Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-01-13

their presence those only who love
them well. Exaggerations of speech
tarnish the intellectual character as
much as the moral. 1t is the teach
ers duty to place in the front rank the
virtue of truthfulness, as the foremost
element in the character of a man.
The popular notion is not an idle one
that makes the imputation of lie the
great strain upon honor; yet how few
are they who act accordingly and keep
thci rhonor bright by words true as the
sunshine
The natural sonsibility of childhood
is soon dulled by the universal false
hood that infects society in word and
deed, and by that Indifference to moral
distinctions which justi6es cvasions
and equivocations. 1t may seem vain
to try to stem the torrent; but if the
teacher seeks to make men and women
as well as scholars, his example, his
spirit, and his precepts, will cooper
ate in maintaining the loitiest stand
ard. Let him contrast the eternity of
truth and the transitory nature Of er-
ror; let him show that men who have
given their own Imagination as truths
in science and philosophy have ceased
ere long to influence the course of hu-
man advancement; and those writers
are really most powerful that deal
most with truth let him show that
God and nature favor truth; and above
all, let him look well to his own lips
that MS pupils may know at least one
man upon whom they can rely for
truth in his lightest word.
>. In an age so notoriously practi
cal and ultilitarian at this, the princi
pie of usefulness may seem to need no
special attention. 1t is often com
plaine'l that knowledge is valued too
little for itself, too much for its utility.
AS Schiller says of Philosophy-to
one she is a radiant goddess attracting
worship; to another the serviccable
cow, that gives him milk and butter
The error, however, is net in prizing
knowledge and education for its utili
ty, but in substituting low and tenn
porary for the high and eternal utility.
Temporary economies may be lasting
prodigalities. We may warm our
selves by fire that consumes our
dwelling. SO in valuing knowledge
for its use, we may show that we
value it for the gaining of power, or
wealth, or fame, or enjoyment, or hon
or, or that we recognise the identity
of usefulness with goodness, and value
knowledge itself because it increases
our power of doing good and growing
in the cxcclcnces Of manhood.
These are the true utilities which
should reign in the halls of education
of youth, for the boy will not hear of
them in the street, the market, the TO-
rum, and the common gatherings Of
men; nor will the girl hear Of them at
parties and balls and in the assembly
rooms. Bat even there, and still Of
tencr in their solitary hours and at
their homes, they may remember that
a teacher whom they respected aud
loved acted as if he pail constant hom
age to the higher utilities; that he new
er said man was great because he
had successively trol the crooked path
of the politician or the bloody road Of
the warrior; that he never estimated
the worth of man by his dollars, or
his votes, or his learning usel for ig-
noble ends; that he never said that a
man was doing well because ho was
making money, or woman because
she had secured rich husband; that
he valued everything as it made men
better, and wiser, and noblcr, and
more generous and helpful to their
fellow men: that to him usefulness and
goodness were one; that as he rever-
enccd God as the bountiful Author oi
good to men. the Creator Of the things
which make life pleasant, so he hon
ored men as they were like Him in
bcncfaction: so he encouraged in his
pupils all motives of magnanimity,
and gave warm approval to childish
generosity and usefulness; so he
frowned upon self-aggandizement, and
abhorred the solitary pleasures of sell
fshness. Such memory is a crown
of glory to the teacher; and such q
teacher will he remembered with homer
when those Of lower aims arc forgotten
anil despiscd.
| 8. Beauty is as truly worthy aim
and enl OF culture as utility. 1t is a
most refined and legitimate source Of
enjoyment We should dreproach our
selves that our national character has
so little of the love Of beauty. and sc
little of the power to create it; so little
taste and art. God loves beauty
Human structures may be adorned