The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-02-10
Mental EcOuOIny.

d ",' lTH ,sa.-tiaa0l -I.a 80 l'.7Ie.s.l "tt'
f Economy is the cornerstone on which the
fabric of wis,lamis reared; but the defni-
ton of the word economy is more extensive
than Is ordinarily understood, involving, in
fact, true mental discipline. Economy in
thought is that of whichI speak, and may
be expressed by the proposition s.5 a."'
z3atsaa THINK ON NO USELESS SUBJECT" 1
Iig To obey this requirement is easy, when we
have acquired the ha5t of abstraction, that
is, tho ability to fix the attention on one sub
ject such as we choose-lnd to keep it there
as long as we choose. g u7atHaf Is aadh
I'VE shall then be abe t., econornisc all our
time, and methodica!Iy pursue investiga-
tons; nor, indeed, can scientific researches
be successfully made without this habit. "
fo But general knowledge requires, in adli-
ton to this habit, due observation of what
we see and hear; and the amount Of knowl-
edge which observation and reelection can
furnish is almost Incredible. Tl. fact that
generations Of fools have lived AMI died, and
the ignorance of the present generation. t,s-
tify that these things have beensand are as
tonishingly neglected. go.
How many fools with natures volume
open before their eyes Yet in every age
there have been prosecuted few who were
not fools. When Calico and Coperaicus
were denounced as damnable heretics for
teaching the spherical form and rotary mo-
ton Of the earth, there existed, as now, Wis
ible demonstrations of the truth of those doc
trines, which every one not blind might have
seen and understood. In summer, the rays
Of the sun at rising and setting fall on the
north sides Of objects, but at noon on the
south sides; and as this is found to be true
for all points in the northern zones. it can re-
suit only from spherical form of the earth.
And were the apparent motion Of the sun its
own absolute motion, it is evident that trail
of light must follow this its course; and
hence is seen how destitute Of observation
and reflection ages Of men must have been.
/ But, though scientific investigation has
settled this question, we can not yet infer
that this unrafecting propensity is annihila-
ted from among nsn-even from professor;
of scencc-and the example we have given
serves to show the natural dl,lness OF com
munity at large, ana the superiority in
knowledge one may obtain over cpnmnnity
Now the kaov;c3ga on acquires through
his own observation AMI rejection is his og;u
for which he Is in1.btc1 to ~ otle-: and /:
he must depend on the teStin)ay of Other
fo: Acquaintance of facts his opportunity has
not enabled him to observe, he hrs still hi,
own reflections on these facts.
| In reflection nc may also he aided by cx
amining the deductions OF Others; but some
| times he viii dissent from su.h deductions
percciyins that the conclusions are drawn
| from unsound premises.
| Bat in all reasoning VIC must take care tc
reason fsirlg, hayin; lail ASIDE all prs-con,
ceivel opinions to he the better enabled
so to do, some study oflogic may be recon
mended.H Mathematical studies are also {
good discipline of the. reasoning faculties
and mathematical knowledge Is a requisit,
/ into the wide field of natural history. wv,
say-Think on no useless subject. but let i
not be inferred that any knowledge is use
less. In the pursuit of knowledge, some
branches require attention previous to 9th
ers ; and tits only by an ascent OF success
i've steps that the temple of science can be
reached; and let there be no fear of ascend
lag too high, nor ofreaching platform toe
broad. yi,e C,e e
Have no fear of knowing too much Nc
law at this time and place forbids the acqui.
81 ion Of any branch Of know,eaga; neithe,
have you the popular prejudices to encoun,
ter which existed whenI was young Your
access to good books is also much greater
than was mine, and to the conversation and
advice of learned men.ah sfE, afr MI
Improve your opportunity vet neglect not
the necessary business of the time Mental
economy will advance us in rectitudc and
knowledge, without such neglect; and we
shall thereby attain not only better ability
IN such business, but an ability for more ex-
tensive and useful business Only be dill
gent in thought, and decd To such as have
not teaching at home, some devotion to
schooling is necessary; bat have never
known good scholar who has devoted al
his days to schools.--i Life illustrated. 70 &
= lssd y--------------- "a ut.ul
ii ,srsl ROsseau ON Fame. ..gmgs
"You see," said he, with the bitter misan-