New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HORACE MANN.
kWE OF HORACE MANN. By His, WYE limo. pp.
Walker Fu 20


his rcvengcs can be found than is presented in the
history Of the eminent Massachusetts, phianthro-
pist appropriate record Of whose life is given in
shis volume. Some years after his accession to the
eecretaryship of the State Board of Education, he
vas visited with an outbuIst Of the divine wrath Of
the public schoolmasters in Boston Everything
h their power was done 10 demolish the luckless
bnovator who had presumed to suggest improve
nents in their traditional domain. But their pois-
enous missiles were turned against themselves.
The Secretary arose in his might, and with inefa-
bic scorn, made the Boston schoomasters the
lsughing. of the world. At subsequent
period, be was confronted with Daniel Webster in
bitter political antagonisn andy bis devotion to the
principles of the largest liberty incurred the odium
Of the Pharisees of Boston. For many years, his
nsme was the signal for unmitigaed abuse In the
social circles of that little metropolis; his plans for
public improvement were alluded TO with contempt
h,s character was insdousy maligned; his pur-
poees were held in derison; and his life, to GER
tain extent, cmbittered by the venom of his foes.
What change has taken place in public opinion
aimee his conservation by death His memory Is
now cherished as one of the nobest sons OF Massa-
nifty and moral elevation. His services to the
cause Of popular education are gratefully reeog-
xi1ed; he is counted among the illustrious bene-
actors of the age his statue stands side by side
With that of the great expounder of the Constitu-
tiop in the grounds of the Bay State Capitol
During his hfe stone was given him instead OF
bresd; marble monument now protects his fame
Mr. Mann was remarkable for his devotion to
daty, his forgetfulness of self, his attachment to
principle, and his zeal for human improvement.
His early life was clouded with terrible sorTows.
brief interval followed when he enjoyed the sun
Ahine of popular favor; he was honored with Off
rial distinction and csressed in cultivsted society
bit his love of truth, and interest in knowledge
prompted the sacrifice of external advantages and
The remainder Of his life was struggle, always se-
we're, often tragic, in the cause which he had at
heoIt and to which at last he fell a martyr.
He was born in the rural town of Franklin, Mass
b the year 1896. His childhood was not happy
one. With an elastic and buoyant temperament,
the poverty of his parents subjected him to con-
fnua privstion. In the Winter time, he suffered
from too strict confinement 10 sedentary occupa-
lions within DOORS in the Summer his labor on his
hthers farm was so severe as often 10 encroach on
the hours Of sleep. Pay-days he had none. His
occasional hours Of recreation were won by extra
U@tion. His means of instruction were very
limited. Books for children at that time we're few
md meager. His teachers'were worthy souls but
not qualified for their Office. OF all the faculties,
they appealed only to the memory for words Stin,
his love Of knowledge could not be repressed. He
bad an idolatrous reverence for books. Nothing
sould induce him 10 profane one Of those sacred
objects by careless handling. He would as soon
have stuck pin through his flesh as through the
pages of book. Until the age of fifteen, he had
never been TO school more than eight OF ten weeks
N year.
1t was the lot of Horace Mann to be placed under
Abe ministry of the celebrated DR.. Emmons, who
was the pastor of the church in his native town.
He describes, in feeling terms, the influence Of
Shis gigantic Calvinist his early days. His
whole soul became saturated, as ii were, With the
religious creed ofDr Emmons. Itcast blightover
al the Joy of his youth. The theologian of Franklin,
according TO the vivid portrsiture Of Mr. Manu. not
only preached TO his people, but ruled them, for
more than fifty years. He was nan Of pure in
tepect. No milk Of human kindness ever softened
the austere logic of his creed. He expounded the
Aoctrines Of the ultra Calyinism Of which he was
the prophet, in their most terrible significance
He rarely deecanted on the joys of heaven; never,
on the essential happiness Of virtuous life. His
most powerful motives were drawn from the tor
nents of hell. During all his boyhood, young
Horace hardly ever stayed at home from church.
Hence he became familiar with every nook and cor
Nor Of the lurid theological system. His mind was
perpetually impressed with the CHASTITY idea, that
nothing could save a certain number Of souls from
sternal torment. Like all children, he believed
what he was taught. To his excited Imagination,
sphysical hell was alivins reality. He almost
seemed TO hear the shrieks Of the damned, and to
stretch out his hand to grasp their burning souls,
In vain endeavor for their rescue. Such
. faith, he tells us, spread a pail Of black
ness over his whole being and shut
cat every beautiful and glorious thing.
Beyond that curtain Of Darkness he could see the
hottomess and seething lake filed with flames and
hear the wailings and agony of its victims. His
faculty of percevng effects in causes and causes in
effects was 80 intensely active, that the future was
Invested with present reality. He ante-dated the
doom of the day Of Judgment The torments which
he was taught We're TO begin with death, had al
ready begun for him. Each moment became
burning focus, on which were concentrated the
agonies of coming eternity. he felt that there
vas no possibility Of escape No penance, no
sacrifice, no agony could avert his fate. The ever.
lasting decree had gone forth. 1t would stand i'm
mutsble against all effort, all virtue all hope. The
INDICTMENT had been made I'D millions of Years be-