The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-19

| either, greater respect, than the illiterate
IL should be the paramount object of ed
ucation to give to every man, whatever and
wherever his destiny is to be, the kew that
will unlock all his faculties, and present to
the world a full man, elevated in character
and expanded in intellect The old college
classic theory fell short of this, and aristo-
cratically resisted the introduction of mod
ern sciences, as though they were Door re-
lations. This theory, which so long held
sway by its dignlied antiquity, it should
be admitted, was the best the world once
had, and was not barren of many good and
great men, however dilapidated and inap-
propriate it may now be for indiscriminate
application. The classics should not be
discarded, but they should live and let live
The former excluslveness was offensive
The distrust of the university of Oxford
of any deviation from the beaten track was
until recently very conspicuous, and few
American colleges moved with much more
alacrity or with less fear of change. The
sciences, pure and applied. now demand
recognition and hospitality Whether the
beauties ascribed to ancient tongues are
real or ideal, they should not absorb all the
enthusiasm of boyhood. Study them, but
not wholly at the expense of modern Ian
glages,
1t is one of the fortunate conditions of
|
do something for livelihood. We are for
the most part happily unacquainted with
patrimOnal estates, and with consequent
hereditary languor and softness. Industry
is the birthrght of an American, and ease
| and leisure are unconstitutional. This
training through which nearly all of our
young men pass, and which they are proud
to have passed, gives much of soldity to
character. The final results, mental and
all other, in national as well as personal
point of view, have fewest examples of alb
solute failure and most of comparative sue
cess. But the pursuit of colossal fortunes
engrosses too fully our attention, and
makes too loud noise in the wOrlc by its
brassy triumphs. The appetite for wealth
should not obtain the mastery. and needs to
be checked lest its growth should choke
and dwarf all the nobler sentiments of the
heart and eXtinguish that moral rectitude
which is the only basis of true and lasting
greatness. The apparent rank conferred
by wealth in our republic is more unde-
served even than ancestral titles. Though
it may spring up in day, it is gone in a
night. 1t is as transient as the summer
rose, or the song of the bobolnk, and its
garments of purple and fine linen often
hide an intellectual beggar. Is it not
perversion of the noble faculties of man to
devote them exclusively to the sordid work
of gain, or to life of epicurean selflshness,
as though it was enough for one, standing
at the very apex of creation, to eat, to
drink and to sleep?
But intellectual excellence, superior know
ledge, reliable judgement, cultivated i'm
imagination are attachments more worthy of
ambition. One of the noblest faculties of
the mind, which education enlarges and
invigorates, is common sense. 1t is the
capital of the scholar, of the successful
business and profession man, and the
only solid basis of the statesman. Not
brilliant nor dazzling by the splendor of its
effects, it yet silently carries the sceptre in
the constant leadership of the mightiest as
well as the most trivial transactions of life.
Our own people had the race from which we
sprang are as much distinguished, perhaps,
for common sense as any inhabitants of
the globe. But this faculty is held to be
so common as to be often thought. less
worthy of cultivation than genius. One
hundred may attempt the role OF genius,
wit and Imagination and 90 will inglorous-
ly fail, but 100 may modestly and safely as
pire to common sense and the wrecks not
prove more than an inconsiderable fraction.
True genius is not to be moderated, but
the base bonds, stamped only by frisky
eccentrcties, are to be resolutely summed,
and the sooner young men count themselves
out of the role of inspired geniuses and be-
lievc that what they achieve will only be
achieved by hard work, the sooner viii
they be on the true road to eminence. Taste
is almost wholly acquired by education, and
savages and the iliterate are strangers to
its charms. Without it the mechanic, the
author and the orator make no Roadway.
We may be proud of many American auth
ors, but there is much trash afoat, claim
ing to be especially American, which
does not contribute to the growth of good
taste. There is too brisk a market for the
literature of Mrs. Malaprop and Jack
Downing. The style of clowns is more
easily initiated than that Of Addison. Some
interest may be felt in the Augustan age,
but we will inquire after that of Sam Slick?
The clownish mockeries of stupidity and
grotesque ignorance will inspire nothing
higher than would the original models, ard
that is only contempt.
The opportunities of youth come to all
but come only once. Then are formed the
plans of life. Enthusiasm stirs the blood
to action Great thoughts then, if ever,
assert their empire, and young men will
not forget the great deeds and great names
credited to the young. These examples
show that success has been won in the
springtime of life, and it is not always
necessary to wait until the "sere and yellow
leaf appears for the ripened harvest of
celebrity Aim, then, to invest life with
dignity and make it worthy of yourself.
This means that you are to be as reputable
in every nook and corner of life as you
would have the world suppose you to be.
1t means soiidity everywhere, and not
hollowncss. 1t means educational cultiva-
ton sufficient for the highest purposes of an
eager and sinewy intellect, and not merely
a slender stock of ornate refinements. There
is ample scope in America for the ambition
of all, especially in the large diversity OF
human employments, and in the boundess
wants of continent. The useful arts, let
tiers, the press, and even politics, always
need greater leaders. True, it is said all
the professions are crowded, but what Web
ster told his friend will remain true forever.
"There is" said he, plenty of room 'high-
er up"
At last the question will arise, Shall
Young men embark on the veXed sea OF
politics? The great experiment we have so
far successfully conducted involves the CO.
operation of all. 1t cannot be fairer tried
if educated men stand aloof while all Other S
come to the front. 1t is their duty to bolt
the wheat from the chat, aud see to it that
those entrusted with affairs shall
esteem duty paramount to interest or to
personal amusement Inc eIhoiuhchts vi
Office holding, it sometimes appears, to be
: more attractive than its honors, and Its
honors more engrossing than its duties. In
! such cases failure is inevitable. AT best,
, the common field of politics ordinarily of
fers little chance of Immortality, but the
sphere of statesmen having LIBERAL natural
j, and acquired endOwments, gives rather
more ground for hope, and yet even here
t, the brevty of popular regulations is fear,
fully discouraging. To hold Office and
follow the grooves of existing laws requires
less ability than tile consideration of the
,, proper functions of Government, or those
great principals of political economy upor
, which to found the policy of a nation, and OF
nation already strong and aspiring to thu
, highest prosperity and to national renown
The territory we occupy, the form of gov
!, eminent we uphold the different policies