The native American., 1840-01-01
A CHAPTER FROM THE YOUNG MANS GUIDE
BY w. A. ALcoTT
SEcTIoN III. On Books and Study.

BY W. A. ALCoTT
SECTION III. On Books and Study.
will now mention a fer Of the particular
studies to which he who would educate himself
for usefulness should direct his attention.
!. GEt GaAIHT.
As it is presumed that every one whom | adj
dress reads newspapers mere or less must DC
permit. to recommend that you read them with
good map Of every quarter oflhe world before
| YOU and geography and correct gazetteer al;
| hand. When place is mentioned observe its
situation on the map, read an account fit in the
gazetteer, and more particular description in
the geography. Or il you choose 10 go through
with the article and get some general notions
Of the subject and afterwards 60 back and read
lit second time, in the manner proposed, TO this
| I have no objection.
| Let me insist, strongly, on the importance o!
this method Of reading. 1t may seem slow al
| first but believe me, you will be richly repaid
in the end. Even in the lyceum, where the sub
iect seems to demand it, and the nature of the
case will admit it ought to be required of leciu-
rers and disputahts to ex ,Iain every thing in
passing, either by reference to books themselves
on the spot or by maps, apparatus, diagrams &C.;
with which, It'll plain, that every lyceum ought
to be furnished The more intelligent would
lose nothing, while the less SO, would gain much
by this practice. The expense of these things,
at the present time, is SO trihng that no person,
or association of persons, whose object is sciea.
tifc Improvement, should, by amy means, dis
lpense with them
No science expands the mind of young man
more, at the same time that it secures his cheer
full attention, than geography mean if pnrsu-
ed in the foregoing manner. Its use is so obvi-
th,t{ {1a oef ct IA
Much is said know, of differences of taste
on this, as well as every other subject; but
can hardly believe that any young person can
be entirely without taste for geographical knowl-
edge. 1t is next to actual travels and who
does not delight in seeing new places and new
objects? .....E.>
2. HISTORY.
Next in order as regards both interest and i'm
por,ance, will be knowledge Of history, with
some attention at the same time to chronology
Here, too, the starting point will be the same as
in the former case. Some circumstance or event
mentioned at the lyceum, or in the newspaper,
will excite curiosity, and lead the way to inquiry.
| | think it we'll however, to have but one leading
science in view at time; that is, if ply
be the object, let history and almost every thing
else be laid aside for that time, in order to Sc
cure, and hsld fast the geographical information
which is needed After few weeks ormonths
should he wish to pursue history, let the student
for some time contine himself chi Ay, perhaps
exclusively, to that branch.
The natural order of commencing and pursu
ing this branch without an instructor, and
think in schools also, is the following. For ex-
ample, you take up book, or it may be news
paper since these are swarming every where at
the present time, and you read that person has
la, during the whole siege, in the American
Revolution. | am supposing here that you have
already learned where Yorktown is for geogra
ply, to some extent at least, should precede his
tory but if not, would let it pass for mo-
ment, since we cannot do every thing at once,
and proceed to inquire about the siege, and rev.
oIution. If you have any books whatever, on
history, within your reach, do not give up the
pursuit till you have attained measure of sue
cess Find out phen the siege in question hap
pened by ghom, and by hoW many thousand troops
lit was carried on and who and how many the
besieged were.
He who follows out this plan will soon find
his mind reaching beyond the mere events allu-
ded to in the newspaper, both forward and back
ward. As in the example already mentioned,
for | cannot think of better w hat we're the
|c nsequences of this siege?-Did it helpto bring
about peace, and how soon ?-And did the two
nations ever engage in war afterwards ?-If SO,
how soon, and with what results? What became
of the French troops and Of the good La Fay
ettc This would lead to the study of French
history for the last forty years. On the other
hand, where had Washington and La Fayette
and Cornwais been employed, previous TO the
siege of Yorktown What battles had they
fought and with what successa What led to the
quarrel between Great Britain and the United
States? &c. Thus We should mutually go back
ward step by step, until we should get much
Of modern history clustered around this single
event in the siege of Yorktown. The same
course should be pursued in the case ofany other
event, either ancient or modern. lfnewspapers
are not thus read, they dissipate the mind, and
probably do about as much harm as good.
1t is deemed disgraceful-and ought to be
for any young man at this day to be Ignorant of
the geography and history of the country in which
he lives. And yet it is no uncommon occurrence.
However it argues much against the excellence
Of our systems Of education, that almost every
child should be carried apparently through a
wide range of science and over the whole ma
terial universe, and yet know nothing, OF next
to nothing, practically, of his own country.
| .a j. ARITHMETIC.