TEXAS STATE LumAnY
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admiration whieh )·our several performances have elicited ancl the heart- felt pleasure which they hm-e imparted. 1 kuow that I express only the feelings of ercry heart in this enlightened au<lilory when I declare that your exPrcises thic: day hare been no less honorable to yourselYes, than cheering to your friends, io your, parents; to all indeed who are not insensible 'to worth or indifferent to the welfare of society. But let no eompliment to your merits, flatter your vanity or encrease your pride. Youth is the st•ason of rnnity, and we arc apt at that period to o,·crrnhw ourselves for light accomplishments and superficial attainments; but it should be remembered that all the knowledge which you acquire here if not improved upon in after life is of but little value- that our academic education is but the corner stone of a mighty super- structure whieh it will take a life time to erect- that the most en- larged acquisitions at school is but the alphabet or science. The field of ~eienC'c & litC>raturc; it is 11s deep as the ocean, who can fathom it! It is as broad as the firmament, who can measure its expansion! it is as boundbs as eternity; who <:an encompas~ its immensity! Learn then from the insignificance of mere school attainments to be humble and be wise. It may he well for you to reflect upon the objects of your pursuits here? What arc you prosecuting your studies for? h: it to gratify an idle vanity? is it merely intended to make you shine in the worltl, aitrading the admiration of the vulgar and the envy of the in- considerate? surely not. You must aim at a higher purpose than this. It h,!ls not been my fortune to trarel far in the mazes of science or the ttowery paths of literature; :My life has been spent chiefly in the eool sequestered rnle of private life, with academic laurels unbestowed; hut I have wanderc,l far enough however to have learnt at least this important truth- that our highest knowledge is ourselves to know. The only true and legitimate use of learning is lo make us better by being wiser. II it fail in this effect, it is but as sounding brass & and [sic] empty cimbal. All acquirements that are exclusively ornamental, is either ralueless or something worse. The student that aims onl_y at shining, will be nC'ither better nor happier for any intellectual attain- ments. Knowlcd_!!r is desirable only in proportion as it increaf;es our di!_:position and C'Hlarges our c:apaeity of doing good. If it accomplishes not this important end- if it have no softning influence upon the heart-no purifying effect upon the selfish principles of uature- if we are not made better by it- more faithful in the discharge of our dutie~ & obligations to our friend:; to ~ociety and to God, all our acquire- ments-will prorr no ble~sing to onr$clres, but may prove a curse to com- munity here and our ruin hereafter. Let us then learn to despise that learning whi,·h only _!!ratifies nmity at the expense of principle; and let us still pur~ue with untiring aYidity, that lmowledge as our chiefest good which whil$t it sheds a light upon the brain also kind !Tl es the fir<'s of benernlenc·c & goodness in the heart. I know the pride ·of youth &. the weakness of human 11aturl'. The young are apt to prize mental attraction !es:; tha11 p<'r~onal lieauty: but those who place their happi- ne:;s in the latrc-r to the ne_!!leet of the former, will find when it is too late• to profit 1,_r the k11owll'dg<', that the mi111l alone can secure durable ad111irntio11 & perma11ent atre<:tion- that it will continue to bin<l the heart in adnmantinc diains, whC>n the triumphs of beauty are no more. Be not too min or that homage which is paid to ephemeral attractions.
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