Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-18
For the Journal.
EducaGfOns

For the Journal.
Education.
Ma EDITOR As my is nearly all killed.
and the extreme heat of the weather. together with
slight tendency to corpulency of body confines me
to the shade, propose to occupy and improve this
leisure by writing you few essays on the subject
of Education and Free Schools.
To educate, is to rear the infant from Graded
heIplessness the perfectibility of human nature
1t is this them that with our first breath
and grows with growth, dsciplines and expands
our moral being, cultivates our feelings chasens
desires and, in fact, implies the full possession and
perfect of all the powers and faculties of mind
and body which nature gave US. What the hand
of skilful culture is to the useful plant which
riches our fields or blooms along our pathway, or
the delicate flower which adorns garden, she'd
ing its richest perfume to attract and capvate that
is education to man. When the seed has been en-
trusted to the bosom of the earth, it germinaes but
the root requires abundant nourshment and kindly
SOIL the unfolding leaves demand sunshine and dew ;
the rising stem seeks nourishment and strength and
the whole plant claims shelter and protection from
nipping storms, baeful winds and noxous insects
Then comes the bloom of promise expanding into
beauty and fertility, the sweet anticipation of which
made the Poet exclam-
60 Delightful task o the tender thought,
&c To teach the young idea how to shoot,
g To pour the first instruction DER the mind.
So To breathe tn enliyening spirit and to fix
&c The generous purpose in the glowing breast
Every has his rights. natural and acquired, civil
and moralall resulting from the several duties at
tached to his existence. The due performance of
these duties and the just exercise of these rights is
the province of education. The labors of few years
cannot effect it long life is too short for its compile
ton On education depends not only our COM
forts pleasures and happiness, but also our esteem
and reputation among men. The honest and useful
citizen. the diligent and frugal farmer, the warrior
the statesman and the patriot are each in their sew
era stations what education formed them. Our con-
duct in life is under agency and that agen-
cy influenced and controlled by education. In fact,
education makes the man she gives and confirms
all habits be they vicious virtuous she calls
forth energies into action, excites to emula-
ton, directs exertions restraints exnberant
spirits shields from crimes, impels us to deeds of
nobility and worth, and crowns US with success.
By education, mean not that alone acquired from
books for social intercourse and the relations grow
ing thererom forms the education of the Barbarians
But there is a good we'll bad education
good is the highest of earthly blessings "a bad
the deepest curse that humanity entail Thus
higher moral instruction mig ht have sanctifed the
talents and perpetuated the fame of the authors of
Tom jones' and Don Juan. And let not the youth
full mind expect to find the path of education always
strewed with flowers many and trying cares perplex
the teacher and the scholar, and the most inviting
flower emits not always the sweetest odor. Let not
the irksome restraints and horny tolls however of
a good education rebut the Jealous aspirant after
human pcrfectibity. All human requirements
valuable in proportion to the arduousness of
their attanments" Education is not bad because it
is laborious for that labor has peculiar to it.
self secret CHAIRMAN inexpressible enchantment,
and permanent pleasure. Education is two fold-a
physical and mental. Man, part of the animal
creation. requires suitable exercise to mpar health
strength and activity to his limbs and body; food
rament and labor the chief objects of corporal
education; these should be suitable, moderate and
effective. The youth deprived Of these advantages
resembles the sickly plant ofthe wilderness-t bios
SONS immaturely and dies. But healthful body
will be of small value unless it be ruled by vigor
and wel-.rdered mind. Not only must the evi
propensites and rank passions of the soil be eradi
Gated with an unsparing hand, but the mlder anC
nobler qualities ofthe mind and heart must be
ed with nursing care, and their several powers
sentiments be expanded and improved by skiful cul
tivaon but the habits of virtuous exercise also
closely be woven into the very texture of our thoughts
To know virtue is easy, but to master its practice
the conquest of humanity
'' Just as the twig is bent the trees Inclined
One of the first requisites of education is that i
should begin early and another, no less important
is the necessity of forming methods of study, and
classifying thoughts and also of likewise impro
wing our moral sentiments and affections. 1hes
constitute the happiness of mankind in fe and thei
salvation in eternity If these be neglected dissat
isfaction wretehedness and crime must follow. Blu
if these be duly cultivated, the fathers soleitude
and the mothers care will be changed into cNnsOa
ton and Joy and they themselves may hope to fin
their paternal sympathies cherished and apprecia
ted and may also hope, in the calm of their decli
ming years, to reap the beautiful harvest of udciou
instruction successfully impaired to healthy, yir
tuous intelligent and happy progeny
July Sth 1851. LONG CREEK.
CLINTON, n. c. July 9th, 1915.
1IeSs,S Fulton & Price-Dear Srrs: )
The Fourth was celebrated here in manner high
ly creditabe to the sturdy yeomanry of our county
w. X. SLocUMp, Esq, was the orator of the day. an
acquitted himself in terse and appropriate grafton