For this the
world will not care much, so I shall hazard a few critical
remarks only, or an unpretending chalk sketch now and then,
till I have learned to do something. There will be beautiful
poesies; about prose we know not yet so well. We shall be the
means of publishing the little Charles Emerson left as a mark
of his noble course, and, though it lies in fragments, all who
read will be gainers.'
* * * * *
'1840.--Since the Revolution, there has been little, in
the circumstances of this country, to call out the higher
sentiments. The effect of continued prosperity is the same
on nations as on individuals,--it leaves the nobler faculties
undeveloped. The need of bringing out the physical resources
of a vast extent of country, the commercial and political
fever incident to our institutions, tend to fix the eyes of
men on what is local and temporary, on the external advantages
of their condition. The superficial diffusion of knowledge,
unless attended by a correspondent deepening of its sources,
is likely to vulgarize rather than to raise the thought of a
nation, depriving them of another sort of education through
sentiments of reverence, and leading the multitude to believe
themselves capable of judging what they but dimly discern.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44