Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-03-22

pansion and progression, to which there
are neither ends nor bounds, AS the
stone dropped in mid-ocean is said 70 set
waves in motion hat shall roll on and on
till they lash the distant shores, and then
recoil upon themselves to set other waves
aroing which shall beat against the oppo-
site shore, and thus on forever: SO in the
great in6nitude of space between man
and his Maker, and in the unending period
allotted him to exist, each thought, eacn
emotion, shall but set in motion other
thoughtsand other emotions, that shall SO
on increasing and deepening forever.
Here. then, we arrive at the reason
WIN man should be educated. And while
I state that this is the reason that he
should be educated, let me not be under
stood to say that because many men gain
fortunes who are ignorant, and because
all men might live without an education
that therefore it is unnecessary to mans
physical comfort. For let it be remem.
bered that the ignorant man in civilized
society owes his superiority over the un,
taught savage, not to any good works OF
his, but to his having been born among
enlightened people. He is a drone who
reaps advantages from the labors and re-
searches of others, while he adds nothing
at all to the public stock. And very soon,
were the influences Of education to cease,
should we see a world retracing its steps
from a civilized to a savage state. AS a
thousand years ago our ancestors lived on
war and acorns, so in athousand years to
come our posterity would lead a similar
life. An educated mind, then, not only
seeks out knowledge, but it preserves It,
Hence, upon this alone depends the phys
ical well being of the world. Again, man
should not only be educated, but he
should be educated Alright. For, taking
the word in its most extended sense, al
lowing it to comprehend all the training
that we receive from u own observation,
and from the instruction which we receive
from others, not only as instructors but as
associates, man will be educated either
properly or improperly. His mind was
calculated in its formation for expansion;
every faculty Graves it, and hence seeks
for it. The human mind was so consti-
tuted that it can never be still. "Peace,
be STILL" was never written upon it; but
rather, Coward, and still onward!'-
Just as naturally as the Devoted stream
let, that in its weakness turns aside for the
modest violet, receives from all quarters
additions to its waters, until it becomes
the mighty river, bearing to the ocean on
it's sweeping current the commerce of half
q world: so the mind, feeble in its begin
nings, so very frail that it cannot grasp a
thought, increases with every addition,
and gains new strength every hour of its
existence. This it does naturally, consti-
tutionally. Then we say that the mind
will be educated, for it is Gods decree
stamped upon it, in its creation; and that
this education WILDE either rightor wrong.
And further, we say that this education
consists in every impression made, in
every deed done, in every word uttered,
from birth till death. People too often
imagine that education is gained in schools
entirely: whereas it is frequently the case
that the young man or young lady who
attends school to finish an education, has
already finished it in the street, in the
croggery, in the ballroom, or at the card
party, so efectually, that the love for
books, for solid instruction and profitable
knowledge, is entirely gone. The fond
parents are grieved, friends and relations
disappointed, and every body wonders
why there was no progress made. A
thousand excuses are framed to palliate
the apparent carelessness OF imbecility
The ability of the teacher, or his assiduity
is questioned; or in all probability the
unhappy recipient Of all these well-mean1
but ill-timed endeavors, is set down as
thick-headed, as being born for a dolt,
and that therefore there a be no possible
use in ~endeavoring to thwart the designs
of nature. They never once consider
that the mind has been pre-occupied, thai
the amusements, the romances of life.
have estranged it to all serious thought O.
the real, the tangible. That mind hac
been educated before, and educated toe
after the most fascinating style. Nocarel
pressed upon it. 1t saw no duties to per
form; it felt no responsibilities. Real
earnest, thoughtful action, had never beer
placed befo1e it for consideration. Tit
pulses thrilled, and the heartbeat for Joy
Wild, dreamy thoughts, made avast castl'
of the future, in which there was no'sor
row, no suffering to endure, no calamitie
to'withstand, no lfeswork 70 do,--all wa
one brilliant round Of the gayest delight
to which no end would succeed. TIL
whole future was a bright day, whicl
would never end in night, Letme repeat
then, that that mind was already educated
-ruinously, it is true, but none the les
surely. Not strange isit, then, that sucl
amind should battle all the efforts of pa
rents and instructors, for to succeed, j
must be un-educated or led backward
The whole course Of life musttbe changed
Old loves and fancies and ideals must b
chased away, and replaced with tho,
which appear far less inviting and lovely
mLo ontx.a nath of life that has led thro