Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-09-30
From the Printers, Cabinet.l


A love of reading and study can no;
be valued too highly. and should be
universally. cultivated. 1t is a source
of calm but exquisite enjoyment TO its
possessor, even after he is saied with
other pleasures
The walks of literature are cool and
inviting; and. thanks 70 the improve
ment of the age nobody is prohibited
from entering therein, at least in the
United States. With our free schools
and numerous institutions of learning.
any body, with little exer,ion, can
get decent education, which will, if
rightly applied. be of more value than
riches; and an educated person-ex
ccpt in rare caSes--will not suffer for
the neccssaries Of life.
What difference there is between
persons who have always been in the
habit of reading and studying, and
those who have not. On one hand we
have wide range of thought, q nice
discrimination, liberal view of things,
"a rational and intelligent people;
and on the other, narrow, grasping
intellect, taste for all vulgar and ami.
NAL amuscments, with no mind of their
own-guided wholly by some design
ing person-in fact. but few degrees
removed from the brute. Let us take.
for example, the Dark Ages. when the
light Of literature was almost extin-
guished. War, rapine and bloodshed
were the chief occupations of the peo.
pie. Just in proportion as knowledge
and science advance, will War and al
its attendant evils retire.
There is danger. however. that the
love of reading may be perverted
While novel reading should not be
condemned entirely. as it is by some,
it should not be indulSea in to such
an extent as to neglect more solid read.
ing. Variety is the spice of life -
Very few persons can confine them
selves to any one class of reading; and
even if they can, it is doubtful whcth-
er it is a jndicious plan or not.
A person reading novel descrip-
tive of the customs and scenery of
Foreign Country, will remember them
more readily, from association with
the fictitious characters therein repre-
sented. than he would with simply a
description alone.
We should encourage home litera-
ture. 1t is every mans duty to sub
scribe for the Newspaper published in
his immediate vicinity Local news
is always interesting. 1t is mista
ken economy for a man to deprive his
family of the benefit arising from ia
king Newspaper, because he cant
afford it." The paltry sum which it
requires is as nothing when compared
to the good resulting thercfrom.
y young man who possesses gen
uine love of reading will not be as ca
silly led into bad habits as others. lie
has something to keep him at home;
something to amuse and instruct him,
without injuring his health Many
have injured themselves by too close
application to stady; but the number
is small compared to those who have
injured themselves by lack of it
that is. requiring some amusement.
and not possessing the love Of reading.
they get into bad company. and the
everyday story is soon told. of the
promising young man being trans
formed into the paups7.
We are essentially res,ing public;
and to that fact may be attributed,
in great measure, our increasing
strength and Importance. No class Of
people, who are permitted to enjoy the
privileges of an education. will long
remain under the yoke Of bondage
There is q self.reliance attained there
By, which makes q few equal to many
without it.
AS each succeeding year rolls
around, bringing with it some new dis
covery in science, OF incalculable benc-
fit to mankind. we begin to see the
result OF education. It's Importance
can not be over-estima.ej. And j;
should be commented il youth. when
the mind is open 70. ;rs.:ncs;oa. a
careful attention 70 the quantity and
quality OF the reading gisen to child
is necessary. There are no. many
children who. having the opportunity
given them of acquiring knowledge,
turn away from the paths of literature.
The love Of reading and study
should be cultivated when it is def
cient, as it will have a direct bearing
on the future moral and social rela-
tions of the individual in question. and
have tendency to diminish crime and
alleviate much of the suffering which
is every where to be found Let us,
then, encourage Tore Of reading.