Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-11
From Sar9enf's School Monthly.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE.

We fear that the importance to the
future welfare of the young Of cultiva-
ting a taste for literature and scientific
pursuits is not enough considered
Most of our youth enter very early In
life upon business, when, il they have
formed no decided tastes for more pure
ly intellectual occupations, they are
likely to be absorbed in the excitments
of traffic, or to give their leisure to less
blameless recreations than those they
could win from good book. How
often do we meet with men who, hav-
ing given the best part OF their lives to
making money, find themselves, when
the pecuniary object is gained, utterly
destitute of those resources that min
lister to content In the midst of a
well-selected library they are as much
at loss as was Esop's hen when she
discovered a pearl, and wished it had
been grain of wheat. Even horticul-
turc and agriculture have no charms
for them; and they must continue in
business, long after there is need Of it,
merely for the sake of the employment
necessary to their peace of mind.
A striking illustration of the insult
fciency of those faculties exercised in
money getting to provide for mental
health and contentmcnt, is afforded in
the case Of the great English million
are, Morrison, who died in November,
1857, worth 20,000,O00 He accu-
mulated this almost fabulous amount
himself, and in the regular course of
his busines, without any extraordinary
turn of fortune; vet the following ex-
tract from letter in the Boston Post
shows how little benefit he permitted
himself to receive from all his wealth.
"What a satire it is" remarks con-
temporary. upon the exclusive devo-
tion of all the faculties to the mere ac-
cumulation of property
"Mr. Morris retired from active
business several years since, without
withdrawing his capital from the
mercantile house; and, though man
ageing his vast funds himself up to
the time of his death with all the
sagacity Of earlier days, he has for the
past three years been possessed with
the idea that he should come to want.
More than two years ago he COM
menced doing day labor upon farm
held by one of his tenants, for which
he received twelve shillings a week,
and this he continued up to the time of
his illness. For the last eighteen
months he has been regular appli-
cant for relief to the parish, assem-
bling twice week with the town pau
pers at the door of the Union, and
receiving with each one of them his
two shillings and a quarteIn loaf. His
friends have INDUCED him in these
fancies on the ground that it was the
best choice of two evils. The truth
was, money was his god; and the idea
became at last too great for him, and
broke him down. And yet he is said
to have made most judicious will,
and his investments up to the last are
characterized by good sense. The
probate duty on his will exceeds one
hundred thousand pounds -
In developing and encouraging those
faculties, that find their enjoyment in
acquaintance with the treasures of a
pure literature, of poetry, science, art.
and in the invigorating pursuits OF
agriculture and all out t-of-door occupa-
tions, we hope to make the School
Monthly eminently useful to the young
in more ways than one. While we
shall present many suitable exercises
in defamation and reading. we shall
bear in mind that to inculcate a taste
for letters that may last through life,
resource at all times, and a Joy and
an ornament in old age, is no small
point gained in education.