Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-01-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TORY.


The advantages resulting from
knowledge of history are numer-
Gus and important, and no science
presents stronger inducements to
engage the minds, or more richly
rewards us for the time and labor
bestowed upon it.
One peculiar advantage that his
tory possesses is, that it amuses
and entertains at the same time
that it instructS us. And, indeed,
what can be more agreeable than to
be transported back to the remotest
periods of antiquity and to observe
human society in its infancy max
ing its first faint essays towards
the arts and sciences; to see civilza-
ton progressing by degrees, and
everything ornamental advancing
gradually towards its perfection.
What can be more agreeable than
to trace the rise, progress, decline
and fall of the celebrated kingdoms
of ancient times; to contemplate
the virtues which contributed to
their greatness, and the vices occa-
sioning their final overthrow In
Short to see the whole human fam
lily pass, as it were in review be-
fore us, appearing in their true
colOrs, Invested of those delusive
appearances which during their
life time, were so well calculated to
perplex the minds and pervert the
judgment of their contemporaries.
But the principle thing that should
induce MS to engage in the study of
history, is its practical utility and
the vast amount of useful informa-
ton which it contains. Were we
denied the advantages Of history
and confined to our own judgment
and experience, we should inevita-
bly, be compelled to remain forever
in ignorance. But by the aid of
history we are enabled to profit by
the joint wisdom and experience
of all whoshave preceded us, and
addAthe result oftheir fabora 10 our
own
He that is well YER ed in history
may be said to have lived in all
ages of the world. His mind is ia
miliar with every important trans
ton that has occurred, and when
he beholdS the fOundered wrecks of
other hopes, he can avoid the rocks
upon which they split who have
thus
Found him way out of their wreck to
rise i'm
This knowledge is alike profita-
BILE to nations and individuals, and
by proper attention to the exam
pie of those who have gone before
us, many fatal and irretrievabie
errors might be avoided.
History thus becomes the means
of confirming us in the love and
practice of virtue by holding up TO
our view its happy influence upon
the lives and characters of those
who have practiced it, and by con-
trasting it with the unhappy conse-
quehces ever attendant upon a vic
iOus course of conduct. Here virtue
and vice with their corresponding
effects are presented in their true
colors to the mind, which is thus
enabled TO see the beauty of the
one, and the deformity of the 9TH
err, and consequently TO make a
more unerr ng choice. Poetry can
paint virtue in strong and beauti-
full colors, but as poetry addresses
itself to the passions rather than
to the understandings frequently
becomes e vehicle of vice and
the captivating form in which it is
presented renders il particularly
dangerous
Fiction, though it maybe in the
highest degree interesting can
never become truly useful and
perhaps the best that can be said
ia its favor. is that the able man
ner in which many works of this
kind are written, will havea ten
dency to form correct and elegant
style. But surely none will pre-
tend to Say-that the gracSs Of COM
position may not enter into mar
rative of historical facts as we'll as
into fictitious tale. 1t is true
that an excellent moral is some
tim,es conveyed in this manner
but how much more forcible and
impressive is it when drawn from
real events, while the stories of fic-
ton are too frequently, but the
gilded bats of vice, calculated to
corrupt and deceive their admir-
ers.
Philosophy, though eminently
useful and Instructive is too apt 70
involve its vOtaries in the winding