Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-16
Ignorance the Result Idleness.

Tothe Editor Of the Belmont CAronils:
= SIR-What enjoyment can there be in a
life of ignorance ldleness, and crime, Yet
a number choose sucha lie. How dresry
and dull must he feel, who, after closing his
daily vocation, is given over to vain and
wicked thought. wild imagiaations, and
wishes which can never Ibe realized. The
means conducive 20 earthly pleasure are not
in his possession; and though he may be
aware of the process by which he can OBJ
tain them; still he finds it hard undertak-
ing to give up the forms to which he has
been accustomed.
Such an existsnce none desire, yet many,
too many possess it. Idleness is not neces-
sarily connected with ignorance, but the
latter is without exception. consequence
Of the former. This is ,clearly manifested
| by the numerous instances, which are every
day witnessed; and certainly every one has
noticed il! Not unfrequently the case oc-
ours in which an individual is Industrious
labors hard to sustain a respectable living,
and such, we generally fnc-alt Rough, he
may be uneducated occupying respectable
station in community. But in instances OF
this character, generally their ignorance is
of justiiable nature, and is not ladened
with that disgrace, which attends those who
have had time, place and oppori unity where
by they might have stocked their minis
with useful knowledge, but for the misim-
pravemsnl of those privileges. How dis
graceful, however, is that instance which is
found in ignorance resulting from idleness,
and which is universally attended with
crime. The one who fills such station (if
stati 4 1t may be termed) is degraded in the
eyes OF respectable community; lives in
obscurty, want, and wretchedness; and the
last clod that beats upon his funeral pile.
speaks his earthly career c'osed without
benefiting either mankind or himself. His
name shall not be chronicled with those
which bear the type of greatness from un-
tiring industry; but the sound Of his name
shall be forever hushed in obsurity.
Since the means :of education at the pre-
sent date are 50 very extensive, affording to
every youth the opportunity of intellectual
improvement, no one o. the present gener-
alton can at future time be justl6able in
his not having improved those privileges.
Yet it is ever true that many of our
youth are growing up in total ignorance Di
that which makes The man, whilst their
parents, who every year pay taxes TO sup
| p, IT pub Ic schools, sane ION their course by
coreie>shess. Can such paTen :, alter they
see their children competed in ignorance,
having bee me disgraceful t. community
be justiiiabie III dec aiming themselves en-
tlrely free from the Cause of the deplorable
condition of their offspring! Can they de-
clare their shirts clean, not having been
tainted hy such crime! Far TO the CON-
trary. But they will have, by their neglect
kept mind in total darkness which might
have been brilliant light IL our moral
hemisphere. YET they certainly are not
deaf To the cries OF justice and humanity,
~hich If attended to IN ghI result in incal-
culabie good
| Let every parent receive This friendly
advice, 'eduraie your children; train them
up IN that way in which yJn wish you had
lived and yuu snail receive your reward
They will. when you become old and gray,
take pleasure in rejecting that you were
| interested in their future welfare, and the
blessings, which they shall shower upon
you, will on'y make your latter end be over
iruught with pleasure because you can re-
view your duty to your children duly execut-
ed. OMIcRoa.
BARNEsvILLE, April llth, 1857,