The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-19
CHE1sEA. March 19th. 1s7s.

should read, Thomas Carlyle recently |
replied
CHELSEA, March 18th, 1873.
DEAR SR-Some time ago your letter
was delivered to me; I take literally |
the first half hour have had since to |
write you a word of answer.
It would give ne true satisfaction
could any advice of mine contribute to
forward you in your honorable course
of seli-impPovement, but long expert
ence has taught me that advice can
profit little that there is a good reason
why advice is so seldom followed
this reason, namely, that 1t is so sell
dom, and can almost never be, 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 L
know so little of, should read, there is
hardly anything definite that can be
said. For one thing, you may be siren
uously advised to keep reading. Any
good book, any book that is wiser than
yourself, will teach you something's
great many things, directly and indi-
rectly, if your mind is open to learn.
The old counsel of Johnson's Is also
good and universally applicable: "Read
the book you do honestly feel a wish
and curiosity to read. The very wish
and curiosity indicates that you then
and there are the person likely to get
good of 1t" 'Our wishes are presen-
timents of our capabilities. That is
noble saying, of deep encouragement to
all true men, applicable to our wishes
and efforts in regard to reading as to
other things. Among all the objects
: L. Eoo To-
follow with fresh hope the one that
looks wonderfuIest, beautifulest. You
will gradually by various trials (which
trials see that you make honest, man
full ones, not silly, short, fitful ones)
discover what is for you the wonderful
est, beautifulest; what is your true
element and province, and be able to
abide by that. True desires, the mont
tiOns of nature, is much to be attended
to. But here also, you are to dIscrlm-
mate between true desires 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 himsy, " desultory"
readers, who fly from foolish book to
foolish book, and get good of none and
mischief of all, are not these as foolish,
unhealthy eaters, who mistake their
superficial, false desire after spiceries
and confectioneries for the real appe-
| tite, of which even they are not desti-
tute, though it lies far deeper, far
| quieter after solid nutritive food? With
! these illustrations I will recommend
| Johnson's advice to yoJ.
Another thing, and only one other, 1
! will say. All books are properly the
4 history of past men. What thoughts
/ past men had in them, what actions
/ past men did, he summary of all books
| whatsoever lies there. It IS on this
ground that the class of books specially
named history can be safely recon-
| mended as the basis of all study of
books; the preliminary of all right and
/ full understanding of anything we can
expect to find in books. Past history,
and especially the past history of our
own native country everybody may be
advised to begin with that. Let him
study that faithfully, innumerable in
! duiries, with due indications, will
/ branch ont from it; he has broad,
beaten highway from which all the
country is more or less visible-theTe
travelling, let him choose where he viii
dwell.
Neither let mistakes or wrong direc-
tions, of which every man, in his studies
and elsewhere, falls into many, discour-
age you. There is precious instruction
in finding that we were wrong. Let q
man try faithfully, manfully, to be
right; he will grow daily more and
more right. 1t is at bottom the con-
dition all men have to cultivate them
selves. Our very walking is an inces-
SAINT falling falling and catching of
ourselves before we come actually to
the pavement It is emblematic of all
things man does.
In conclusion, I remind you it Is not
by books alone, or by books chiefly,
that man becomes in all points man.
Study to do faithfully whatsoever thing
in your actual situation, there and now,
you find either expressly or tacitly laid
TO your charge-that is your post; stand
in it like true soldier silently devour
the many chagriBs of it, as all human
situations have many; and be your aim
not to quit it without doing all that If,
at least, requires you. A man perfects
himself by work much more than by
reading. They are a growing kind of
men that can wisely combine tho two
things; wisely, valiantly can do what
is laid to their hand in their present
sphere, and prepare themselves withal
for doing other wider things, if such lie
before them.
With many good wishes and encour
agements, remain yours sincerely,
THOMAS CARLYLE.