Rising Sun Times, Volume 1, Number 41, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 23 August 1834 — Page 2

Original Essay,

For the Rising Sun Times. EDUCATIONSO. V. One of (he most plausible objections to an extensive education is, that the imagination is impaired by the cultivation of science and philosophy. These objectors do not pretend to deny that advantages are gained to community, and some of the powers of mind are strengthened by the cultivation of these particular branches; but they contend that by this means the imagination ; extremely weakened. Tins subject is indeed worthy of investigation, for if il be found, on examination, that the enlivening pleasure giving power of the mind, styled imagination, is impaired by the cultivation of science and philosophy, we would say reject them; for what can compensate for the loss ol this valuable power? To il we are indebted for our sublimest thoughts and our loftiest conceptions. By it we arc enabled to enter largely into the feelings of others, and participate in their joys and share their griefs. By it the christian can paint the abodes and employments of the blest, and thus be induced to double his efforts to make sure of Heaven. But before we yield the question, and conclude with our objectors, that it is impossible for the philosopher ai.d man of science to retain their brilliant imagination?, let us examine the reasons of their belief, and see if they are not faulty. They say the imagination is a soaring principle, a creative power that asks not the aid of rules, but is injured by them whenever imposed. 'Ti true that the imagination is a creative power, but it is not able, like omnipotence. to create something out of nothing. It is finite in its operations: without materials it cannot work. To piove (hi assertion we need only refer to a mind in its natural state, wholly uncultivated except by intercourse with other minds similar to itself. The imagination of such a mind would scarcely deserve the name. It would be groveling, unvivifying, and totally unable to grasp higher than common objects. Now why is it that the imagination of this uncultivated mind is not brilliant, and capably of soaring without limits, and creating for itself innumerable objects of various forms? Surely the reason is not that it is trammeled by the rigid ruls of science and philosophy, for with these it is unacquainted ; but the true reason is. it is trammeled by ignorance, the strongesty most cruel and injurious trammel Hit mind ever wore. This illustration shows conclusively that the imagination is incapable of creating objects without materials. If a mind has but few thought, its imagination will necessarily be weak ; but if it has extensive knowledge, and all ils powers thoroughly cultivated, its imagination will be brilliant. By this power "the mind merely throws knowledge formerly acquired into new form. Hence it has been called the creative faculty.' If this definition be correct, the conclusion is legitimate, that all valuable knowledge will be of advantage to the imagination. Then let us enquire into the nature of science and philosophy; what do these terms mean? They comprehend no less than a knowledge of things, both material and immaterial, in all their varieties of forms, properties, relations, and operations. Can it be that the imagination is impaired by such sublime truths as these? Do they not rather form the most valuable materials, upon w hich this energetic power can possibly operate? But, say our opponents, the philosopher's business is to examine causes and investigate the properties of matter, therefore his reasoning powers will be improved, but his imagination cramped. c well know that while the mind is intensely employed in study of any kind that the imagination ha; little or no power to play, but when the mind has acquired a perfect know ledge of this or that particular Mud v. the imagination is strengthened and im proved. A familiar illustration will show this view of the subject to be cor rect. Take an individual who is capa ble of conversing on various subjects, but unfortunately has no knowledge of English grammar. He will of course be liable to violate the rules of syntax in every sentence he utters: but nlace him under the care of a rigid teacher, who will not only compel him to learn the rules of grammar, but fo apply them in all his conversation: will he not at first be trammeled by these rules rather than assisted? Will not his thoughts le more engrossed about the manner ol Ins speech than the matter? Mosi certainly this will be the case, until hr has become familiar with grammar rules; then he will receive from Ihem almost incalculable advantage Tlwn be will be enabled to communicate his thoughts with much more erace and l -if-e,rnnn ne coqii previous to h:s un

derstanding the principles of that language which he uses as a vehicle "f communication. From this illustration it is evident that the imagination i not hampered by the rigid rule? of science and philosophy, only while the mind is

emploved in acquiring a know icoge 01 those rules. But our opponents tell us, that O-si in. Homer and Virgil, lived when science and philosophy weie uncultivated, ami Mill they were the best poets the world ever produced. We acknowledge these I ets have received the admiration of ages, and they yet live clothed in all the sublime splendor of antiquity, from which circumstance I hey have acquired half their importance. We are so enamoured wilh ancient things, that the mere name of antiquity fills our bosoms with the most thrilling emotions, and thii principle frequently operates upon u to so great an extent as to make, us acrlhe dignity to trifles. Strip the garb of antiquity from I tie poems of Osi in. and their admirers would be lessened; tare the same mantle from the writings of Homer and Virgil, and they would be divested of half their charms. But allowing that these poets were equal, if not superior, to any who have ever invoked the muse, does it follow (hat (hey derived any of their excellencies from ignorance? None will say yes, but our opponents none but they will contend that the imaginations ol these great minds would have been injured by their having dove it.lo the deptiis, and scaleu the heights of philosophy, and walked through the green pastures of science, where they might have drunk sweet and wholesome wa ters from the limpid streams which there so gontlv glide, and gathered beautiful flowers, which in rich prod) -ion grow. audi Knowledge as tinwould have opened other avenues and shed new floods of light on the imaginations of these gigantic mind!-, and their productions w ould have convinced the world, that what we contend for is truth. But our opponents may ask us why there are not men at the present day who excel in poetry? We answer, 'tis simply because sufln iont inducements are not presented to ii.fluence many who are cap tide, to mike the :t!empt. O' jects of more import nice d- inai.d the attention of all great and culuuel minds. But we have reason to believe that some ages hence, when science and philosophy shall be culti vated to a much greater extent than ai present, and when other subj cts shal not call otF the attention, there will a rise poets, such as the world lias never know n before. Yes, such as will shade in fterunl night all who have ever written or Ming, from the time of Orpheus down to the day in which we live. We will again define imagination, ind proceed to demonstrate that it i improved immensely by the very stu dies which the affirmative of our ques tion makes injurious. Mind, owing to its various susceptibilities and powers, is capable of acquiring and preserving facts to an indefinite .amount. Imagi nation, one of these powers, is the agent which makes selections and forms com binalions entirely new. But if the mind has no facts or thoughis in its posscssio how can lhee new combinations be r i ii . -i lormeu i iiii us -aiu we can imagine an image entirely dissimilar to any thing m nature. As a whole we may; but we are indented to thing or qualities. ? . i ii wun wnicn we weie previously ac uaiuau, mi nil 1' Mils IV. 1)0 W 10(1 ,re then is essential to the existence of brilliant and well trained imagination Now if w e can show that the knowledge gained by the cultivation of scicno and philosophy is well slanted to thi purpose, we shall accomplish our ob ject, which is to remove one objection to an exenive education. A knowledge of arithmetic strength en and enlivens the imagination. 'T by this science we are enabled to count the stars, and obtain correct notions of the velocities and distances of the he.i veniy bodies; by if, too, we are enablee to number the terestial objects wilh which a kind 1 rovidence has surround ed us. A familiar acquaintance wit! mathematics cannot fail to improve thi - C a 1 I .1 i - power oi me minu, ior ine suolimt principles deduced from the various departments of (his science open new ncius ior imagination s scope. A know ledge of the science of mind w ill enabh the imagination to make stronger awl bolder flights. 1 his science dev elope the anatomy of that immortal principle whose expanding energies will con'inue to improve while eternity endure s, an U.nnipotence controls the affairs of Hi universe. Tin principle is what assim il ites us to Jehovah, therefore a know ledge of it will enable the imaginatioi to soar up through (he. innumerabl grades of intelligences, till ils maj-tic flight is lost in the infinite greatness of thai mtnii, wnicn is Uod. We might continue, to enumerate deuces, and show that they are all

friendly to the imagination; but tim II onlv peimit to mention one more, which is astronomy. "Tli'e object of this f i-'iTC i to determine the distances and magnitudes of the heavenly hodies.the form of the orbits they describe, the law s by which their motions are directed, and the nature and destination of the various luminous and opaque globe? of which l'e universe appears to be composed." One unskilled in litis- science would imagine the globe which we inhabit, the onlv one of God's

creation, and of its form he would be utterly ignorant. Tine, aided by an uncultivated imagination, which our opponents so highly eulogize, and so much admire, he might conclude, that the earth is a mere plain surrounded on II sides by the heavens stretched over is in the form of an umbrella; but who will say that this view of I lie subject is it all sublime, or calculated to add mlliancv to his imagination, when comjared to the truih, which astronomy evelopes? The stars he would consi der as mere luminous specks, the sun in. moon as small circles formed onlv lo emit ligh! for our convenience. But et this individual acquire a knowledge of the sublime science of astronomy, how changed will be his views! The irth he will then know is of spherical lorm, and though immensely large, yet ipable of being contained within the cii cumference of the sun, together wilh twelve hundred thousand others of equal ize. The stars too, which before he oi'.sidered unimportant spots of light, ind few in number, lie will then knoware luminous globes of immense magni tude, compared with any one of w hich, our earth sinks into insignificancy. By e aid of telescopes, for which instru ments he is i iivj ebted to science, he will iscertaiu that there are at least, nearly one hundred millions of these globe containing, no doubt, their millions of inhabitants each, and probability as-ists urn to imagine, that bevond these there ire worlds on worlds performing thenregular revolutions, to a number far ex ceeding his powers of computation Let the imagination of this astronomer airy him to the most distant globe hi? e cm reach, by the assistance of ih Ime-t tilt.: noon it lei him stand and Z' lor a wlnl-.i at worlds devoid; thence, norne on scientific -iig-, lei nm 11 v through the houndless held of llimitable space, and with philosophic eyes, v iew the innu nera'ole, stupendous ind wondoiJu! works of Iii:.i whoi presence mis immensity. J ell u, gen ile rt-ader, would thi, mans imaginaion be impaired by the cultivation of science and philosophy? Again: Ao intelligent christian be Iievcs (hat sHnls in Heaven will snend their eternity in entire res! from ail em-1 ploymenf; hut on (lie contrary, mmv I o! the wi-es-t and best of men are of the opinion that those happy and redeemed spirits will ever be emploved in learn ing more and more about the works ind wa s ol infinite xehdom. IJow ialionalilieopimonth.it minds entirely freed from the checks and hindrances which attend them in this imperfect stale, shall find complete enjoyment in stu lv ing the universe and the character of Gad. Mind, matter, and relation then will form subjects of investigation for happy minds, when "time shall be no more."' But if such studies have a tendency to impair the imagination, if i certain that ere many ages of eternity have rolled away, this pleasure giving puiver will be immensely enfeebled, while all the other powers will be immensely improved. This notion is too absurd for any rational mind lo enterfain for a single momenl. We conclude this tedious article, bv aying that no power of the mind is more improved by culture, than the imagination; and no one, when properly cultivated, is capable of a (lording such pleasure and advantage to its possessor. F. For Uic llising Sun Times. PARTY SPIRIT. "if there were neither fools nor knnves in the world all people would be of one mind " Messrs. Editors: There are few greater evils which befal a country than such a dreadful spirit of division and discord as rends the people into two distinct factions or parties, and makes (hem more averse (o each oth r than if (hey were actually different nations. It is true, that in every free government party spirit will exist, and this, too, may be made subservient to useful purposes in a republic; for when parlies are arrayed agamst each other, and are watching (he movement of each other closely, we may readily suppose (hat corruption and abuse of power will he more likely (o be exposed, and malpractices of the government detected. But while this is admitted, who is 'here who can look at Ihe fearful heighi lo which parties run in tin our country al ihe pre- nl da), and not dread the consequences (hat may ensuef The philanthropist will lament the circum-

stances which caused men, citizen?, and j

brothers to hate each other; the real patriot vvill deplore the spirit of the limes and even tremble for the safety of our free and wisely framed institu lions, which were purchased with the blood of heroes, and are the pride and the boast of the free and enlightened in all parts of the world. The influence of party spirit when carried bev ond its pn per bounds, is very injurious both to he morals and understanding of men. Il debases a nation, and even in a great measuie destroys common sense. That it is ii juiioiis to the morals of men is very evident if we look at (he evil effects in and around u. When carried to a furious height, it will r xrt itself in civil war and bloodshed; and when it is under its greatest restraints it breaks out in falsehood, del ruction and calumny; ana in short, K cultivates ana cherishes the w orst passions of our na i i i l . i l tures, an-J ex'inguishcs the seeds of goodness, benevolence and huronnity. If parly spirit exerls such a baneful influence on the morals, it has likewise a verv pernicious one on our judgments. How olten we hear a poor, s:!Iv, scur rilous speech or article applauded, or a one-sided, contradictor), artful slate paper cried up as being something superlatively excellent by the party from which it eman ated; while on the other hand the most noble sentiments and the most exalted efforts of patriotism, are condemned by those of an opposite par ty. Again, it obscures our vision and prevents our forming a just estimate of the character of public men. We find that almost every public man is known by two contrary characters for exam ple, the Chief Magistrate of (lie nation, while he i respected and held in the greatest possible estimation by a large body of our citizens, is reproached, abused.and criminated by another party. Tiie Senate of (he United States too is regarded as the noblest spirit, and the most talented and patriotic body of Legislators of the age by one party, while iney are denounced as a factious, potulent, reckless body, by the other. Bui I should weary the patience of your readers were 1 to detail all the evils resoiling from what might be denominated nit ra part) isin. Suffice it lo say, that all honest men should set their faces against it ; that they should resolve no longer to be led by ambitious, designing men, who, conscious of their own limited qualifications. hopcthrough ihe raising of parly excitement to bring themselves into notice, and promote their own interests, regardless of the welfare of (lie people. Q. C;"IL YVAR IN SIKXJCO. The last accounts from Mexico go lo realize the apprehensions which had been entertained in reference to the outbreak of another civil war in that Republic. The intelligence w hich fedlows, shows that -some hard fighling,1 had already taken place. LATEST FROM MEXICO. New Orleans, July 7. The brig Edwin, Captain Chasteau, arrived yesterday, in seven days from Vera Cruz, wilh letters and papers to the fJ4th June. There had been some hard fighting in the interior, but Vera Cruz had remained tranquil. The motto of the Republic had been changed from " God and Liberty-'' lo "Santa Anna and lit g j'ot." The city of Mexico is said lo have declared for Santa Anna. The troops stationed al Campeachy had likewise declared for Santa Anna; but it was supposed (hat (he pl.ee would soon he recaptured, as some Government troops were on their march to it, and two vessels of war had been ordered there. The State of Vera Cruz had declared for Santa Anna. Ver.v Citrz, June 21. Business both here and in the interior, i completely paralyzed on account of Ihe Revolution, which promises to bo one of (he most bloody and disastrous that this unfortunate country has ever witnessed; nevertheless neutral merchants like myself have nothing to fear, and all private properly too, I conceive lo be quite as safe as it has ever been. If the road between here and Mexico becomes seUled, we shall have immediately a government or general conducta. Cami'ka( iiv, June 9. We have a Revolution on foot. The Governor of the State has refused lo obey ihe commanding General, and froops from MeriJa and this place are on the road. What will be the result, God only knows. I am in hopes they will settle it amicably, for if (hey once make a beginning, I am afraid (he refill will be serious. They are preparing (o ge( a gun boat under way. The gun boat was fitting out lo blockade Sisal. The Boles in Philadelphia have redved to wear crape for six weeks as a mark of respect to the memory of Lafayette,

Not having been furnished with the official election returns of Ripley county, we are unable to furnish the. details; but John Dumont, Esq., is elected to represent the district composed of Switzerland and Ripley counties. Weekly Messenger. Ciioi.F.KA. The Illinois Patriot says that in Rushvilie of that state, there had been 1G recent deaths by Cholera. In

Pekin liier- had been 9 deaths. It prevail in several oilier parts of that state. In Boston there arc foity-oight Religious Societies, ipc?t of which have churches. Of these, twelve are Unitarians; nine Ca!vinist; seven Baptist; six Episcopal; six Methodist; four Universalis! ; two Catholic; one Swedcnbcrgian, and one of Friend. The Vandalia (ill.) Advocate says, that from one to two thousand laboreis may find employment on the western division of the Cumberland Road in Indiana and Illinois, at a fair price and prompt pay. Editorial We. A western editor says the legal pronoun zee, so commonly used by the scribes of the press, means ''me and my family." It has been generally understood to mean ''We the editor and the devil." The salary of (he Lord Chief Justice of England is ,$44,44 -1. The salary of the Chief Justice of the United States is $o,000. Another. Veto! The editor of the U. S. Gazette says, that a chicken has been exhibited with five toes, and pronounces it another '"V-loe." It is said that when Col. Crockett iieard his name called, and that he had received one vote for Speaker, he rose up, shook his inane, gave one of his most riprorious grins, and sung out, "dial's me go ahead.'''' The old Slate of Virginia wants to 20 ycais interest lo be paid twice a yea r. Jacques Goudouin, the individual who recently robbed the New Orleans Canal Bank of .$4 1,900 has been taken, and all the money recovered but ,$1, 500. An orphan fair lately held at St. Louis, Mo. produced ,$1505. This is pretty good, and shows that this mode of collecting money is not vet wholly extinct. We learn fro.n the Nashville Banner (hat the President arrived at the Hermitage on the 4th insr. in excellent health. The citizens of Nashv ille and the adjoining country were making preparations to give him a public reception. Lou. Pub. Adv. Joseph King, of Chansbcrsburg, Pa. a man addicted to habits of intemperance, committed suicide on the 21;t nit. by cu'.ling his throat with a razor. It is ?a!e;l that there are in Ireland, five millions of acre of uncultivated lands. A project is now on foot to bring them into profitable use. The number of acres of cultivated lands is said to be twelve million?. The number of emigrants supported by public charity, in the state af New York last year, was 20,000. The body of a murdered man was found lately on the Cumberland Mounfain. Tennessee. His linen was marked S. W. If. and from other circumstances, it is believed his name is Harper, travelling to Alabama, with about ($30,000 in his possession. Louisville, August 2. Business cordinucs languid-the weather warm and dry, though not so oppressively hot as last week. The Ohio has 2 feet 4 inches water on the Falls, and is falling gradually. Price Cur. Among the lafe acts of Congress is one appropriating $181,000 to rebuild (he frigate Congress; -mother appropriating $50,000 to procure a live oak frame for a frigate to be called the Paul Jones. Also, $10,000 for building a naval store-ship. Also, $70,000 for building two brigs or schooners of war. Small portable steam engines, three feet square, have been invented , says (he New York Times, which al an expense of a tender and one hundred weight of coals per day, lift two tons and a half of brick and mortcr daily, to the height of a four story building. The whole apparatus can be carried on a carf . The celebrated Freda hk Rapp, esq. recently died at Economy, Pa. the seat of the '"Harmonists in d, r.mu of his age. He was a very strong-minded and intelligent man. and. we believe. most scrupulously honest one. He was the chief actor or agent for the Harmonists, whose peculiar habits have been often described, and to whom his loss will, probably, be irreparable, as a eo, ciev .VrA.

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