The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-02-19
WHAT IS TRUE EDUCATION !-HUGH mlLAR.


Hugh MiIlar, the well known scologist,
who died lately in Scotland was promi-
ncnt instance of what true education, does
for man. We say true education, be-
cause though he had never studied in n
college, Hugh Millar was educated in the
highest sense Of the term. In other words,
not only was his mind thoroughly discip
lined, but whatever he learned ut all he
completely assimilatcd, SO that it became
Ills own. His career shows what energy,
perseverance and industry can do even for a
anan born under the most unf:,vorable cir
cumstances; for though originally but q
poor lad, though only Il journcyman stone.
anason, still after his majority he rose to
DE one Of the most prominent scientific
ancn of Great Britain-a writer of :,cknowl-
edged ability, and the leading editor Of a
principal party in Scotland. In his &C -Au
photography" published IL few years since,
lie has left narrative Of his bovhood,
which is worth almost its weight i'll gold
TO young men about beginning life. Had
lie written nothing else, lie would have left,
in that work, an invaluable legacy to his
race.
For nowhere, not even i'll the autobi-
ography of Franklin, is the great truth so
forcibiy illustrated that all men who have
become eminent owe their success less to
schoolmastcrs, than 10 themselves. 1t is
sclf-disciplne, after all, that wins the battle.
There were thousands of youth cotempo-
rary with the boy Hugh Millar, enjoying
eScry advantage Of education, and many
Of them possessed of no inconsiderablc
ABILITY, who never made any figure i'll after
life, while the poor lad, whose principal
teSeascr was nature, who possessed no books
but Bible, aud who consumed some Of
his best years in hewins stone, rose to be
aiieir acknowledged superior, and to become
famous in two lc'miSplcres in both letters
and science. This distinction he achieved
by emitting no opportunity to acquire
knowledge. 1t was in qnarrying stone III
wild district, for example, that he made the
world renowned geological discovery, Which
upset the brilliant but Gclusivc theories Of
the famous "Vestiges of Creat;on," and
achieved his own reputation. His fellow
worllmen enjoyed the same opportunity Of
winning this grca: distinction, but they let
the fossil fish, which settled the problem,
,hhss. .,unnotccd, and SO they died, or will
die, unknown stone-masons laboriug at
.l:ar Il dollar. day, while the dcceasc Of
their companion Gl!s two continents with
grief
: Another thing is proved by the career Of
Hugh Millar. It's that it is better to mas
.ter Eew hooks than u read carelcssly Il
dozen libraries or more. 10 be plain, study
is valuable, not merely for the facts it gives
4 man, but for the habit Of thinking it i'm
parts. He WHO voraciously swallows vol
u,ncs upon volumes never gives himself
time to digest his intellectual food. He
becomes, consequently, mere smattoress-
lie understands no principles. Learned us
lie thinks himself he is without knowledge.
lie is really worse educated than the man
who has read but few books, provided those
>. books wcpe good ones, aud have been thor
ou.llly assimilatcd. Hugh Millar never
faft book till lie had made it completely
lis own.s What Hugh MilIar did, every
man who has bccomegrcat in literature has
but to do, whether born poor, like Miilar.
or bred up with every advantage Of schools
and colleges. Men who wish to lie really
educated, must study for themselves. The
.llilE Of kuewledge cannot be climbed by
deputy.r Hence the difference in securing
/. AN. education between Il rich mans son and
= a,poof ,naii's is lesssthan is generally sup
posed. In struth,f ,f-tIle self,reliance which
TAINTED circumstances give to lad, may
almost be Considered to counterbalance the
advantages, which fortune bestows. 1t is
;. a striking fact, in confirmation of this, that
= most aof our great men lave been born
roaE;. Young men should titink Of this.
n Thrifty Parson.; "A donation party
ngas Given. the other day to.a clefgyman ii,
!, [epessof ahk New England, villages, and
,amsf,a The articIcshe received Was superb
Is1fl6sroha the 6apin Of tie place. The
:splsrsonr mich pleased ssyith the hat, ventur.
ssssea to.ask tie donor yl,at such a hat ought
10 be.wogtLaa .Isnt- is an eight dollar
haa Tie sparson turned i!
snzs gain, fepewea thanks to. the hat
III 8aaba temarfed ,tiiabsiit was "a very fine,
.XyarW fine indSsd 2 .Ande 30, the eSuaS4ed.