Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-18

dawn, before the multitude was astir, its en-
chantment hurried me away, equipped with
hammer and acids, down to the wharyex
where some ship unlading her ballast brought
from a foreign land, promised a rich harvest
of rare specimens. / cannot forget the feel
ings of pure satisfaction and delight, such as
certainly the rules Of grammar, or the mys-
teries of Allegation and Reduction never
could nave awakened in the breast of a boy.
with which l assailed some o~ver-grown psb-
BILE or limestone mass, and laid open its hid
den treasures of quartz crystals, brilliant as
dew-drops, or beautiful chalcedony, blood
red cornelian, or, perehance, the soft, spark
ling arragonite, reminding one Of the deli
cious wonders of a cenfectionar's shop con-
Yerted into stone.
The study of Botany, with its ummer
rambles and its fragrant blossoms, would not
be less interesting to the young and so with
any branch of Natural Science.
But after all, in every department of re-
search there are treasures, aye, bright ana
glittering treasures to be had for the seeking.
There is no study so dry and uninviting, bait
it has its attractive characteristics, pearls;
among its pebbles, shining gold grains
among the sand sufficient to enlist the SYM
pathy of most young minds when judiciOusIf
directed. But this sympathy thus aroused
will in time extend to intellectual effort for
its own sake; will become ultimately q love
for study; a zeal for the acquisition Of knowl-
edge; a pure, generous delight in the simple,
healthy exercise Of the mental powers; an ca
ger eravine, ahunger and thirst for ~intellee-
tual exertion.
One prominent aim Of the instructor, then,
should be, by all possible means, to enlisf
the aearm sympathies of the pupil in the sub
ject OF study. When this is done, progress.
! is rapid and success is certain.
I To another most Important point I c8u.
! but briefly advert.
t Seek to Undue the pupil with correct prin--
, ciples Of life. Teach him, if possible, the
dignity of an immortal being, the nobility Of
! living and acting, what a glorious and awful
, thing it is to be a man. Teach him to re-
! spect himself as something above the beasts;
that perish, and to regard his lofty faculties
as destined for nebler uses than to procure
food and raimeRt and shelter. Set before
him worthy aims in life-the good of others
the Advancement of civilization-an hon
orable fame-the glory of God Encourage
him to live for a purpose, and by no means
to drone and v~acillate through an aimless
and worthless career. Set before him the
startling greatness and awful destiny of the
human Soul Let him feel that the INTEL
lect. the understanding, the reasoning power
are not the man, but the faculties of the man.
Point him to the feeling, Loving, thrilling,
sorrowing, shining, responsible spirit witbil5
which Yields at pleasure all these faculties,
and is the true glory of the man, nay, which
is itself the man. Teach him that the most
brilliant Intellectual endowments and accom-
plishments, the most valued attainments in
culture, knowledge and wisdom, are but the
chariot of the immortal SOUL. a fiery chariot
going up, in flaming splendor to heaven, if
there be within a prophet of God going OF
swiftly to q outer darkness if there be q
darkned and evil spirit.
The soul thus conscious of its own great
ness, and animated by a noble purpose, will
be true to Itself and to its destiny.
Ineed not expand these thoughts l have
thrown them out, as also the foregoing re-
marks, simply as suggestions. l am glad to
know that | leave tlemrin the hands of those
who are much better qualified than /, by
their experiences, to judge of their pracsica-
bility and worth