The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-06-14
Misffllanfons.
Improvement of the Mind.

We often find two persons who have been
eonallv. well educated at school, one of whom Is
greatly in advance of the other in point of intel
lioence. This does not always arise from the
superior. ability of Que, but because one of them
had read thought, and observed more than the
other. What we gain at school is only the means
ofbecomine wise and useful. If We let it lie in
active in our minds, it will do as no good. low
quickly does young lady lose her power over
the piano, if she neglect the instrument How
soon is language forgotten, if we do not attempt
to write or speak it! And this is true OF nearly
everything that is acquired at school, 1t lies
merely in the outer court OF the memory, and
does not enter and make many permanent iu1-
pressions upon the mind until it ispractlsed and
made useful in everyday life
We often hear it said of a woman in society,
that she is a we'll educated woman and the III
ference usually is that she has received liberal
education at school. But the remark means
something more; it means that she Is reading
observing, rejecting woman. Hundreds have
their memories crowded with the rudiments of
an education, that lie there as inactive as food IN
the stomach of a dyspepdc; and they imagine
themselves to be we'll educated; but 1t is all an
imapination. 10 be well educated is something
very different from this. ,.
All real improvement of the mind commences
atthe time we first begin to think for ourselves !;
and this is after we have left school. At school
we merely acquire the means to be used in that
true aud higher orderof education which every
one must gain for himself 1t matters not how
many studies young lady may have pursued at
school; nor how thoroughly she may have mas
1 >tol lao- ! nF,n lna,
ing school, she does not read, observe and think
she will never make an intelligent woman.
Z. In every company young lady will ind two
classes of persons, distinctly separated from each
other. If she lningle with those OF one class she
will find their conversation to consist entirely OF
liwi4 and frivolous remarks on peoples habits,
dress. and manners, with the occasional intro
duction Of graver theme. that quickly set ASIDE
or treated with leyity entirely at variance with
its merits But if she minge with those OF the
other class, she will find herself at once upon
higher plane, and be impressed with the pleas
inc consciousness that she has a mind that can
think and feel interested in subjects of general
and more weghty interest. An hour spent with
one class leaves the mind obscure and vacant !;
while an hour spent with the other cleyates, ex-
: pands; and strengthens its powers, and causes 1t
to see in clearer atmosphere.
With one or the other Of the classes young
lady is almost sure to identify herself and rise
into an intelligent noman, or remain nearly up
on the level she at first occupied. We need not
say how important it is for her toidentify herself
with the right class. Of course her own tastes
and preferences will have much to do i'll this
matter. But if she incline toward the unthnk-
ing and frivolous, she will be wise if she resist
such an inclination, and compel herself, for Il
time, to, mngle with those who look upon life
with an eye Of rational intelligence, and seek to
live to some good purpose The mental tood re.
ceiyed during the time she thus compels herself
to mingle with them, will create an appetite
that unsubstantial gossip and frothy cht-chat
can no longer satisfy.
The Importance and necessity Of reading
need hardly be affirmed. Its use is fully un-
stood and admitted. But there is great dan
ger ofenervating the mind by improper read
ing. For young girl to indulge much in no.
vel reading is very serious evil Few of the
popular novels of the day are unfit to go into
the hands of a young and imaginative girl
Apart from the false views of life which they
present, and the false philosophy which they
too often inculcate, they lift experienced rea-
der entirely above the real, from whence she
has too little inclination to come down and
whenever she does come down she is unhappy
because she finds none Of the ideal perfections
around her, with which her imagination has be-
come filled, but is forever coming into rude
contact with something that shocks her over
refined sensibilites. Her own condition IN
life she will be in great danger of contrasting
with that of some favorte heroine of romance
If she does this she will be almost sure to make
herself miserable. A young lady who indul-
ges much in novel.reading never becomes a
woman Of true intelligence. She may be able
to converse huently, and to make herself at
times very agreeable companion, even to
those who aro greatly her superors; but she
has no strength of intellect, nor has she right
views of life.
All works of fiction, however, are not bad.
Where the authors aim is to give right views
of life, and to teach true principles, if he pos
sess he requisite ability to execute his design
we'll. he may do great good. The reading of
works of this kind. forms not only u healthy
mental recreation, but creates true sympathy
in the mind for virtuous actions, and inspires
emulation in good deeds, 1t is by means Of
this kind of writing that the broadest contrasts
between right and wrong are made, and so pre-
sented to the reader that he cannot but love
one while he abhors the other. Who can read
one of Miss Sedgwick's admirable little books
1.-THE Poor Rich Man and the Rich Poor
Man." "Live and Let Live" or Home
without rising from its perusal with healthier