Year: 1861

How often do we meet in life men who havy
elements of greatness indelibly stamped upo,
their features, aud who possess natural talent
enough to enable them to rise above medocrity.
yet who are either too slothful or too fond of
pleasure to apply the power of their minds l.
mental Improvement.


Who among us has not seen in his schoolboy
days those who are habitually fond of mischief
the sons of rich men perhaps-who felt that any
effort on their part was unnecessary, and they
were sent to school merely to get rid OF their
mischievous tricks at homer Who has not, on
the contrary, seen some one who seemed to feel
that everything depended on his efforts and who
would apply himself with energy to the task of
improving himself to the utmostY


Human greatness is more often owing TO cir
cumstances than to natural ability Thus it is
we see sons OF poor men struggling to obtain
position in life and how often do we see sous of
rich men squanderng the hard-earned wealth of
their parents. Thus we see that greatness can
not be confined to families In successive genera
tons the name of great man may cause the
world to respect the son. yet how often the son,
in consequence, throws of all restraint, and ex
poets the world to show him as much respect ~
was shown his parent whose life was one
usefulness and Improvement. Eminence can on.
ly be obtained by toll father may aid his son
by his good name yet that will never make him
great. A little appe-boy who pursues with un'
wearying diligence his calling, may, perhaps.
become u greater and more useful man than the
rosy-oheeked and curly headed pet boy. And
why Because he feels that he Is obliged to
toll for his own elevation while one who posses
ses all the luxurics of life IL content with his in
hertance but the poor are never content with
inherting property. Great men generally rise
from humble life. II is true there are exceptions
to this rule. We see an exception in John gum
cy Adams we see the son toiling for the samd
position which the father attained we see the
father in the Presidential chair, aud in quarter
of a century we see the son occupying the same
high position No American on the contrary,
can for moment look upon the name OF the
great man whose autograph stands out most con
spicuous on the Declaration OF Independence,
without feeling of pity as he reflects on those
upon whom the mantle Of q great name has
fallen. How often is one reminded OF the lang
uage of Sir lIaroourt Courtley in the play, when
he says There are many who by aplng the
vices of the great, imagine that they elevate
themselves to the rank of those whose fault alone
they copy"


A Webster, Jackson, Calhoun, and Clay
were born of parents who ilourished in humble
life, in the same century that produced the great
man who presided over the first American Con-
gress the descendants of those humble parents
have won for their names imperishable fame, and
shed halo Of glory upon their nations honor,
while those upon whom the mantle of greatness
fell, have passed their lives in prodlgality.


Then, young man, be Industrious, bo frugal,
be moral. An uncultivated mind will no more
produce thought, or challenge respect for its
possessor, than desert will produce wheat with
out the aid of the husbandman. In this country,
no one is so poor but that he can educate him
self. The last Postmaster General was, while in
college, severely reprmanded by tho professor.
at one time, for appearing barefoot in the recita-
ton room. He did not own a shoe in the world! /!


Sons Of poverty who toll for your daily bread,
and who at night toll as hard for the cultivation
of your minds as you have toiled to supply your
wants, falter not The greatest orator America
ever produced was born in log cabin. The
greatest lingust the world ever knew Is more
proud of associating with mechanics than with
the nobility of England. The greatest phlloso-
pher America ever produced was printer. And
there Is a why sons OF toll become great /;
manual labor strengthens tho sinews and mus
ces, and gives u healthy vigor and action to the
mind and II the mind be only properly trained
the laborer will become as great as he who's
life has been devoted to study, and who know
nothing of manual labor.


Lives of great men all remind us


We can make our lives sublime,


And departing leave behind us


Footprints on the sand Of time