Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-05-17
SELF EDUCATION.

No Young man can be thoroughly educated who
is not in some measure at least, thrown upon his
own resources. lie may, indeed, wilhon, any
effort ofhis own, have the benefit Of good and i'll
fn instructors, extensive and well selected libraries
but whatever may be his advantages, they will avail
him but little without proper exerron or his own
part and whatever may be the difficulties in his
way, they will effect him but lille if he is deter
mined to improve. Exercise and action can alone
sireng hen the mental faculties; hence it is not they
who read the most that know The most. There is
vast difference between the acquisition Of knowl
edge and mental improvement. We may pour in.
10 the mind all that may he gathered from books or
Instructors hut uQess we are accus omed to anal we
what we receive. make judcious comparisons, and
draw proper conclusions from the facts collected,
what will il avail us ? The mind NAV indeed be
stored with instruction, but it hardly be said
be improved. In such condition il has been well
compared by certain author, well filed store
house, in which is deposited every description OF
merchandise. but in such confusion that nothing
wanted could be found A man in such Il condition
is always Undecided and imid /; he is always vas.
cillating and weak /; afraid TO trust his own pow
ers. We do not in his conduct that firm and
confident reliance upon mental energy which char
acerses the man who has all the powers and
faculties Of the mind in perfect discipline.
Those who early thrown upon their own re.
eources, obliged from necessity TO call forth
every energy of their mind; and 1t is only by con.
etant training that The faculties become strengthen.
ed. Ii is to Ibis constant action of the mind, tina,
must lie attributed that superiority that does, unde
nably, exist in the sell educaed man. Where
every thing ia adapted to the mind whatever may
be the character and disposition of the individual
he has nellher the motive nor the opportunity fol
that mental exercise which is necessary TO brne
forth and strengthen the faculties. There must II
the first place be an object, whose attainment il
desirable; and then, the opposition that must be
encountered, and the difficulties that must be sur
mounted in us attainment are scarcely less beneIi
cal 10 the mind, than is the object Itself when at
tanned.
A proper determination is particularly necessar,
in acquiring an education. Let any young MAJ
who is ambitious of Learning aud who has suliicen
resolution to apply himself with ygor in its pursuits
know thar on his own eXerlonS depends his sue
cess, and he will soon explore far enough into tn
unarhOmable recesses Of his own mind, TO dscov
that all that is reqnsIte to his Improvement, lie
ned in the eXhauslIess treasury with which NATURE
has endowed him. No Young man should ever h
dssuadcd from so honorable AN attempt by con
sideration of the difficulties in his way. There
fact particularly encouraging TO those who's
pccuniary means are limited. 1t is an uncommon
thing 10 see, what may be termed ga child of for
tune" eXcccd in erauc. As if TO show he
contempt for those pecunary advantages for whcl
young persons, especially must ever be indebted Il
some iornous circumstance, genius iorsakes ht
palaces Of luxury and ease, and takes up her hum
bIe abode with unirended industry. 1t seems Il
be her more legitimate province TO break the bonds
which misfortune has rivcd than TO unload til,
mind Of that cumbrOus dloss which Incidence ant
case heap upon il, and which are far more fatal Il
The mental energies than poverty and wanl.-MO
bile AdU.