New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-12

1 n Low USVh W UCihACs gu
dressed to young men, contains the follow.
ing admirable letter from Carlyle. hitherto
unpublished:
CHELSEA, March 10, isf3
DEAR SIR-Some time ago your letter
was delivered me. take literally the first
| free half hour ] have had since to write you
| q word of answer.
| 1t would i've me true satisfaction could
any advice of mine contribute TO forward
| you in your honorable course of self i'm
provement, but q long experience has
taught me that advice can profit but little;
that there is good reason why "advice is
| 80 seldom fOllOwed"-this reason, namely,
that it is SO seldom, and can almost never
he, rightly given. No man knows the state
of another; it is always TO some more or
| less imaginary man that the wisest and
| most honest adviser IS speaking.
AS to the books which you, whom know
| so little Of, should read there is hardly any.
| thing definite that can be said. For one
thing you may be strenuously advised to
keep reading Any good book, any book
something's great many things. directly
and indirectly, ii your mind be open to learn.
The old counsel of Johnson's is also good
and universally applicable. ''Read the book
you do honestly feel q wish and curiosity to
read. The very wish and curiosity indicates
that You then and there are the person like.
ly to get good Of it." "Our wishes are pre-.
sentiments of our capabilities" That is a
noble saying. of deep encouragement to all
true men, applicable to our wishes and eff.
forts in regard to reading as TO other things
Among all the objects that look wonderful
or beautiful to you to follow with fresh
hope the one that looks wonderful
eat, beautifulest. You will gradually.
by various trials (which trials see that you
oh, ~ ~
ftful ones) discover what is for you tie
wonderfulest. beautifulest; what is your
true element and province, and be able 10
abide by that. True desire, the monition
of nature. is much to be attended to. But
here. also, you are to discriminate between
true desire and false. The medical men
tell us we should eat what We truly have
an appetite for, but what We only falsely
have an appetite for We should resolutely
avoid. 1t is very true. And fimsy. .'desul. I
tory" readers. who fly from foolish book TO
foolish book and get good OF none and mis-.
chief of all, are not these as FOOLS b. un. !
healthy eaters who mistake their superb. |
cial, false desire after spceries and confec. !
tioneTies for the real appetite. of which even |
they are not destitute. though it lies far |
deeper, far quIeteT. after solid. nutritiye /
fOod2 With these illustrations l will re.
commend Johnson's advice to you.
Another thing and only one other, will
say. All books are properly the record of
the history of past men had in them. what
actions past men did. the summary Of all
books Whatsoever lies there. 1t is on this !
ground that the class of books specifically |
named history can be safely recommended
IS the basis of all study of books; the pre-
li!ninary to all right and full understanding I
Of anything we can expect to find in books.
Past history, and especially the past history
Of ones own native country-everybody
may be advised to begin with that Let
him study that faithfully, innumerable in
luiries, with due indications, will branch
out from it; be has q broad, beaten highway
rom which all the country is more or less
7isible-there travelling, let him choose
where he will dwell.
Neither lie; mistakes nor wrong directions,
If which every man, In his studies and else
= here. tails into many, discourage you.
here is precious instruction to be got by |
hiding that we were wrong. Let a man /
ry faithfully. manfully to be right; he will |
row daily more and more right. 1t is at
bottom the condition on which ali men have
o cultivate themselves. Our very walking 6
3 an incessant falling; falling and catch
ng of ourselves before we come actually TO
ne pavement! 1t is emblematic Of all !
hin g man does.
In conclusion remind you that il is not 9
" books alone, or by books chiefly, that a
ian becomes in all points q man. Study to !
o faithfully whatsoever thing in your &C. ,
ual situation, there and now, you find
ither expressly or tacitly laid to your ..
harge-that is your post; stand in it Ike
rue soldier; silently devour the many | I
nagrins Of it, as all human situations have p
'sny, and be your aim not to quit it with i.
ut doing all that it, at least, requires you. | 2
man perfects himself by work much more | {
ian by reading. They are a growing kind !,
men that can wisely combine the two +
lings; wisely, valiantly, can do what is t
I'D to their hand in their present sphere, II
1d prepare themselves withal for doing g
her wider things, if such lie before them. &
nth many COED wishes and encourage. i
ents. remain yours sincerely, g
THOMAS CARLYLE. IL