Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/24

XX MEMOIR OF ISAIAH THOMAS. The duty of self-devotion to the claims of country cannot be unheeded or undervalued by any one, without incurring the imputation of great criminality. Nor can a disregard of it find justification or apology in the fact, that nature has not been liberal in bestowing her favors. The most ordinary, and the most gifted intellect, belong alike to the commonwealth, and each is necessary to her growth and prosperity. And, notwithstanding our admiration of a few exalted minds, and the distinguished benefits they sometimes confer on society, it is, after all, ordinary minds which constitute most of our physical strength, and moral power, and intellectual riches ; it is these principally, which give health, and activity, and energy to the body politic. The boundless philanthropy of Howard will ever be a theme of grateful praise to afflicted humanity ; and the never-ceasing benevolence of Oberlin will ever be remembered, with profound veneration, by the people of his charge ; yet neither of these could claim a high standing among the gifted men of their time ; and, in our own country, there have been many among the most forward of those who are constantly engaged in devising and executing plans of reformation and improvement, who are distinguished for successful efforts in doing good, rather than for rare endowments of mind, or attainments in knowledge. In this latter class of citizens may be ranked the subject of this memoir ; a man, possessed of a strong and discriminating intellect, but of none of those commanding powers or splendid talents, which often delight and astonish the world. With few of the ordinary means of education, he yet acquired, by a diligent use of time, an extent of knowledge, which few of the most favored have equalled ; and by industry and frugality, a for- tune not often exceeded, which he liberally devoted to the cause of learning, of private charity, and public beneficence. It is use- ful to trace the progress of such a man from the restlessness of childhood to the serenity of old age, and to mark his advances