New-York tribune., 1872-01-15
niH. EllEES0N,S HLNrS.

and dissectons of the characters of dead ones
with which last weeks papers were filed, the
quiet morning talk of Mr.. Emerson to young
men, which we published on Thursday, regard
ing their conduct of life, and especially the
great thinkers whom they should choose as
their helpers therein, was like CLEAN OF
wholesome daylight through a maIaIious fog.
1t seemed an irrelevant matter to many, no
doubt, with little bearing on current events;
but after all. the guides of thought which
our boys and girls choose now, and the
rank they elect to conquer for themselves
hereafter, matter more to them and to the
world, thirty years hence, than all the present
Custom house frauds or the social whiTlpool9
produced by the shaking of q dozen Tam
manys. Mr. EmcrsOn's advice as to the books
he would recommend to the young colOred men
and women about him, was modified probably
by the fact that his hearers had not been
born in that social atmosphere which makes
culture almost necessity: they had no herlt-
age of knowledge accruing TO them insenslbly
from their birth. The books he suggests are
meant to serve as stimulants to mental labor,
rather than its qualification IA the olives and
sour ragOuts which the Russians set before
their guests at tie beginning of meal, 10 cX-
cite an appetite for that which is to follow.
Ii is pity than the plan and its motive could
not be understood in many of ouu schools and
colleges.
Mr.. Emerson, who IA he says has bad but
little TO do with instructmg young persons,
being solitary thinker for that very reason
pcIbaps is the most suggestive and powerful
teacher that America has ever produced. 1t
il no exaggeratiOn to say that the whole cur
rent of thought in New-England is diluted
EmersOnianiSm. The secret of his influence
is that he incites to thought rather than salts
Ges it and a newly-awakened mind, like the
enchanted princess in the old story, is apt 10
follow and make n hero and deni-gOd of the
man who has first broken its sleep. Whether
we all agree with Mr.. Emerson's philosophy or
not. we must give in our allegiance to his
mode of education. The ordinary method OF
training our children is TO cram them
with facts, dOgmas, inexOrable aNioms III
science literature, or religion, from the day
they begin the alphabet until graduation. The
motives of life (of which no man has more
than one or twO), whether hunger for knOwl-
edge zeal for discovering Truth, or even the
love of books or Nature (Which next 20 reli-
zion are the most unfailing consultations OF
lfe). are left for chance to give or withhold
at pleasure. Fathers stretch every nerve To
meet the heavy expenses of boys schooling;
the poor mother watches and prays at home.
Masters work faithfully to make hun a math-
eInatician, lngust, lOgician but his real edu-
cation, the great purpose in his life. the whim
or principle which will become his motive
power and make him a man or brute,
off ~
some chance companion. The education
which begins by planting in boys
mind some high principle OF action, some
appetite for learning or Art or clean, honest
life, which will grow with the young fellow,
become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh,
until it prompts his every word and action, IL
as different from the ordinary outward drill
of brain and body as planting seed which
will ripen to perfect tree is 10 furnishing
the same tree ready made of dead wax and
paint. Mr. EmersOns truth, which he gave as
% basis of action, that every man had his
specially, his bias, and was just SO far failure
as he failed to follow, is lofty motive
enough, but his colored hearers will be
more fortunate than their white brethren il
they do not often find it impracticablc. Smith,
the carpenter, has perhaps every claim to
write himself down ne artist or Philosopher;
but what are the little Smiths to do for pOta
toes if he quits the shop to go incoming after
effects or theories I Mrs. joaquin Miller has
set Mrs. Smiths view of that question before
us lately tersely enough. The problem, rs she
states it, appears to be whether could the
world best bear the burden OF a starving NIL
ler family or The Songs of the Sierras We
decline to decide the point; but we do warn
our coorcd brethren who have been sitting at
Mr.. Emerson's feet that at every step of their
progress through life they will be called upon
TO determin whether self-deyclOpment Is, cs
he teaches, the highest duty.
There il q book which, curiousy he did not
recommend to them, although il IL the one
from which his own pro foundest knowledge
is drawn-that of human nature II they
would ever approach this great master
of modern thought in his breadth or cieamoss,
they must borrow the witch hazel with which
he draws from every man or woman, for his
own bohoof, their best gift, whether il be of
faculty, knowledge, or emotions they must bc
ready, apart from all personal Like OF dislike,
to render prompt allegiance TO the drop OF
royal blood in each Of their neighbors, whether
it show itself in q gift of prophesy, comic
acting, or skill in backgammon. Hold on to
that grain of wheat in each man. boys-hOth
white and c0lored-and let the chaf of faults
slip through your fingers; 1t VIII not help nm
nor you.
The cry OF Monopoly raised against Protoc-
ton in general is seen i'll its full absTdlty
when onnlicl In the Wool Tariff which is