The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-11-09
A Few Words on Education.

A Few words on huucdtion.
Now that schools are established in
every town and city in the United States,
bringing learning within the reach Of
every one; and now that books are so
widely and cheaply sold, no person OF
ordinary natural abilities can have an ex-
cuse for ignorance. Every mechanic or
laborer with the facilities unavoidably
thrown in his way, can, by careful study
during his leisure hours, become atolera-
bic scholar in few months. Life is full
of opportunities and overlooking with in
struction, and man must be dotard
indeed who car pass through the world
without adding something every hour to
his stock of knowledge. Each day rs it
passes, can be made valuable by employ
ing such portion Of it as can be spared
from the duties of life in prosecuting the
studies necessary to the acquisition of
knowledge, and in following out the
lines of thought connected with and sug-
gested by them. The whole field of lit
erature is open before us, and by careful
ly selected books, and close attention to
the matter contained in them, one can
rise from every page more vigorous, more
wise, and more conversant with truth,
which is the basis of all knowledge. To
one bent on improvement, no day should
pass without bringing something to en-
rich the vast storehouse of the mind
mo day without its verse;" was maxim
of Martin Luther, and no day without
its certain intervals for reading, reflection
and thoughtful study should be the max
i'm of every one.
The celebrated men in history who
have risen from the workshops, and from
the poorer walks of life, to places of en-
inence and rank teach us that no one
condition of men nor one station in So
ciety can have the monopoly of intelli-
gence and refinement. Education is as
free to those who will but seek it, as the
air we breathe and the water we drink
Learning will not come to us without la
Dor, any more than money or the neces-
saries of life. Although brilliant intel
lect may attain mediocrity without severe
labor, it is only, as general thing, by Sc
we're study and unceasing diligence, that
any celebrity can be attained. To enter
seriously upon the study of any branch
of science, is work indeed, but after the
first principles are mastered, there will
hn, Ia, - IL 4
ant. The foundation laid, it is easy to
90 forward to more extensive mastery
of each, and to more profound and lib
eral culture in all the related depart
ments of knowledge. The classics will
be pleasant as they open to us the treas
urers of ancient literature, and unlock
for us the secrets of our own language. -
History will be an agreeable study, be-
cause it gives us an intimate acquaint-
ance with the past. Moral Science, be-
cause it improves the heart, and mathe-
MATES for the discipline they afford, and
for the illumination they bring to guide
us to the broad fields beyond. To the
man of thought there is a fascination in
study that is irresistible. Once started
upon course ofstrue study it will be diff
ticult to turn back, for every day will
bring something new for our serious
thought and careful investigation. With
an ordinary amount of ability, man
can, by pursuing study with great dill
gence fol two hours day, makes such
progress as will astonish himself and
crafty his friends in few months.