The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-17
Mental Expansion.
,rFro,h tie Nsw Orleans zfmes.1

FROM Mo Nsw Orleans Times.
A curious idca Is entertained by somc
Tint n undertaking application TO ono
branch of literature or to a single
science, brings out all tho powers of
the mind and makes tho student great
as litcrateur Cwo do not like the
term, but uso it from necessity or rs
n professional man. This oft-rcpcat-
cd and ridiculous idea is n libel ON
common sense, as wo shall prove.
Undoubtedly the particular science to
which attention is directed by tho
individual dcsirous Of excellence in it,
should cngross his most fixed attcn-
ton {; but when ho has mastered it's
strorg points, comprehend it's entire
reach, and feels himself abl, to conc
with its requirements, we SEQ no rcas-
on why he should close his eyes and
cars against all human knowledge
which he supposcs outside of tho
charmed circle embraced by his chos-
cn science or profession. This is Il
sad mistake, and dwaris intellect, be-
sides making him solcc:sm amongst
his fellow beings. Tho physician or
lawyer Who ignores all reading cx-
ccrL such as illustrates his profession.
soon either becomes Il bundle Of bones
and Siacws (intcIlcctnally con>idcrcd
or a.walliing digc>, Of certain laws,
cnactmcEts and scientific tcchncali-
ties, nowhere appreciated outside the
disScctinS room or the judiciary hall.
On the contrary, he who makes his
profession Il chief object should, ut
times, vary his readinys-thoush it
Ic only to refresh the mind by varic-
ty, which has been called the spice "of
life"
All knowledge cnlargcs tho mind.
Indirectly new ideas rcflc ct them
selves Oh all subjects. A great genius
with bce-liIle art, gathers treasures
from every blushing flower, and ncith-
or Esculapius nor Thcmis demand of
their votarics bigotcd adllation. In
the golden flow olpoctry-that divine
vine, embracing all othcrs-thc spec
uIatinS physician; 10 less than the
dogmat;c lawyer, bristling all over
with points and exceptions, may some
times battle and refresh hi!s jalcd
spirit with signal advantage. Labor
is useful; slavery odious. Let the
professional gentleman give his best
energies to any chosen calling, but
he does wrong to himself, no less than
to his calling, when narrowing his
mind exclusively to its particular re-
quircmcnts. The world is wide, and
though not fully prepared to endorse
Pope's admired axiom, 'Thc proper
study Of mankind is man." yet we ad-
| nit to some extent, it's force. Not
only in constant intercourse with our
fellow mon necessarily conductive to
practlcality, but general acquaintance
with polite literature is also indispen-
sable. TO the complete .jurist, no less
than the accomplished pilisician.
Those beautiful and torciblc COM
Gnations Of thought, never attained
by the vulg gar, and SO effective with
tho we'll instructed, must ever be wan
ting where general reading is neglcc-
ted. An Intelligent mind scizcs. on
tho ideas Of others, mingli.g with
them its own original conceptions,
not borrowing, but employing them
for tho elimination OF still greater
thoughts, Of which they are, as it
were, tho germ. Industry seldom
fails Of achieving noble ends, and
when combined with art, is sure to
be successful. Study and. embcllish-
mcnt perfect rot only the orator, but
the professional gentleman, who must
look: sometimes out Of tho pale Of his
profession lest he stagnatc within it.
Life is short, and when rightly en-
ployed leaves little timo for those
scnseless frivolitios consonant only
with pcrv crted taste and fcsblo abil-
tiles. 1t is the glorious genius that
abjuring these, study, reflection and
retinod social intercourse improve tho
passing hours. Then, rs lifo wancs,
that immortal power within, enlarged
and bcautificd, becomes ready, with
placid expectation, to wing it's upward
flight. -.
Virtue and knowledge on earth wo
are assured will meet with a due re-
ward hereafter. 1t is virtue, in one
sense, to cultivate the powers delega-
ted to us by heaven; and virtre; in
its highest Specification, to employ
those powers (most efficient when
approvcd) in deeds. of charity and be-
nevolenco. 49,. +.
The mind Is formed with grand CO.
pacities, though to some arc given
five talents, and to others ten. .Wo
are to some extent, responsible for
our own mode Of thinking, for thought
Influences and directs action, being
itself frequently insensibly swaycd
by conversation and reading. dIet us
SEQ toit, then, that the books we study
and the friends with whom we con-
verse, arc such rs will elevate, not
degrade US both mentally and NOR
ally. .r ..-.. '.>
f. ArHoR1sMs FROM "LoTHA1R."-A
commonplace book might, be filled
with aphorisms from Mr.. Disraeli's
book, as will be seen by a few instan.
ces which VIC quote at random:
"Time moves with equal slowness,
whether we experience many express
ions OF nome" ! ~ : H.. .-rf,.5 r
"If VIC could only contrive ourlives