Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-11-27
COMMON SENSE.
Pioneer Press.

too high value on an education
which is high, broad and deep. Any
one who can get so good an outfit
for happiness and usefulness is favor
ed indeed, and he il unwise who does
not come as near to this attainment
energy and perseverance can bring
him. But tiacr is an intellectual
condition that is even more desirable
than high learning and which, fortu-
nately, the great mass of mankind
may call their own. | mean that
which is understood under the name
of Common Sense. Bv this term /
understand the possession and use
of practical knowledge, prudence,
motherwit and readiness 70 under
stand the character of otber persons.
We cali it common, because it seems
so be something which by nature al
most all persons possess. Ifone can
have both common and uncommon
sense let him by all means secure
and retain them, but he can have but
one ofthem he will be foolish indeed
il he choose not the former.
The possession and exercise of
this desirable quality are manifested
iii the reasonable estimate which one
pieces upon himself, the choice he
makes OF a profession or trade, the
relation and treatment of friends,
end even the language in which he
conveys to others the thoughts he
desires 10 express. It's abseoce is
revealed by unreasonable ambition,
false dignity, pride of dress or per
sonal charms, pride Of ancestry, and
stilted and ponpous expressions.
A country which belongs to the
people, and whose government is
chosen by them and is OF them,
ought to be favored field for the
development Of common sense; and
there, IL any where, we should find
notable examples of this valuable
quality. A search for it among our
best known citizens is rewarded by
the discovery OF many cases which
at once commend themselves 10 the
Judgment OF all.
In DR. Benjamin Franklin, the
compiler of Poor Richards Altman
&C, we have an illustration OF COM
mon sense which will serve as an ex-
ample aud inspiration for the men
OF America through many genera
ION. Starting ont in life with fair
share OF ibis valuable endowment he
did not bury it or neglect it, but ex-
ercised and increased it and by dill
gent study and close observation
adding to it stores OF wisdom and
valuable experience he became one
of the chief thinkers aud scientists
OF his time To-day the annals Of
our country present him to us as
printer, patriot, statesman, ambas-
sador ard philosopher, in each of
which characters he was eminent,
but in every one of them his chief
characteristic was down right com
mon sense.
In our first martyr president,
Abraham Lincoln, we see another
example of the possession and use of
this great gift. A child of poverty,
without beauty Of person or the adj
vantage Of early education, the Off
spring of ancestors who were TO fame
and fortune unknown, he began at
the bottom of the ladder; but his
life was career of unvarying pro-
gress, and by general consent of the
natioos he now wears q crown for
which the proudest of monarchs
might we'll exchange their own.
Common sem . was Che great feature
of his nature. His store Of useful
knowledge was great and always at
command. His acquaintance with
human nature and ability TO deal
With men was marvellous. His moth
er-wit was exube-ant and never at
fault and his prudence. even in the
republics darkest days, and extrem-
est peril, made him wise ruler and
successful leader.
Ut becomes all men to highly es-
TEEN this natural endowment. No
one should for moment lay it aside
much less should any one bartIa
ii for knowledge falsely called, or
the mannerisms OF the foolish and