Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-21
WANTED.

hasten the step Of progress.
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WANTED.
Suppose an advertisement. something like the
following, to be inserted in our columns, how man!
in our district could respond to it!
"WayTEp.-A gentleman thoroughly verscd in
the classic literature of England and, also, IA
military acquainted with the productions Of a
merican genius.
We repeat the question, how many could reg
pond to this? We have no scarcity of graduates
Diplomas are so plentiful that alma mater should
be translated prolific mother. Yet will venture the
assertion, and without fear of contradiction, that
not one cut of every ten graduates is so vel! read
! in English classics, TINT he could support con
versation Of five minutes without betraying his
| ignorance. If lead into literary discussion, he
would probably begin by eulogizing Pores Essay
on Man" and astonisl you with reroration de-
nunciative of Shakespeare and Milton. YOU
would listen in silent wonder, and feel how hope
less would be the task of delineating the peculiar
beauties Of your Iavorte authors, so MS to com
| mend them to such learned child.
|
be compressed within misunderstanding no
farther than the few selections to be met with IN
| First, Second and Third Class Readers. lie has
probably committed to memory LoSGFELLow's
psalm of Life" HALLEcK's "Marco Bozarrls'
| and read half through BRYAST's "Thanatopsis'
! to see if it would not likewise suhserve the pur-
noses of defamation. Here his intimacy ceases
ALL beyond Is mystery and darkness. To call
such an ignoramus graduate because he has
! spent some four or five years in acquiring hum
drum knowledge of Latin, Greek and MATTHEW
| matics," is simply ridiculous. This leads US ia
| the pith Of our remarks-tle want OF readlnG
public II is this that retards the success OF every
purely literary effort at the South. We have nc
reading public. A hurried glance at the lates;
sensation novel and o smattering Of political
knowledge, gathered from partisan newspapers,
comprise the sum total of that dangerous element
which the satrist regarded little learning to be-
Considering our premises and differences incon-
trovertible let us seek the remedy. But first;
the following may be set down the of this
singular deficiency in the cultivation of taste
We look too early in life to definite business. a
profcssion-an empty title rather-is the El Do
RADIO to which our American youth, first and last
aspire If there be short road-a regia ria--to
the desired professional title, that is sure to be
taken. Our lawyers, for instance, never think OF
adorning the arid waste os law with the humani-
! zing influence, and allurirg beauties of philo-
sophie or poetic literature To collect money, to
worm themselves into drudging business, u
comprehend the 1uirks and bubbles which sub
tlity and cunning have invented, is the climax Of
their ambition Instead of confident reliance
on the force of truth and the noble and generous
impulses Of the human soul, they resort to chica-
merry, and seek success in the weaknesses of their
fellow-mcn. So likewise in medicine, and in fact,
in all the professions which are dignifed with the
rompous title Of '.earned." The most indus
/ trious and crulitc, never aspire to anything he
yond success in their immediate avocation. The
idea never enters their head--that mind fully
developed-that an intellect thoroughly cultivated
that a memory fully stored with facts and
knowledge, and taste refined by assiduous study
of elevated models, is an end more ennobling and
far more desirable than mere professional plod-
ding, which may accumulate money-that little
all-but which must dwarf and contract the soul.
This haste to get into life-this longing after
empty titles-this looking to one object only, 70
the evident neglect Of the wider scope of duties.
wh;:. nature has assigned to map-may be set
, down as one Of the causes which has stined the
spirit of inquiry, and clipped the wings Of fancy
and imagination. But a more immediate cause
NAV be found in the want Of faclities-in the des-
titution Of good libraries and the want of incen-
tive, which, in more cultivated circles is supplied
by association with men of elegant and polished
scholarship.
To remedy the first of these evils, no plan sug-
rcsts itself. so reasonable and so natural, as
lcncthening the course of collegiate studies-or
what is III effect the same thng-requiring
higher grade of scholarship for admission in:o
the college class Especially should the aprli-
cant be required to show passable acquaintance
ship with English and American Literature Tie
formation of literary societies. reading clubs &C.,
in every village, would do much to facilitate the
interchange of ideas and supply the want of books
| and incentives to read. Every editor in this
country we presume has had cause to lament the
destitution in taste and general reading In a.
community apprOcintivey intelligent sufficient
ly versed in literary topics, there will always be
found voluntary contributors who will remove
much of the labor devolving on the editor ana
leave him to attend to his more appropriate duly
that of selecting and collating. With one Or
two bright exceptions, we seldom look for read
able communication from our town or di-trict.'-
We do not say they cannot write, but they ~'"
not. which gives scope for guessing the cause.
KANSAS.
Like every person else, We are hartIiy 'i'ed u
seeing the worl Kansas. The question OF Slavery
has been settled by the parties in that territory
The Free State men have concluded to let the
Lecompton Constitution be adopted, and then re-
peal or change it at their pleasure. The latest
despatch says that the pro-slavery party had car
l.