| Citation |
NYGWPB.767.044
26 Nov 1767:11, 12 (1299)
The Mirror. (Numb. III.)
Among the many chimerical pursuits of man, I know none more
common or ridiculous than that of general knowledge. . . .
[1/2 column, then] Will Atall . . . In these studies, by his
unwearied application he made some little advancement, when
he reflected that musick, painting, dancing, fencing,
riding, poetry and architecture, were necessary to the
education of a gentleman; to these he likewise turned his
thoughts . . . he would return from a ball, or debauch, to
the study of Euclid . . .
Every one therefore that would hope to be eminent, should
apply himself to that art to which his genius particularly
directs, nor relinquish the knowledge of one science, for a
smattering in many. A fault which vanity and a lively fancy
too often occasion. Such a person must be useless to
society, and as Shakespeare expresses it, "He hath the
joints of every thing, but every thing so out of join, that
he is a gouty Briareus, many hands and no use; or purblinded
Argus, all eyes and no fight."
. . . [3 paragraphs follow, then] let the mathematician
learn to dance. By such means, learning would shine with
superior lustre, and the son of science throwing off the
garb of pedantry, would receive the tribute from an admiring
world, which their merit might justly exact.
|