Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-07-30
sRLF.oUIrURE.

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causes many injurious results, tina
culture consists mainly In the training
of the intellect, the acquisition o
scholastic lore and the accumulation
of knowledge. On account OF the larg
amount Of time and expense whicl
proficiency In these involve, it Is some
times denied that the masses of tn
people, earning their bread by dali,
toll, can ever become truly cultivated
This desirable condition, it is said, cal
only be attained by those whose mean
are sufficient to insure them agains
the tolls and privations which all t'
the lot of the majority, and who arr
raised above the necessity Of daily ano
unremitting labor. Such a view I'M
niles a radical misunderstanding ofthe
nature of true culture. 10 cultivate
ANYTHING, means to make it grow
When we cultivate q plant, our end Is
the growth, expansion and develop,
ment of all It's parts, and unless We
witness this result we consider oui
efforts unsuccessful. So in human
nature true culture will aim at the
unfolding of all its power and capaci'
ties, and will rest satisfied with nothing
less. Indeed, the spectacle Of one
whose intellect has been forced into
an unnatural development, to the
neglect of his moral nature, or whose
mind Is crowded with information
while lacking the force Of thought to
arrange, or the strength Of will to
bring it into practical bearing, should
be as unsatisfactory to us as the sight
of the tree whose whole vitality has
expended itself on a single branch,
thus sacrificing its symmetry and
beauty. The various principles Of our
nature; our moral, intellectual and
social faculties; our abilities for prac-
teal life; our powers of endurance ;
our capacity for approaching beauty,
and conveying happiness to others, all
form essential parts Of true culture,
and must be unfolded and developed
tremendously, If we are to become
well-proportioned, vigorous beings.
Each one Of US possesses the power of
guiding these various capacities, of
urging or controlling them; Of en-
ploying suitable influences to aid aud
equalize their growth. This self-form-
Ing power is the chief dignity of man,
and by its strength a tolerably correct
estimate of the calibre of the individual
may be formed. Neither ample means
nor abundant leisure are necessary for
Its exercise. Each one, IN the daily
routine Of duty, may, by a strong de-
termination, make the most of the
powers implanted within him. Many
with every aid that wealth and friend;
can bestow, fail to make any mark In
the world, from want Of earnestness
while Others, with nothing but a vigor'
Gus purpose to aid them. accomplish
wonders. A distinguished writer says
"Grandeur of character lies wholly il
force of soul !; that is, in the force o
thought, moral principle and love-
These forces are neither strengthened
by riches nor weakened by poverty
he who possesses them rises. superior
to circumstances, and bends all event
to his own improvement, while he WHIT
possesses them not is driven about By
every change Of fortune. Labor ant
self-culture are not, rs some suppose
antagonists; If we will let them, the!
they may be twin sisters, each aiding
in the perfection Of the other. Th'
more intelligence We infuse into GU
work, the better 1t will be performed
and the more earnestly We pursue oul
daily ayocations from pure motives
the more progress we shall make II
self-culture. Even the very drudgery
Of life Is lifted out Of its seeming
gloom, and snnobled by the effort a
self-improvement; and wherever the
mind and the hands work together
there will be seen the most productive
industry. Let none, then, lose faitf
in the possibility Of their own culture
in Its broadest sense, whatever theil
vocation or their discouragements
There Is no country in the world where
80 few political or social barriers ar
placed against advancement As GU
own. Our hindrance comes from
within-not from without. Every new
point gained will give a fresh impuls'
to further progress-and the very din
cultles In the way will, if conquered
add renewed strength for the conflict