The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837
Various
Periodicals
Before phrenological investigation and discovery, man's moral and
intellectual nature seemed destined to perpetual mal-treatment. The
passion of fear was appealed to alike, to quicken the intellectual
faculties and moral sentiments of youth. If one failed to acquire
a lesson in a particular study with the same facility as another,
it was set down to his indolence; if one betrayed an unruly
propensity, which another did not manifest, it was charged to the
general corruption of human nature; and the lash, in either case,
was regarded as the blessed quickener of mental and moral dulness.
The lesson was no better acquired, nor was the dangerous propensity
diminished in activity, after the application of this remedy; and yet
the rod and the delinquent urchin remained inseparable companions.
The youth who, under the influence of angry excitement, had
taken vengeance on his fellow, was never found to have had his
destructiveness attempered with benevolence through the influence
of scourging; nor has he who neglected mathematics, for the love of
poetry, ever been flogged into an admiration of the exact sciences.
The world was wondering at the reason of the failure, when the
phrenologist stepped forth and informed them; but they laughed at
him, and whipped the children still!
Again: The man who was never forbidden to steal, may never have
stolen; while another, to whom has been repeated every day of his
life the command, 'Thou shalt not kill,' may nevertheless commit
murder; and yet both have been treated as though they possessed the
same sentiments and passions in an equal degree; and so of course
they have received the same moral discipline. In him who knows no
fear, how vain the attempt to inspire terror as the preventor of
crime! And yet how readily would a noble sentiment respond to your
appeal, and come to the rescue, when his virtue was at its greatest
need, had it been trained to do so? Pride often concedes what cannot
be obtained from a love of justice, while love of approbation will
bestow in charity such sums as put benevolence to the blush for her
scanty gifts. Cautiousness often gives to vice the fair aspect of
virtue; while ingenuousness and courage often expose the purest man
to accusation and censure. The love of glory may stimulate to deeds
of heroism, which the dauntless patriot cannot excel; and people may
worship the hero for braving danger in their behalf, when it was only
his vanity he designed most particularly to serve.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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