New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-24

bsssr; that hStnHYPaeod his higher
being, his heaveh-6df8 spirit, with al it,
eternal, sgi@isns demnndnG 0Eths aAstlS
born body, with its groveling, earthly wand
and its sbortlived existence.
Surely, though it Is proof that he needs
| truth presented to- him in it's every phase
| and at every turn, for even if he heed not
its sdmonitions, for the sake of truth let
him die selfaccused.
| need not enter upon q, a,lsn2thy disserta-
tion to prove the power Of the pen. The
civilized world stands awed before it..
Good and bad acknowledge it, while bar
bsrism is . horrible attestation to it. As
well might one deny that the sun gives
light and warmth as deny the power for
| good or evil exerted BY ths PEN. Then let
would-be writer's pause and weigh well the
responsibilities ere assuming them. If every
idle word must be given an account of
how infinitely more must every written
| one. Cast forth upon the world it lives
long after the writer is dead to continue its
work of good or evil: unless it be nom
entity, positively nothing; and this can
scarcely be to the whole world, for scarcely
would you find publication that there
were none to believe in. Well may the
skeptic who SO readily talks his opinions
turn from the thought Of writing them.
Spoken words may 90 forth upon the waves
Of time until they watt up into the blue
ether and echo and recho throughout the
eternal domes Of heaven; but written ones
stand emblaz ,ned upon the walls Of time
and eternity. and meet the eye and speak
to the heart everywhere. Writers who
have launched forth upon the vast sea of
letters retrospect the past, and if you find
truth wanting in its fullest and highest
sense, oh! retrieve it in the future; and oh!
remember if you would carry home truth
to the hearts Of your readers you must cul-
tivate it in your own; the source must be
pure and clear if the outgoing stream is to
be unc Contaminated by muddy sediment
Think not young aspira Mt to the literary
world that We would check your ambition.
for it is . noble one, and we would have
commit yourself to it: we would not have
you enter upon it with partial idea of its
responsibilities. but robe yourself in the
chambers OF thought and grid yourself with
knowledge that you may indeed succeed to
real worth. There is probably no conver.
sation, no reading that so expands the
mind, SO extends its thought, so broadens
its views as faithful composition writing,
and every person who wishes the highest
culture of intellect should practice
it regularly with an honest purpose
to do his very best. even if never
for full development of the mind to read
suggestive essays, and when new thought
is put forth, pause and carry 1t fully out in
your mind, being careful to link one idea
with another in an easy, natural style Of
connection. This plan of reading not only
affords a fine exercise for the mind, but
trains it to Gull subjects for writing upon,
q most useful help to the young writer. So
high is our appreciation Of genuine talent
and high culture that we think that there
is nothing in life-absoluteIy nothing, how.
ever menial-that will not be done better
by such where there is physical strength
for it, than by less gifted ones, whenever
they work with the purpose to do it in the
best possible manner; while all the grand
schemes of the world emanare from such,
and every glorious thought and beautiful |
idea is the offspring Of more or less talent
usually linked with culture. Never was
there a greater mistake than that of the
G., that. extensive cultivation is !
useless to life's practical workers.; but if !
important to them, how vastly more 80
must it be to writer's who give thoughts |
and ideas to the world.