Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-10-15

fields for ambition, the allurements Of politics,
trade and speculation, in word oil that agitates
"6erce democratic" in the rigor of its youth
may be set down as the sntithesis Of literary re-
tirement and meditation.
| But the days of our homage are past, the prur-
| ency of youth should subside into calm and man.
! ly resolve; the door must Soon close On extrava-
CANT specuatons-politics it is to be hoped, will
soon be elevated to the dignity Of statesnanshp,
and classic taste and elegance be brought to adorn
forensic oratory All that is required at this time
is to aid the reaction in favor of ahigher ambition,
and more ennobling aims, than prompted those
who have prece led US to toll for af'uence and
power. What is the wealth of AsroR to the eter-
nal fame of HoMER-what the authority of BucH-
ASAs to the second-rate celebrity Of WASHINGTON
IRv1sa-what the martial glory of BUTLER to the
achievements Of WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMs ? To
present every nducement to those who aspire to
emulate such achievements is the highest duty of
the Legislator. And no measure appears 80 like
ly to encourage literary pride, literary ambition
and literary excellence, as the endowment of fell
lowships which will enable those so Inclined to de.
vote life and energy to literary pursuits
The first effect would be to gather around the
State College the genius of the country, and create
q nidus from which would issue the full.fedged
offspring of master minds. The State taking the
initiative, private munifcence would soon provide
ample accommodations for all desirous of life OF
study and mental culture. 1t is not a matter OF
secondary Importance. When we contemplate the
influence of one matnred intellect on the character
and morals of nation when VIC consider that one
mind will often mould its destiny, when we re-
member how degrading is ignorance ard how ele-
waiting the pursuits of literature, we cannot fail
to be impressed with the importance Of move
ment which promises IN incentive to tie student,
and the light of science and knowledge to the
county. If State.pride be our besetting sin, how
eager should we be to diffuse throughout our land
aesthetic polish, the pride of authorship and the
amenity and elegance Of a genial dae'tanH' Will
not such an ambition fire any bosom, when the
eye rests on that page, which tells of the pamy
of Athens, when Perices could forget the tolls of
State in the intellectual coterie which clustered
around the beautiful Aspasia:
What we need is a reading public. Not class
of newspaper readers, not n class anxious to de-
your tragcal stories filled with degrading aud
poluting images, not a class of Cabling poll
ticiaus eager to readtheir stump -harangues
leys of slang and quaint provincalisms-but
polished and cultivated public which will require
a high degree of excellence in those who would
seek to enlist its attention. This will create
demand and the supply will soon follow. The
congregation of literary society at the State COL
lege would form standard of taste to guide the
whole State. From this magazine Of learning, the
splendor of elegance and scholarship would ra-
diate the entire State and exercise an elevating
and genial influence on Southern Literature.