Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-07-06

people, and national progress is bu
the sum of individual energy and up
Brightness, just as national decay is o
individual idleness, sel6shness an,
vice. .r
The proposition, then, is the impor
tance of individual exertion in the ac
complishment Of all that is eleyatinj
and useful. i'.
! Activity and exercise are necessar,
'ifor mans enjoyment. They draw ou
his latent energies, give resolution t
his efforts and strengthen into lif
those qualities which would have re
manned dormant. nE tsfts ID
If the blood ceases its circulation
the body becomes dead and insensible
IF the ripling waters Of the brook bt
collected into stagnatc pool, they
loose their sweetness, and becomt
deadly and pernicious in their inhu.
ence. So with the mental and physi.
cal energies of man. Properly train.
ed and developed, they give dignity
and elevation tC his character, but
unimproved and neglected, they sink
him lower into degradation. t
The journey of human life is ovei
continual barriers. All that is grand
and glorious in its results, all that car
delight and charm is, like Italy, "Be
yond he Alps" Alps of opposition
and trials which must be surmounted
before the object can be reached. AL
the great thoughts, discoveries and in
ventions which characterize, have beer
matured in hardships, pondercd il
sorrow, and established amid Difficult
ties.
! The Printing Press, Steam Engine
and Electric Telegraph were each the
result of long and patient labor. Rid
icule, poverty and oppression arose
like mountains to prevent their com.
plction, but energy and industry sur
mounted them all and crowned theii
inventors with success. Ridicule was
changed to applause, poverty to wealth
and oppression to glory and renown.
The vast manufactures that indicate
a nations wealth are monuments to
the name of Watts. The wreathinp
volumes of smoke that cloud the
scenes of industry, are an incense to
his memory, and the busy hum of re.
volving wheels will ever proclaim the
honors of his achievement.
The electric thrill of thought that
penctrates this world of ours and
speeds itsrapid fight around the globe
is more eloquent in the eulogy Of
Morse than the silvery tones of the
most gifted orator. The splendor Of
learning ard the light of literature
throw q halo OF brightness around the
names OFF Faust and G Guttemburg which
the storms of time will never darkcn,
and which will only be eelipsed by the
glorious of another world.
In this State, some years ago, poor
youth Of humble origin might have
been seen struggling to achieve the
rudiments of an education. BY his
diligence and industry he secured a
position in our navy, where amid the
hardships of a mariners life he devo-
ted his few spare moments to the pur-
suit of knowledge. He mastered a
foreign tongue that he might study
navigation, as he was unable to pur.
chase the necessary text books of his
own language. Mountains of diff
Guilty that surrounded him disappeared
before his unceasing industry, and lit
erature opened to him her inviting
fields. A long life of study and appli
cation has passed away, and to-day the
name of Commodore Maury stands
first upon the roll of fame. He has
fathomed the depths of ocean, and
mapped its sweeping currents. He
has established our scientific character
as nation, and science claims him as
one of her noblest advocates. Ma.
tons have awarded him their compli-
mentary insignia, and kings have de-
lighted to do him honor. As long as
ships shall traverse the ocean marin
ers will think with pride upon the
great Philosopher of the Seas. -
Generations will transmit his brilliant
reputation asan ornament to our coun-
try and nations yet unborn will hail
him the common benefactor of all.
The various pursuits of life are all
avenues by which an Italy" of sue
cess and happiness may be reached,
but assiduous effort must first sur
mount the opposing difficulties. 1t is
not eminent talent alone that secures
success IN any pursuit, but purpose
not merely the power to act, but the
will to labor with diligence and indus
try.
Youthful fancy is prone to imagine
life scene of ease and luxury, where
the ideal beauties of thousand OBJ
jects enlist his buOyant hopes and cx-
haust his noble energies. But alas
they are like the attractive landscapes
which the delusive mirage of the des.
crt presents to the weary traveller,
and when he approaches to enjoy them
they vanish like a shadow or n dream