Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-22
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
Learning without a master.

Not few books have been published, pro-
Tossing to induct the student into the mysteries
of various languages and sciences without n
MASTER Did it ever occur to you, most cour
teous reader, that anything within the capacity
of the human mind may be learned in the
same way2 Studying without master" is
not, of course to be understood literally The
master is there, but he appears only in the
printed page, and not in his bodily presence.
We will not say of the schoolmaster, as some
ill-mannered critics said of Paul, that his let
ters are weighty and powerful, but his bodily
presence is weak" The reverse of this is COM
monty true, us was often most satisfactorily de-
monstrated to us, in our iacket-and-trowse
days, when the whole subject was ably ex- pound
ed, and illustrated with numerous cutsn But
while admitting the force there is in a living
and active presence, before the student, it is
question whether there is not in some minds
tendency to lean too much upon schools and
teachers, in the work of education Far be it
from US to utter word in disparagement of
the work OF the instructor of youth. This right
hand, though never trained in academic halls,
would almost refuse to obey the impulse which
guides it, sooner than record an unjust word
concerning those who are engaged in this good
work. But it is no disparagement of the teacher
or the school, to say that they are not indis-,
pensable to the student. They are invaluable
helps, it is true but since all cannot enjoy their
aid, it is consoling to know that many have be-
come wise without them. James Furguson,
the celebrated Scotch astronomer, learned to
read without IN instructor, and mastered the
elements of his favorite science, while shep-
herds boy, watching his focks in the fields by
night Sir VIM. Phipps, former Governor of
our own State, learned to read and write after
entering upon his eighteenth year, and while
serving an apprenticeship to a ship-carpenter
in Boston, Thousands of similar instances
might be adduced, were it necessary, to show
that education does not depend upon teachers
and schools. President Hopkins has wisely OBJ
served that every man who is educated at all,
is, and must be, set-educated. Daniel Web
ster uttered the same truth, when he said "The
Creator has SO constituted the human intellect,
that it can only grow by it's own action, and
by its own action it will certainly and necessa-
rily grow. Every man must therefore educate
himself His books and teachers are but helps
the work is his" This sentiment should be i'm
pressed upon the mind of every youth who has
been denied the advantages of the school-room
True, he is deprived of valuable assistant
but let him not give up all attempts at mental
culture, on this account.
As the "winter schools" are now closing,
probably we address many young lads and
lasses who have just enjoyed their last school
| ing" and who will receive no farther assistance
in their studies but such as is common to all
We have word to whisper in the ear of all
such. Young friends, don't stow your books
away in the garret, nor consign your studies
to oblivion, because you are no longer subject
to the constraints of the school-room. Your
will soon forget much Of the knowledge you
have so laboriously acquired during the win
ter, unless you occasionally recur to your books
The mind is like a polished piece of metal-a
little rubbing every day viii keep it in good
order, but if long neglected it is difficult to
"put on the shine again. By keeping up
yolr studies at home, you will not only retain
the ground already won, but be able to make
larger advances in knowledge
"But, man alive" we hear somebody saying.
"you are certainly crazy. We arc going to
avork now, and how do you suppose we can
keep up our studies when we are engaged all
day in ploughing, digging, teaming cooking
mending old clothes, &C." We will tell you
how: Improve those leisure moments and
fragments Of time in rubbing up the mind.
which too many waste in lounging about the
streets, or in idle tatte, foolery or sleep. at
home These spare moments are grains Of
precious gold dust and should be treasured
with watchful care They have performed
wonders for others, and will do SO for you, il
you give them a chance DIR. John Mason
Good composed his long and elaborate poeticaI
translation of Lucretius in the streets of Lon.
| don, while passing from one patient to another
DR.. Burney, the distinguished musician, learned
the Italian and French languages on horseback
while riding from place to place to give his
professional instructions. William Hutton, a
wellknown English writer, went to work in a
silk mill at the age of seven, and remained till
he was fourteen, and afterwards served an
apprenticeship to stocking-weaver; but he
found leisure to educate himself and became
prolific writer VIM Cobbett learned gram
mar when he was n private soldier on six
pence n day. amid the talking, singing,
whistling and bawling, of at least half score
of the most thoughtless of men :" and yet he
became a vigorous and pure writer. Hugh
Miller who is equally eminent as n geologist
| and writer, was a stone mason not many
years ago; and he would have been laboring
in the same useful but humble capacity to-day,
instead of delighting thousands of readers in
this and the old world with the instructive
productions of his pen, but for diligent i'm
provement of his leisure moments. Think of
these examples, you whose evenings are now
streets, or in listless idleness at home Think
whether it would not be better for YOU to de-
vote these spare hours to intellectual culture.
and thus enlarge the sphere Of your influence
in the world, as well as augment the measure
of your own enjoyment. Now is the time to
decide the question and remember. that in