Newberry Library - Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Joseph M. Metcalf (brother), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1844-1850

Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Joseph M. Metcalf (brother), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1844-1850

Overview

Image w/ Text

Loading details...

You do not have the permission to view Original image

Open book Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Joseph M. Metcalf (brother), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1844-1850

Title Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Joseph M. Metcalf (brother), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1844-1850

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1844-1850

Place United States

Subjects Bowdoin College, Brothers and sisters, DuQuoin Coal Company, Illinois Central Railroad Company

Format Business records, Correspondence, Diaries, Genealogies, Invoices, Manuscripts, Personal narratives, Records

User-Contributed Transcription James - you, as a "matter of fact man" ought to know. I have an impressionI thought it a little strange but supposing it used by you a "matter of fact man, ofcourse should not have dared to dispute it, any way. There was certainly aconnection between War and the opening & shutting of the Temple of Janus, perhaps that wouldenough to justify a poets' use. I rather think if I had plenty of Big Goods aroundme to consult, "Authorities," I could find the facts and establish it.For your account of your journeyings I was very much obliged. Such a trip must be n many accounts a trulypleasant. I think you must have enjoyed it a good deal. Was it principally for business or for pleasure?You mentioned nothing that your objects were, or what you were about in the different places you visited.How much would your expenses arrange per diem during such a trip. $3 to 5 probably travelling expenses &after I believe my expenses were about $30 last winter in a six days trip to New Haven.Providence I have never seen. The arcade which you mentioned, I have read & seen engravings of. A more particulardescription of places & objects, and recital of incidents would have been extremely interesting.As for the Blues or Hypochondria - I enjoy perfect health. To be sure I may not feel quite so well at sometimes as at others, but then my complexion never depends in any great degree upon that of the atmosphere or thatof my dinner. Perfect Independence of "accidents" of all extremes is my rule: rather perhaps ofall disagreeable, with keenest practicable susceptibility to all agreeables & beauties of nature v artmind, matter and heart. Of course, with the great prerequisite health, I enjoy myself constantly.Theodore Parkers sermon on J.L Adams I have read twice. What do you think of it?Newburyport I was never in. In Salem I spent about half an hour some dozen years sinceand have since been under it once or twice.Ambition. I believe I am not very ambitions as men count ambition, perhaps not enough sofor my own interests. To be sure no one can help having some certain aspirations; - and now I think of itperhaps it is only sluggishness of soul, that one has formed or even established the habit of not being morethereby. However, I believe our philosophies approve the wisdom of discarding ambition. In fact thoughI do regard it as every ones duty to rise, to use as much as fact & as far as possible, that is withoutsacrificing anything else for it. Not a mere ill in wealth: of itself is worth little or nothing.to elevate ones position in society, if it be the right kind of society, is worth more. To increase inwisdom, true wisdom, and in happiness, that is the great thing. To increase oneself, not hisproperty or his standing, or any of those mere accidents: to increase the man himself.Those ambitious men, most men, perhaps all men, fail, err more or less is in buyingthings too dear, terrible mean dirty paltry things too they pay prices for.Scripture speaks of the folly of selling the soul for the whole world, yet how many lose it for reallyless than nothing? how many for a few petty grains of glittering dust, which in the end only burns theirfingers and corrodes their hearts? What object of ambition is wroth purchasing at the expenseor the risk of peace of conscience? Or even at the expense of social enjoyments, and the happinessGod has designed and ordered that we should enjoy even in this world?You say "the road is open, the means at hand, they may be discerned" I wish if you see & understand#them you would state & explain. Likely enough, after all my preaching & practice too, I have only beenin the condition of the fox under the grape vines: and should like to climb up "a piece", to wobble"less a little" if it did not cost too much. Finally I agree with you pretty well, that weare rather a smart set of fellows. I doubt you sometimes thing though more better more smarter and might geta cog or two higher, Providence resisting, if we tried hard enough. only see that the whistledoes not cost too much: or not to pay the piper too much to dance.You mention where you go to hear preaching in Boston. Do you never find your way farenough up North to hear Dr Beecher? or up on state house hill to hear the celebrated andeloquent Kirk? Or into Marlboro Chapel to hear Matthew Hale Smith?31 Brattle Street and you like the place on I like Marlboro very well, everything is in shape.Our temperance folks from this region usually stop at Quincy House, which would thereforebe advantageous for me, if I should remain hereabout. However, if one is spending days in the city75 or 100 per diem is well worth saving. Russian language I never heard. German I am somewhatacquainted with & like much. Russian is much more harsh.I do certainly & really think of going to Milo in May: tell them here I am going whetheror no. To be sure it is rather a different business for one to leave a load during constructive fora week or fortnight: but if they let me go, I shall run no risk of losing my place. I believeI got a pretty firm hold here, considering especially the comparatively short term of my service.Marriage - "the most important of worldly subjects" - I believe I am not disposed totrifle with the subject. Of course, I think of the matter - if I think of anything.I think I am unfortunately not exactly just in proper condition to get married at present,probably not so well situated for it as my brothers, and moreover do not as yet knowany person in all respects just what I should wish in a person for me to marry. (By the waythere is a young lady of this town, of whom from all I hear, I have formed just about the rightopinion, but unfortunately I never had the honor of an introduction, and the lady in questionhas gone south to teach school! In fact, I have not been able to arrive reallyat any conclusion. You have at several. I pray you communicate them to me. they mightbe extremely beneficial and serviceable to me.I'm writing the previous pages, and since the arrival of the Caledonia with further particularsmy opinion of the present Travel Revolution has somewhat improved. It appears to havebeen characterized by extraordinary unexpected moderation, and those who appear to have takenthe lead in it are men of such character as apparently to secure success as long as the powermay remain in their, or such hands, the "Aragos you know and some of the others are of worldwiderenown as scientific men, Lamartine is also among the greatest as Historian, Orator, Poet.Most of them are better than that little uneasy Thiers

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Metcalf Box 7 Folder 193

BibID 821787

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3195px × 5020px 91.81 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_07_fl_193_005_004.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FK6Y

Help Need help finding, searching, sharing, or downloading? Check out our help page!