Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-07-04
To the Editors Of the Democrat.
A LECTURE ON EDUCATION


pY JAMES W. HosEINs
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
a little learning is dangerous thing,
Drink Deep or taste not the Pyerian spring;
It's sha low draughis nioxicale the BRAIN,
But drinking deeply sobers II again"
Mind is immolate-'tis that invisible and Imma-
teria part OF man which thinks and prompts TO &C.
uon-'tis that which makes him the modest work
Of God and often strikes him with astonlshment IN
view of hrs own character. Mind then must he
expansive, capable Of continual increase. 1t must
from its ormation, not only exist and Operate until
lime shall have sunk into iorgeuness; but when
never ending future shall have commenced IFS rev.
ouuops and ages after ages shall have traced each
other into non-exslence, the mind will have but ex-
banded It's powers frightened It's visions, and be-
come better fitted to live forever
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after Immortality lis the divinity
that
Siirs within us-,is Heaven Itself that points out
4 An hereafter and intimates eternity 10 man."
The soul, secured in her existence, smiles
"a; the drawn dagger and de6es s point.
4 The stars shall fade away, the sun himself
Grow dim with aye and nature sink in years,
4 But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,
4 Cnhurl amid the war " elements
4 The reck Of nature, and the crash Of worlds"
! Bot though mind is material and immortal yet by
being brought INTO commun on with material and
q psgshing world, it must be influenced IN sonesde-
gree, by Circumstance. The world is the great
store hnuse Of knowledge, to which we have re-
course in order to satisfy the desires of mind, 10 a
4 common reservoir to cuench our thirst. We lire
i learn, and he, who spends his existence without
earning, or who leaves The world almost ignor-
AMI as he enters it, utterly fails 10 secure one great
end for which nature intended him. Like the droDe
Re hvcs, ike The drtne he dies, and perhaps, moi a
solitary tear has been shed over the loss, nor the
place he once occupied, ever again remembered. o.
Low perfectly useless is The existence Of such man
who lives neither for himself nor for others. But
as there are many who do not thus live and die, but
often Sake then their thirst at,thisIounan oiknowl-
W edge; and as il is probable that false as well as
tae principles may be imbbed, il is necessary Mat
asyslem Of Eincation be esablished-one founded
On true principles, and adapted TO the nature and
constitution of mind-n other words that mind be
educated scientifically. The poet evidently mean
s0melhing when he said
lis Education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent the trees inclined.
and so well are we convinced Of the ruth of this
eoopet, that if a man were 10 assert at this late pc
Tod Of the worlds existence, tha ignorance is bet
YER than knowledge, that we have no necessity 70
hdacahon-ihat nature intended US TO remain Tor
ever, as We WERE when the first beam ol the risns
sun burst upon u.s. and that the wise man was mis-
aAen when he said, that knowledge is better thai
Houses and ands--we should set him down as
charity boy. who has left HE parental roof wiihou
earning the first lessons Of his childhood-lhat ig
o horance, folly, and vice are assocates-and tia
scarcely any hing in this world is more an object o
2oaienpt than tool for the want OF sense.
"A lie above eouplet, the poet certainly implies
Va, the mind, ehen it FIRST begins to act, is rud
81 and imperfect, and needs 10 be trained and dlsclp
-hed according to some rigorous system of Educa
Aoh-that as a twlg is easily bent, and, after ire
81 qaent bending, will not resume IFS former position
al That as the same twlg, when lis strength ha
"ieased with lis youth, cannot be bent IN any d
ecuon, but will rather break-so the mind whe
yong IS plant, NAV be directed into any channt
5aa made subec, 10 any principles but when
aa become suo ~, il is inAexible and will be gnd
n 60, neither one nor another out Of it's accust0me
course. This being The case, we all see tie nece'
Wy q education Of some kind But care shoul
. TAKEN that his education be commenced at hnmt
.a'ehis are in the habit Of sending their childre
-"oad from under their own guardianship 81
cd p'e'echon, almost as soon as they can walk, al
aus exposing them, before their minds have begu
. be formed, 10 every folly and unholy inhuenC
ac'dent 10 youth. This is decidedly wrong Chi
Sen, IN nv opinion, should be keni at home Till
es.q ten years Of age, have the benefit of parent
ias,t:ci us, preparatory 10 being brought under Il
.aauenre a, n@'"ked association, and then they ma
with some degree o. --stely, be sent abroad. Thu
Fs,,.., ion sisand be comm, 0eu Gu ue ma'ern
a'ae lis there ,nry receive the - 'HpIs ss !
yards honor or diserace-his there they "s
= ,9ahdaton of their future destiny and tne.e :
afs' holy desires and aspirations are taught TO
lsnd to heaven, on the first ambitious motives TO e
'e their bos'ms-there they are first taught
he name Of the Creator with reverence,
s5e' s5-srs p'lute Their youthful bps WI