Mechanics' magazine and register of inventions and improvements . ant source of occupation, wakesup the slumbering powers, and unveils to ourastonishment ideal worlds; secures us fromtemptation and sensuality ; and exalts us inthe scale of rational beings. When I passby the grog-shop, and hear the idle disputeand obscene song; when I see the cart roll-ed along filled with intoxicated youth, sing-ing and shouting as they go ; when I disco-ver the boat sailing down the river, whereyou can hear the influence of rum by thenoise which it makes, I cannot but ask—Were these people taught to read ? Wa
Mechanics' magazine and register of inventions and improvements . ant source of occupation, wakesup the slumbering powers, and unveils to ourastonishment ideal worlds; secures us fromtemptation and sensuality ; and exalts us inthe scale of rational beings. When I passby the grog-shop, and hear the idle disputeand obscene song; when I see the cart roll-ed along filled with intoxicated youth, sing-ing and shouting as they go ; when I disco-ver the boat sailing down the river, whereyou can hear the influence of rum by thenoise which it makes, I cannot but ask—Were these people taught to read ? Wasthere no social library to which they couldhave access ? Did they never knoW the calmsatisfaction of taking an improved volume bya peaceful fire-side ? Or did they ever tastethe luxury of improving the mind ? Youhardly ever knew the young man who lovedhis home and his book, that was is often the poor mans is a treasure no thief can steal, no mothnor rust can corrupt. By it you turn his cot-tage to a palace, and you give a treasure. 168 Origins of Men of Genius.—Supposed Origin of the Corinthian Order. which is always improving—can never belost. The poor man, says Robert Hall,?* who has gained a taste for good books, willin all likelihood become thoughtful ; andwhen you have given the poor a habit ofthinking, you have conferred on them a muchgreater favor than by the gitl of a large sumof money, since you have put into their posses-won the principZe of all legitimate is it to the poor alone that this remarkapplies. The rich need occupation. Theirhearts are often like seas, which, stagnateunder a breathless atmosphere, putrify forthe want of a wave. Employment, rousedby some noble object, is the secret of happi-ness : and of all employment, mental laborlasts the longest. The body soon tires, butthe mind, divided in its origin, and immortalin its destiny, pursues its labors with transientpausings; and rises from every check withfre
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