The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-06-22
WESTERN CHARACTER.


The western man possesses quickness
OF apprehension, decision and energy OF
character, that, in practical affairs, often
serve the purposes of liberal knowledge.
He is less daunted by obstacles, less sub
dued by hardship, less prone to discourag-
ing views, than his oriental fellow citizen
He lives more in the external world,
adapts himself with more ease to circum-
stances, seizes favorable opportunities
with more ready and tenacious grasp,
rises up from adyersities with more
elastic mind, and ventures, on larger
scale, upon uncertainties, which depend
for a successful solution upon his person
al resources and daring. But if he has
abundant enterprise, he lacks sagaoity in
the economies of life. His pleasures are
apt to get gross and boisterous, and he is
prone to extravaganza both of health and
purse. That he is Enthusiastically out
spoken, generous, and courageous, those
who know him best will emphaticaly tes-
tify. Finally, he is conspicuously free
from the sectarian prejudices that SO fre-
quently prevail in older communities, and
which so deform character anywhere that
they are cherished
How far his peculiarities are due to the
topography Of the country, how much to
habits Of self-dependenee and social isola-
tion, to the lack Of systematic mental and
moral discipline, and TO what may be call
ed the spirit of the place, it would be
impossible to affirm AS we are giving a
statement Of facts, we shall not attempt
to speculate now, though the field before
us is exceedingly inviting. That the
young growing upTunder such Influences
will be seriously affected by them none
will candidly deny. Though, at present,
the common school system is in fair work
ing order, and several colleges are estab-
lished in the region we are describing, it
is a lamentable fact that the facilities of
instruction are not used to the extent of
Their. capacity to serve the interests Of ed
ucation. With the majority, indeed, the
imperative necessity of making liveli-
hood .forbids the pursuit of the liberal
studies. But, in general, there is on the
pdlb Va buC }OuuE tuQlOCiCCU dllQ
ious haste to throw off the restraints of
school and engagein worldly affaiy. The
niy.u affipittous vf them seem to think
that all time is wasted, and all labor mis-
directed, if employed in studies that can
not be made Immediately available. That
there is such thing as knowledge worthy
Of being acquired for its own sake; that
there is inestimable value in that which
refnes, expands, and embellishes the mind
and lifts life into communion with high
er world, they have not been taught to
think. nor have the active scenes around
them suggested it. Young men and young
women, with but little more than the ru-
diments Of an education, persuade them
selves that they are sufficiently accom-
plished to fulfil the duties Of their respec-
tive spheres, and so abandon school for
the pleasures or the work Of the world
That parental influence is weak, or that
parental judgment is erroneous, in per-
mtting such course Of procedure, where
necessity does not require 1t, VIII De
readily inferred. 1t is permitted, howev-
er, and evil results inevitably flow from it,
In some cases, we are aware that those
Of studious dispositions find opportunities,
amid intervals of business, to achieve a
commendable culture but generally ha-
bits of intellectual neglect grow more per-
verse by age, and the youth who foolish
ly thrown aside his books seldom returns
to them, or even relishes the most liberal
izing and ennobling studies. Youthful
of protracted mental appica-
ton, and an early freedom from school re-
straints, is another feature Of western So
cety. But this state Of thing is slowly
changing for the better, and will, doubt
less, be gradually remedied as eommuni-
ties become more settled, and popular at
tention is more generally directed to the
Importance of higher cultivation. Some
evils are;c corrected by the very instinct
of societ5 i passes to riper expert
ence, and acquires clearer comprehen-
sion of the elements that insure its wei
fare.