The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-12-21

promotion of intellectual and social cuI-
ture, and in the attainment of nil ends
for which we are willing to labor.
We must individually work, and if we
are each willing to contribute what is in
our power, we cannot fail te accomplish
much. "In multitude of counsel there
. is " isdom We have been somewhat
perpexed to know in what directions we
had better turn our studies. There is no
need of this. There is enough transpires
in every day life, which if we by cHhiya-
ting habits Of observation were to noJo,
would in the course Of 4 -ear, greatly in
crease our store Of knowledge; anda We
should find these '.jottings down" greatly
tending to the cultivation of careful and
continued habits Of thought. The daily
incidents Of life are our grentest instruc
tors. 1t is drop, added todrop that forms
an ocean; flake to flake, the crushing ay-
aaache, that thunders down from its
mountain height, hurting huge boulders
rent from Their rocky resting place III its
front, and leaving desolation, devastation
and death in its wake. He is the true
Philosopher and Scholar, who takes heed
Of everyday occurrences, as well as Of the
greater questions of life.
Scientific research iteratos and roiter
atcs ono moral-tho greatness OF little
tliings; and the Importance, not only Of
the minute study Of tacts, but Of the study
Of minute facts. 1t is said, and nnowu,
that men OF The last century sncered at
the fact, that bitter controversy was
waeing between two Italian l,hilooo. )hcrs
as to the reason why, under certain cir
cumstances, frogs leg would witch
Yet therein lay the bud Of tho Magnetic
Telegraph that now astonshes the world
with It's sw f,-winged messages. The
study ofsnow balls, Pie-cru>t and sqUeez-
cd wax, lei the philosopher t. the com
prchcnsion OF two of the greatest phe-
u0mnna Of nature-the construction Of
/ glaciers and tIe cleavage OF rocks. a
few years ago thecoilection Of fossils was
viewed with contempt now t miner risks
bis fortune on the strength Of the evi-
denco they afford. Not only does oar
/ Advancement in the knowledge Of Nature
bring with it a respect for tie influence
OF minute facts in the progress OF wisdom
and the bcttering of mans estate. but it
teaches us that apart from ali consdera
I tons Of man and his wants, small and
seemingly minute agents have played n
4 mighty part in the history Of the world.
+ Let US rot be troubled then, about what
we shall study.
:: X x X
desire to speak of the superior ad
/ vantages of associative, over merely in
/ diyidua effort, and not only of its alvan-
! tages and benefits, but IFS pleasures. 1t is
q trile saying, that mans highest enjoy
| ment is found in contributing to the hap
pincss ofothers. The old Scripture prov
erb, at is more blessed to give than to
receive" is glorouslv true. olive not
/ for self alone," should be the language
OF our every day life. Every action shod
show it, every word utter it. In resi- ect
to this, re might go to nature for our
/ lesson. The flowers that sparkle through
! the dew, and gimmer in the sunshine,
! live not for themselves; they cheer our
I homestead the cir with their fragrance
/ -clothe the earth in loneliness, and min
ister to our perceptions of the beautiful
/ The Oak, with its hugo arms and wide
! spreading bowers, gives home to many
! q little songster, affords shelter to man,
aud clothes the earth in majesty and
might. The river and the brook minister
I to our wants. On the bosom of Won
tranquil river are torne the hopes, the
, fears and the fortunes of thousands.-
| The stream that flows through our streets
though but as n drop in the ocean, yet it
| is Fastening on to pay its tribute there;
( but in its haste to find its ocean home, it
tarries and gives life to man, and Ger
lnng will f,low in its train the loom and
anvil the sound of machinery and the
whirI of commerce. Then, the man who
is not contributing to human happiness,
BY living and laboring for others, must
himself fail Of the happiness he seeks
Live for others" is the language Of du-
ty and self interest, guiding us on to our
own happiness, and the happiness of the
world.
Aside from our duties to each other,
we find that the social influence of these
evening gatherings is salutarv. Associa-
tons of this kind, are tho natural out
growth of q desire for intellectual and So
cial culture; and in no way can we bet
ter minister to our social instincts than
by such assembhugs as We propose 10
make these of the FRANKLIN CLUE. If
our meetings were considered merely 8
social gatherings, yet would they be in
valuable. The criticism is common one
and eminently just, that wo, as people,
in our business arrangements, neglect to
make the necessary provision, and devote
the requisite time upon social culture
We are nearly destitute Of national holt
days, and we must atone for this want,
by combining ourselves together in ASST
Citations where congenial spirits may meet
and mingc, thus gliding with social joy
the toil-aden hours that make life weary.
We must have our social gatherings
They tighten the heart; they quicken the
humanities. The old Romans had their
white DAYS when the populace went forth
! to celebrate their feasts. The .Taws in