Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1865-01-11
30QSATlONA Al
For the Educational Column.
Genius.

There is no error more common or iniu
rious to man than the opinion in regard to
genius, namely, that it is an especial gilt
of God to certain individuals; that our com
mon mothor, Nature, partial in the distri.
button of intellect to the human family,
has made some men great and daStinguish-
ed, without any additional labor or exer.
ton on the part of those upon whom she
has bestowed it.
How many young men are endowed with
all the necessary faculties to enable them
to become ornaments to their country and
glory to the age in which they live, if
they but knew the powers that lie dormant
In them. Ii We examine the history of
persons whose names have been handed
down from time to time as the distinguish,
ed OF the earth, we will find that they,
through the proper use Of the talents which
God gave to them, by close application of
their minds and continued perseverance,,
distinguished themselves
Our minds are formed on the progress
sive principle, and there is scarcely IA limit
to their improvement Hence, if we wish
to acquire knowlei ige-it we wish to be-
come wise and good, we must not expect to
be able. to grasp the depths of science at
once, or to overleap the bars of ignorance
at single bound Slow but sure should
be our motto; determination our watchwori;
and then will the bright prospect of gto.
rious future be spread out before us.
Mans grand distinction is his intellect -
his mind, by which he ascends the sweet
scented path of science; by which he scars
through the regions of space, aud takes An
Imaginary view of the universe of God
But the mind uncultivated to u certain ex-
tent Is dead, and can form 90 proper idea
OF the wisdom, greatness and glory Of It's
creator The elements Of genius are i'm
planted in the bosom OF every individual.
to greater or less extent, and all that is
required to show the brillisncy of its lus
tre Is to put it to acton. Per.cUerd1tre-
unFtnchtng perseverance, alone eau make
genius, and | feel assured that no one has
ever become celebrated without it Deep
mysteries f1y from before it. rough aud rug
ged ways become smooth when it approach.
es, obstacles Of stupendous magnitude are
easily removed by Its mighty power; great
able, but gradually they disappear, and
perseverance is proclaimed conqueror Per
severance grasped the thundertots of Jove
and dragged them TO the earth 1t calcu
lated the distances to the different planets
and their periodical movements 1t discov
cred the universal law OF attraction, and its
great importance to the material world 1t
has exposed to our view many of tie mys
teries OF nature, which can only be com
pretended by deep and continued thought
We never know our strength until we ap
ply it. 1t is so with the mind; its power
can only be tested by putting it to work,
and the more it is exercised the stronger
will it become. If mankind could be
made sensible of the power of the mind,
and the < lory of that immortal prtacipte.
nethiuks that ignorance and vice of every
character would take their everlasting flight
from this earth of ours. Young man, do
you thirst for fame? Do you desire that
your name may be handed down to future
generations as one of the worlds greatest
and noblest characters then let me urge
you to make good use Of the talents which
our Creator has given you. WFestle for it
as did Jacob with the angel Of the Lord,
and | promise you success beyond your
most sanguine expectations. Although diff
fculties and doubts may surround you thro
long night of mental toll, the conquering
power of perseverance, will bring vou un
told success in the morning. The more
diligently you have struggled. the more
earnestly you have labored, the more bril-
llantly will the sun of fame spread its
beams over the community in which you
have thus tolled. Let me point you to
Patrick Henry, an Elisha Burritt, and a
host of others, who by their own exestions
have distinguished themselves as Statesmen
and scholars.
Young lady, you have genius sumhering
within you; you have a mind, if carefully
polished, may be made to shine bright as
star Ia the deep vault of heaven. Let il
not continue to be hidden in its darkened
chamber, but bring it forth, and let its
brIlllancy doe made known to the world.
HIPS.