The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-11-13
Original.
VIIHIHHIs
"For What Shonld We Liyel'

The mere lapse Of years is not life; to eat, drink
and sleep; TO be exposed to light and darkness; to
to pace around the will of habit; and turn the
wheel of wealth. to make reason our book-hopes;
and change thought into an implement of trade;
surely these do not constitute life No, by all
these but asmalf fraction of the consciousness of
humanity is awakened and the sanctities still slum-
Der. knowledge truth, love, goodness and faith,
are the true sources of human happiness The
mirthful laugh which vbrates through the heart,
the tears that recall childhoods hours upon memo
rys tablet the prayer that calls the future near;
the doubt that makes us mediate; the hardship
that forces us tostruggle; the anxiety that ends in
trust; and the death that startles US into awful
mystery; these certainly are the true nourishment
of our intellectual being. To care only for ourselves
is not using life to any advantage. Life was given
to be enjoyed, and the most lasting enjoyment it
can afford is the remembrance OF good deeds.
at is not all of life to live, ' D" a..
.. Nor all of death to dic.r .......
Some idea Of life and its advantages may be realized
if we would only duly appreciate the numerous
duties incumbent upon us which are not to be
needed for moment and then neglected, but ad-
hered to, and faithfully performed along as the
lamp of life holds out to burn" that they may be-
come to US fit precedents for our development and
progress.
There are more palpable and serious hindranccs
to the attainment of knowledge which claim our
attention and careful consideration.
Among these, that most frequently referred to is
the want Of sufficient time for the accomplishment
of necessary duties difficulty undoubtedly hard to
overcome and yet it has but little influence, over
the rcsolute mind. 1t has never greatly abridged
nor ever retarded the scholars progress The fact
that the moments which constitute time are fleetng
should alone be sufficient reason ,rhy the student
should press forward, with the motto, Onward,
Upward ever impressed upon his mind. The
intellect is not planet rejecting only borrowed
rays, but it is a sun shining by its own Light
Scholastic facilities may be wanted, but since they
are essential to all good Education, the mind can
create them for ITSELF although not without much
labor.
"Life is short"
and here, in this
pleasant school-room we enjoy many great advan-
tages for selfimprovement which, although they
may not be highly estimated by us noV yet should
we properly progress in youth and at length arrive
to years of maturity the less we learn here viii then
be remembered as invaluable treasures essential to
our highest happiness. A literary aristocracy can
never be permanently established upon as narrow a
foundation as that afforded by the schools, for
though it may boast ofits march ofmind, it must
ever be but an imperfect instrumentality in the diff
fusion of knowledge, without augmenting the in.
trinsic value Of learning. The only way to make
such institution of Importance to education, is
to reverse all ideas of intellectual excellence
Those who ever pride themselves upon distinctions
of this kind and effect to look down with contempt
upon the humble student as one deprived of all en-
joyrnents separated from the society of the distn
guishcd, and forever "doomed to perpetual litera-
cy;' are only to be pitied for their ostentatious
ignorance, for however much their acquisitions may
apparently arise above the common standard
they are in reality, very far below the exalted at
tainments possible to individual effort. Disregard
ing this class ofpersons let US endeavor not to be
discouraged, but while preparing ourselves for future
usefulness in this life and striving to attain those
nestmable virtues and that true mental and moral
elevation which will render us useful and agreeable
to our associates, and the world let US not be for
getful that this Earth is only place of sojourne
that here we have "no continuing city, no abiding
place" but may we ever remember that by serving
faithfully, higher, and holier Being, than any
Earthly friend, we may adorn the CIVILIZATIONS o.
our mind with the ~beauty of holiness"
"God hath sOwn
Sweet seeds within u.s. seeds Of sympathy,
Such as bud and bloom for Heaven
We live to develop and cultivate these germs Of
immortal happiness Aud our reward shall be
sguaIized by the pauditof the Saviour, "WeIl done
good aud faithful servant enter thou into the joys
of thy Lord" E A. II.