The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-05

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with mon more than those who rise
from the lowest to the highest class of
society? The average man in the
walks of poverty many have wide
knowledge of Ignorance and distress,
both from experience and observation
but of man in the midst of luxury or
clothed with power and served and
honored, he can only form a faint con-
ception, Those in the middle class
chiefly know men in easy conditions,
where they are neither oppressed with
want nor rendered proud with success
and honor. The rich, by birth, have
knowledge of man III all his pride
and ostentation, but possess scarcely
more than faint conception of him,
in state of poverty and oppression.
But one who, rising from the lowest
grade Of society, passes successfully
through each of the stages has a
marked advantage over those born in
the higher class, because he can view
men from every standpoint.
They seldom become rich through
their own excrtions who, III youth,
have all the money they desire 1t is
those who earn their first dollars by
the severest toll who learn the value
of money and become the wealthiest
men A similar course is very favor
able to wealth of mind 1t is Of the
greatest importance that there should
first be a high appreciation of knowi-
edge and this is likely to be the case
when its first rudiments are gained
with great toll and difficulty. Those
born in humble circumstances, who
have strong, craving intcllects, prize
their few books and few means of
knowledge and having once gained
such an appreciation of knowledge,
it matters not how broad the current
NAV become that flows in upon
their minds, they never learn to des-
pise it, Besides, those in the hum
bier classes of society have highest
incentives to patience and industry in
the pursuit of knowledge. They
have not only fewer temptations to
idleness and evil habits, but to no
other class do patience and industry
offer a greater reward. Knowledge
is their reward and knowledge
offers to the poor boy wealth and
power and friends and fame and the
poorer he is the more brilliant and
attractive its proffers appear. On the
other hand, the rich mans son already
possesses wealth and friends, and
dwelling nearer the places of power
and fame, he learns to despise their
glory, and to prefer ease and idlcness.
Moreover, the fame of the son of
wealth rarely, if ever, becomes so eX-
tensive as that Of the son Of poverty,
for the latter is identified with the
great mass, and receives the good
wishes and hearty praises Of all :.
while the former can never receive
from the lower classes that genuine
love and admiration which arises from
the feeling of equality
There is an immense amount Of
knowledge floating through the world
which is not to be found in books.
This is of the most varied nature and
most practical importance 1t is the
vast supply of this which enables the
great man to adapt him self to the
age. Ii is from this that men frame
popular laws, and in various ways
gain the favor Of the people. 1t is
the man who from necessity, associ-
ates with every kind of people, that
reaps the most abundant harvest from
this field.
Another aid to mental greatness
must not be overlooked 1t is impos-
sible for the mind long to remain
strong and active, if it be continually
encumbered with sickly and dilapi-
dated body Physical strength and
perfection are mighty auxiliaries to
intellectual power and whatever con-
ditions contribute TO the development
of body as well as of mind must also
be favorable to mental greatness.
But health and strength are peculiar
ly the possessions of the humber
classes These form the patrimony
of the ambitious sons ofpoverty and
it matters not what course he is in
clined TO pursue, it is difficult for him
to cheat Nature out of her dues be-
fore that great protector and servant
of the mind is made worthy of its
trust, and able to perform perfectly
all the duties imposed upon him.
independence and decision were
named as among the qualities essen
tial to greatness. But independence I
can arise only from consciousness of
ability to care for ones self; and that
consciousness results from frequent .
reliance upon ones own resources.
And decision of character is develop
ed by such conditions as require one
to choose between important alterna-
tives-to mark out his own course
and pursue it undeviatingly in the
ldtt vi ufi NoH tlst
mans son learns to depend on his
wealth. On account of his riches, he
is sursounded with many advisers and
flattercrs From selfish motives, 9TH
ers are eager TO think, act and plan
for him, and il is long before he learns
to trust himself, for the simple reason
that it is seldom necessary. But the |
son of the poor man is early thrown
upon his own responsibilities. His
friends expect no profit from him, and
have enough to do to take care of
themselves Prejudice prevents the
rich from seeing any good qualities in
hlm. The poor can not appreciate
them. He is left to form his own es-
innate OF his powers, to mark out his I