Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-09-15
Hints TO Thinkers.

In this world there are two lines oil RnoTl-
edge, two trains of Though. the mind can
follow, two roads on which the inquirer
can. travel-tne positive and the speeuls-
tive. The starting point may be said to
be, the GOd-lmplanted spirit of inquiry; and
the results are, respectively, from unshak-
en- truth and doubtful wavsring error
These are the extremes, the happy medium
lies in the dissection Of the angel, hard fact
enjoyed in conjunction with regulated inn
aginaiion. On this line lies what we call
the poetry of science. the dignity of labor,
and the majesty of toll. To illustrate.
The strata which is below the coal bede
was particularly adapted for the growth o!
certain kinds Of plants, which when they
decoyed or were imbsded, by slow dsoom-
position have formed coal. This i, the sim
pie fact. But geology's post-Hugh Mil
ler-has brought ,ho very scene before our
eyes, has made us actors in the very epoch,
and while scientifically accurate, has placed
a halo of romance around this operation Of
nature. He blended actual fact and vivid
Imagination, always Gas he should) making
the latter subseryisnt 10 the former.
Again, we talk of the dignity Tabor,
and Ia majesty of toll. Which Of US while
at our avoca,ion, whether of brain or hand
think, at the time the mental energy or
physical strength is in use, that it is any
thing but work; work the necessity, not the
pleasure. But when the book is written,
the money made, the end accomplished, tbs
railroad built, the machine erected or the
land titled, and we SEQ the results of our
work and e1ertiOn, in the period of our re-
cuperation, it is then that We feel
that we are dignifed, are majestic, and
feel grateful to the toll and labor which
has made US 60. =
To moralize: No man should lsarn hard
facts alone, let him acquire those which es-
pecially npertainto to his business, and the
comforts and affections of home, or the ex-
ci.emsnt Of travel will balance these; bus
should he from inclination or ambition
strive to acquire more, in'erder to keep on
ths line that bi-ssoss the angel, he must
estheciss his knowledge, that is to say, he
must find poetry in the facts and bread
meaning for the worlds good is the phsno-
mana. There must 5s q tendency to pon-
der and moralize, as well as TO investigate,
and the results Of bis moralizing must bs
based on perfect knowledge of the preni-
ses. The want Of this has caused the many
errors of the day, the desire 10 strike ou,
something new-tO be originsl-being
strong in man. The most Original think
ers have been the most surprised at ihsir
own thoughts. With tyros FOR whom We
now especially write) this is q common
fault. Learn well first as a study; then
speculate, as recreation. and s'isms" in
knowledge will cease and whittier before
the overwhelming tide of common sense.
These may be called platitudes, but il is
necessary now and then to reiterate thsm
in order 10 regulate The investigation and
thoughts of the day. Every one will not
take the trouble TO read large books on the
discipline Of the mind, and a few remarks
thereon are often useful 10 such thinking
men as form the readers of the journals and
periodicals Of the duy.-[Seisntifs Ameri-
can.