Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-02
EDUCATION.
Reaa5eforethe Cumberland Co. Teaelsrs I,,stitute.
DY JENNIE BEIsTLINE.

choice, which is Education, as that field has
been again and again explored, so that at this
time, L suppose that not one stone has been
unturned, or one fountain untasted. But as
the sweet waters of the perennial fount are al
ways pleasant TO the taste and invigorating to
the body, so the subject of education is al
ways one of interest to those in pursuit of its
rich and enduring blessings.
Its happy influences have been seen and felt
in every station of life. Under its genial rays
have been awakened, developed and brought
| into active exercise, principles the noblest,
purest and most promotiYe of the highest vel
| fare of the whole human race. 1t has brought
| forth latent energies of vigorous minds, and
rendered them in the highest degree useful to
! themselves, their fellow w-men and their God
| 1t has corrected the false teachings of preju-
dice, broken down and destroyed the strong
| holds of superstition and transformed absurd
! principles of morality into morals and devo-
/ tion, whose Heayen-born precepts tame the
savage mind, disperse the deep, dark shades
| of Paganism and Mahomedansnl and control
| the actions of all men, in manner, and to
! such an extent, as to subserve and fulfil the
design of their creation. 1t has reclaimed
many from the slough of shame and utter
| tempt and assigned them stations of honor and
profit, by enlghteningt heir darkcned under
standings, and calling into action the talent
which heretofore lay concealed in the unex-
plored recesses of their minds. By its per-
suasive and convincing teachings, it has check
ed the dissolute in the indulgence of wicked
and depraved propensites and vicious practi-
| tices. Itproclaims the position of wise man
! TO the world to be one of honor and stability,
whilst that of fool is one of hazard, rocking
| to and fro, while beneath, tempestuous pillows
of indignation and contempt are constantly
| rolling, ever ready to swallow up the victim of
blind desire and groundless hopes, and con-
| sign him to regions of obvious forgetfulness.
1t is universally believed that this is an. age
| of utility, and of all utilitarians the American
seems to be the most ultra. 1t is a principle
bequeathed from father to son, from mother to
daughter, and being once generally difused,
of necessity makes itself known in every ac-
ton.
In proof Of the universally of this princi-
pie in this country, we need but refer you TO
the extensive internal Improvements of all the
| States-to the railroads and canals which like
the actions and views of healthy man, con-
vey the fluid of life to every part of the sys-
TEN and render the actions of the whole har-
monious. Nor has less utility been evinced
in the happy turn of late years given to sci
once, in its adaptation to agriculture and the
! other useful arts.
Education, once only known in the halls of
science and literature, has now become the
handmaid of the arts, and equally adorns the
mind of the peasant and prince.
1t is a subject especially dear to every truly
American heart. Around it cluster some of
the most romantic and beautiful reflections
connected with our free and liberal institu-
tions. These. are Amerlca's boasts. To them
can American frecmen exultingly point and
say-':There, behold the palladium of our free
DOM the guarantee of its permanence i''-
These are the offspring of minds enlightened
and refined by the two-fold influence of expe
rience and education.
The great superiority of our system of edu-
cation over that Of other lands manifests it
sell, when comparison is made between the
free institutions of our country, and those of
other men and times. The limited advantages
of education under governments either ancient
or modern, which are not established upon the
same principles, and administered with refer
ence to the highest good of the governed a
lone, are hera extended so as to be accessible
to all desirous of attaining a respectable posi-
ton, in a land oyerfOwing with books and op-
portunities for the requirement of that knowl-
edge indispensable to our success in investi-
eating the multitudinous and enchanting works
of Gods creation.
So far as civilization has kept pace with the
progress of education, so far have the msts of
superstition been driven away, and the voices
of tyranny and despotism hushed. True, the
ancient Greeks, may boast, and justly, too, of
Socrates, Plato, a Pythagoras and De-
mosthenes- the Romans of Tacitus, a Livy,
Horace and Cicero but We blush not in
/ their presence, when we call to mind the names
of Franklin, an Adams, Clay, a Calh oun,
a Webster, and a host of others, equally bril-
liant in the galaxy of our philosophers, states
] men and orators. 2
i Our facilities of acquiring an education are
undoubtedly superior to theirs. Their labcr,
their experience and researches have in great
measure been handed down to us, and furnish
1 ed us with material upon which to enlarge and
improve. The government itself has almost in
finitely multiplied the advantages for the in
/ struction of all classes; and whilst it has no.
bly, and literally encouraged our academies,
/ colleges and other seminaries of learning, it
has by no means neglected the Fres Schools