of Moral Per-
@#j lection. HHHa I@r@.g

franklin which point him out as one of
the most remarkable men that have ev.
Ter lived, wos the systematic attempt
he made at one period of his life TO ar :
live at moral perfection. The plan and
the method, as far as we know, were
both original. -. u r. 5ae 81. r.f.,u., n...,
They both display a comprehensive
ness of mind and greatness of pur-
! pose but seldom seen among men,
How far they contributed to the emf
nence he afterward attained, or how
far they wcro manifestations Of great
ness which was original and Inherent,
| it is impossible for us to detormine
| His method was this. He made tab
| ular schedule Of the moral virtues for
every day of the week, and then watch-
cd his own conduct, each day, to see
how far ho came up to his own concep-
tions of duty. If he transgressed iu
any particular, he made mark over
againat the virtues in which he had come
short. The scheme was certainly ad-
mirable, and no one can ever read it
over without edfiication. %. '.
He places lst ""1emperuucc Ea,
not to dullness. BE temperate in al!
things" There are few consciences
which these simple sentences do not
convict. "Eat not to dullness." Amid
all the temptations to Aexcessvo indul-
gence at the table, in such a country
Of abundance as this, with all the APP,
pliarces of condiments and cookery,
who is there that does not offend. z,. 20.
The next virtue is ."Sileace. Speak
nothing but what may benefit yourself
and others 1t is better To talk of
things than Of persons. Avoid triAing
conversation. With these explanations,
lsilence is virtuo. But it is certainly
not better to be silent than to talk
wisely and well, or even in such q
manner as TO entertain the passing mo-
ment Among great deal of the chat
there may aid there will DO evoyy
where como grains Of wheat.
| Next comes /" Order. What ho SAYS
upon this subject is admirable. Let
all things, have their places. Let each
part OF your, business have its time
Those who have, accomplished the
most in this world have Been famous
| for this. The late Judge Story, who
was one of the Supreme Court Of tho
4 United States 0andI a professor of law
atfthe largest law ochool in the Union
\ and moreover wtote more law books
4 than any other man to his age was the
! most scrupulous observer of order. He
4 never took down book to consult
without Immediately replacing it when
he had finished and every hour of the
day had its allotted occupation. .g-
| 'IcesoI~tion' came ne&t! Resolute
to perform what you ought, perform
without fail what you resolve This
is certainly great high purpose, but
the difficulty as we at once perceive is
to keep it. Ii may be said to compre-
bend everything in Itself and TO amount
to mere resolve to do right. This
is perhaps the weakest part of the gen.
eral plan. ... ..", ..E .. = .
Next in order he places 'FrNgaIitg.
Here DR.. Franklin was at home He
once lived himself on dry bread Make
no expense but do good to yourself or
others. Waste nothing ln this res
pect DR.. Franklin lived up 20 his own
prcccpts. He came to Philadelphia
poor destitute boy, but mainly by fru-
gality he became afElucDt, and that anu.
All ~ o,''., 49," s'."'' ''i'n' tno leisure
10 80 Ipp'''S"i'! Xxx u' ~ Se''''e ono OF
'N' - ~ "'''o' ...
t"S@S'Tg' 'I'e cle always employed ~
oo''o'i'."s uSvigII' use up me BITS ana.
o"'' u tlhlc' l1ere' TOO, bis lie was
n ,'oio gSs'Vo tnnh MS Precepts'--
10y men ~ haEo ever accomplished so
n"tn, n.1..n., P temperance order and self.
oG"tno' gave mn! complete command
80 ~ an ms 1acuities, '.c'I ana thereforo he
o,+ ,c no ''.i'n '''"0 l" stupidity or inaction. .
INC next TWO virtues he mentions