The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-07-02

improvement is my principal object, and
to this point l will now turn my atten-
ton, All who desire good education
need not fall short of their object. The
history Of numbers, who are now so dis
tinguished for their literary attainments
is full of instruction and encouragement
Their advantages in early life were ex-
tremely limited. They passed through
great difficulties in attaining an educa-
ton, which difficulties were conquered
BY their inhexible perseverance. Your
circumstances my young friends, for &C
quiring knowledge, (many of you at least)
may not be as favorable as could be de-
sired, but recollect that scores and hun
dreds that are now eminent for their
learning, were in early life more unfavor-
ably situated In this respect than your
selves. Patience and perseverance will
overcome every obstacle.
Let me bring up for yonr consideration
a few matters which are indispensable to
rapid improvement. First a taste for
the acquisition of useful knowledge. -
There is a vast difference in persons in
this respect, some seem naturally to take
great delight in their books. some take
delight in other things. Books are neg
lected. But taste for knowledge, as
observation, and perhaps experience will
show us, may be improved. The more
we apply ourselves to literary pursuits
the more delight we will find in this en-
ployment.
I'd. Proper improvement of time.
Numbers fail deplorably in this point,
their leisure moments are thrown away
in useless, and worse than useless pur-
suits. But few realize how much leisure
time they have, how much they loose by
squandering it.; how much they might
gain by wisely improving it. Gu, leis-
ure moments if gathered up will soon "a
mount TO days, and weeks, and months
How much better to spend these frag-
ments of time in improving the mind
than to spend them in foolish converse
tion and foolish amusements.
81. Close application to study. Man
Aind are so constituted that valuable
improvement in the mind cannot be at
tanned without labor, some are more gift
ed than others; but none however, splen-
did their natural abilities may be can be-
come eminent for learning and talents
withouta patient and laborious exercise
of their mental powers. Good books,
good school houses, and good teachers
cannot supply the place of hard study
Our thinking powers must be called into
active exercise. To improve rapidly
without this is an absolute impossibility.
4th. The perusal of books which are
calculated TO exert good influence upon
the mind. One great evil of the age is
a taste for light trashy literature. Some
have contracted so strong taste for nov
els and romances, that they have no rel.
sh at all for anything solid and substan-
tial. That kind of reading which i'm
parts valuable information, which i'm.
proves the mind and inculcates virtuous
principles. such reading appears to them
dull and insipid. A taste like this, is
deeply injurious in its tendency. Those
who cultivate such taste, are not like
ly to acquire much knowledge that is re-
ally useful and valuable.
Much more might be written upon this
subject. Other important matters might
be noticed. But my article has already
extended to considerable length, and !
will close; hoping that others better
qualified than myself will write upon the
subject of education in our paper. To
the youth | would say in conclusion,
now is the time for improvement, the
best season for improvement that you
will! ever enjoy. Be diligent. Act
worthy of your station and responsible
ties. My best wishes for your happiness
and pros sperity. AN lNDIANIAN.
June l6, 1851.
Mother said little boy the othe
day, WHY are orphans the happiest chill
dren on earth?' They are no;-why dc
you ask?' Because they have no moth
er's to spank them
CO. Among the curiosities we saw a
Albany was a man whose nose was 81
LONG that he has holes bored in IL, anC