Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-06-26

/ N"" t"c IndPsodiSt at the
corner OF the street reci,ing the Shield
OF Achilles or the Death Of Argus he
was Legislator conversant with hiob
questions of alliance, revenue and war.
he was judge compelled
every day to weigh the effect of opposite
arguments. These things were in them.
serves an education; an education emi.
hehtiy htted to give quick
ness to the perceptions, delicacv to the
taste. f'aency TO the expression, and no.
iiteness to the manners
But, In order to promote good schol.
arship. an intellectual atmos 9ere is not
alone needed. The mind must bav.
means of relaxation and recreation. For
number of years. it has CHANGED to us
to be thoroughly convcrsant with the
social and educational condition of one
oithe brightest farming towns in our land.
1t is a town distinguished for its charm.
ing but very democratic festivals and
parties, brilliant ;yccum. and dancing
and singing schools enjoyed with great
zest. but conducted with grea, propriety.
In TINS town, however, as in all Others.
there is portion Of the people fearful Of
the effect of amusements and eyhilar,t.
ing social influences. Therefore, in the
WINTER season. when the Common
Schools are in operation and social recre-
atoms are at their height, there are two
classes Of scholars-those who enter FREQ.
ly into the towns amusemcnts and yath-
erlngs. and those who do not. And tho
triumph OF intellectual scholarship ia
indispusably with those who enter fully
into the town scial pleasures and ac
tivIt'es. We have heard these who
wished 1t might be otherwise acknowl-
edge the fact. but cndeavor to do away
It's force by finding reason for it in the
constitutional difference Of the scholars.
But no such reason can hold The same
fact IS evidenced no, only in the town
to which wc refer, but the world ova..
hns land has had no more finely accom-
+ p'lshcd scholars during the las. half
century than Mr.. Macaulay, Lord
Brongham, Sir Edward Lytton and the
late SIR Robert Feel, and neither of
these eminen, men could be called a
elpistered student. Each one has en-
tered largely into the business. the con.
hicts. and the brilliant festivities, of one
OF the mos, brilliant foci Of modern ciyi.
llzatit n. \ similar statement, miyht be
made with regard to Burke IN the las,
century. with regard to Cicero in ancient
Rome, and Plato in ancient Athens
Washington delighted in dancing. in
whist IaFing and theatrical representa-
tons and the relief which they aFnr-
dcd hls greatly tasked energies helped
him, We have no doubt, to perform as
we'll as he did the great labors Of mind
and body which he was called upon to
20 through And these men are but
typ'> - classes, and those classes the
m - e.se3eu: s"halrs and the most ctf
ci 'Ht r1l.Ei,ts4flvs' men OF all ages -
The reason for tins result undoubtedly
l., tn, brilliant rrercations relieve and
rcinyig rate the mind, giving it fresh.
ened and full power when its hours of
study return. That pleasures and So
cial cxhilarations may be carried to the
extent Of frivolity and dissipation, we
are well aware. We know, too, that
monotonous study may be carried so far
as to end in Reorganization Of the brain,
stomach or lungs. For neither of these
extremes offolly are we arguing. The
latter habit, in fact, is an institution too
well established to need advocacy; but
the golden mean between the two is
attainable.
Our Town Committees and Superin-
,endents might. as we think. be often
grea. deal more efficient in aiding edu-
cation if they would be somewhat less
critical and much more suggestive and
inspiring. They should visi. their
schools frequently and deliver to them
short informal lectures full Of brilliant
and inspiring facts. And if there are in
town, men not Of the School Committee,
but particularly interested in some spe-
ial branch Of literature or science, they
should be encouraged to visit the schools
at proper intervals and excite an inter-
est in their favorite science. We know
in one town farmer enthusiastic in the
acquaintance of geographical knowledge,
and very refined, social man withal. yet
we doubt whether this man has entered
a school-room in his town for years. -
Such fact as this shows that. however
strong our interest may have become in
educational matters. our administration
of them is by no means perfect yet.
As to our teachers and those who pre-.
pare them for their work, we would have
''Inspiration in Teaching" their great
practical rule. All competitive emu.at-
ion. which is base motive and ruinous
; means. all recitation, which Of course, is
essential, are still feeble aids to educa-
ton compared with an awakened enthu'
siasm.
As a nation, We are said to have too
few holidays. and such is undoubtedly
the fact. We might have more and
very valuable additional ones if our peo-
pie would attach their school examina-
ton days to the roll. Those holidays
are not the most pleasant which are
exclusively devoted to festivity and
merriment. The spirits are best exhil.
a..tad whara thara ia n sliyht demand