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ed wealth for themselved, and for tlieir country a proud name 

 among nations. 



But the lustre which the light of favoring circumstance 

 lends, time will dim. In this age of acute investigation, no 

 calling can long stand upon a basis other than its intrinsic 

 worth ; and it is in the general diffusion of knowledge on sub- 

 jects such as the relation of a given employment to individual 

 advancement, that the surest means are found for the removal 

 of existing misapprehension as to the relative dignity of the 

 various pursuits. 



In an article entitled "The Building of a Brain," lately read 

 before the National Educational Convention at Detroit, by Dr. 

 E. H. Clarke, is contained the following: — "Every physiolo- 

 gist knows that one-sided development is possible, and may 

 be artificially attained. The athlete may develope his muscle, 

 the glutton his stomach, and the sensualist his poAver, at the 

 expense of the brain ; and conversely the brain may be de- 

 veloped at the expense of muscle, stomach and reproductive 

 force. And this inharmonious growth may be carried so far, 

 by dwarfing more or less of the organization, as to produce 

 what Physiology calls monstrous brains, stomachs, and the 

 like : that is monstrosities which by a beneficent law of na- 

 ture cannot perpetuate themselves." It is said also, "Xo per- 

 fect brain ever crowns an imperfect body. The brain must 

 be built in connection with the rest of the body, remember- 

 ing constantly that the imperfections of the latter reflect them- 

 selves upon the former." 



This last appears to me to afford a standard by which the 

 different pursuits may be justly compared ; and it accordingly 

 follows that the highest calling is that Avhich leads to the 

 greatest uniform development of the various faculties both 

 physical and mental. Without going beyond his proper 

 sphere, the farmer may possess the scientific knowledge of 

 the chemist, the business qapacity of the merchant, the prac- 

 tical hand of the mechanic, and Avithal a fair endowment of 



