The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-07-22


king this discipline the great end. would
cay 10 the farmers son, porine over Greek
verbs and Hebrew roots aud accents; TO the
damsel of sixteen, wasting her sweetness ON
algebra and geometry, what do you propose
10 do with this, when you shall have master
ed il? What is its use, its purpose, its end,
so far as you are concerned! IL you pro-
pose 10 turn il to some practical account
very well; bu, If you only acquire it with an
eye to mental discipline, then protest asa'ns'
it as waste of time and energy. Action,
action disciplines the mind; the acquisition
Of what we need 10 know, better than that
we don't need.
Yes; demand of education, and OF every
part of it, fruits. | test lis volue by the
standard of practical utility. Let us learn
first, a. least, what we personally and posi-
lively need 10 know; afterwards, if ever, that
which we can profit by only as exercise or
discipline. Let all our education recognize
that we are here as doers, not as dreamers.
Yet does this Baconism not really affirm, as
some say, the subordinaion Of the man TO
the workman, the mental 10 the physical
1t affirms for the lauor precedence in time
only, not IN importance. "First the blade,
then The ear; as'rward the full corn in the
ear" The child must creep before it can
walk, however decided the superiority OF the
latter mode Of locomolion. We insist, then,
lha: education should first qualify lis work
for his subjec,;-thal is, for career OF as.
sured usefulness ard Independence; because,
in default of this, there is scarcely chance
that he can be morally good or Intellectually
great. Bread is not SO noble as thought, but
in the absence of food the brain is paralyzed
or absorbed in the consciousness of hunger.
Let every human being be first trained 10 an
assured ability usefully TO earn at least
livelihood, and thus shielded from The all
but inevitable moral degradation Of the de.
pendent and the beggary. Every man who
has had, with myself, the sad experience
and observation afforded by residence for
upwards of quarter of century in great
city, will agree with me, when ] say no
sight is more piliable than the educated men,
having no means of support by their hands,
either through ignorance, weakness or pride,
who huddled in IFS crowded populations
We see there host Of such waits, intellect
ual wrecks, literally begging for chance TO
ooin tho;r thinking faculties in'u foed. Mo-
al elevation is of course impossible TO such
men; and they are the inevitable product ol
onr preseut school syslems.
We want a more practical, physical, in
dus,rial education, for many urgent reasons.
1st. To advance physical health, strength
and longevity. I'd. For the proper culiva-
ton Of the earth, aud the development Of its
mineral and vegetable treasures. We have
but begun IN this age TO know the wealth
of nature What is The present state OF as-
ricullure, the first of arts in time, the first in
necessity Sd. For improvement in ma
chinery, in manufactures, and in household
economy. 4h. To difTuse leisure and taste
for study among the uGeducated. 1t is a
very common complaint that thrifty, un-
taught farmers grudge the cost of thorough
education fcs their sons and daughters
Hodge industrious and independent in his
ignorance scoms his educated neishLor, who
is but drone and q beggaI with il all. III
have succeeded we'll enough" says he,
"wilhout education; why shouldn't my chill
dren do the same" Now realize and re-
gret Hodges contempt .or learning, but
cannot pretend to be surprised OF it. On the
q 10 nc md
not very blamewor,hy. For do but consider
that the educated son or daughter too often
returns TO the paterna home with and ILL
disguised contempt for its homey roof, and
a positive aversion 10 its downright labor
Who would expect sensible homebred
parent 10 relish and value such education?
That son is no, truly educated who cannot
grow more corn on an acre than his unearn-
ed father, and grow il with less labor. That
educated daughter has received mistaken
and superficial training if she cannot excel
her mother in making soap or cheese or but
ter. All these are chemical processes, l
which her education should render her an
adept, far beyond any unlaugh, person. The
educated lawyer, doctor or clergyman, whose
garden is not better, {! do not say larger
and his fruit trees more thrifty and productive
than his illierale neighbours, sadly discredils
and damages the cause of education. The
prejudice against muscular, physical labor is
a product of barbarism and slavery. 1t ought
long since 10 have vanished in The light of
liberty and civilization. Of course, he who
can cain ten dollars per day as lawyer
should not desert this TO toll for dollar per
day as plowman o: canal'digger. This
would be folly. But the lawyer or physician
who cannot earn the ten dollars per day, nor
one of them, and who sands idle, and runs
in debt for his board, rather than plow or
dig, has been very badly taught, and is a
poor creature. Let each do his best; but let
no man make his presumed ability 10 do
something better an excuse for doing no!h-
ing. 'Six days shalt thou labor" says
the Book; and there is hardly command.
ment worse understood or worse Needed
Each of US is under perpetual obligation to
ncofpInoss. ond this is mi discha roed hv the