The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-04-05

dull scholar, notwithstanding the pretty |
stories told about his precocity but he
was, what was better, patient and perseve-
rant, and it was by that means, and by his
carefully cultivated inventiveness, that he
was enabled to perfect his steam-engine.
What DR.. Arnold said of boys is equal
ly true Of men-that the difference be-
tween one boy and another consists not SO
much in talent as in energy. Given per-
severance, and energy soon becomes ha-
bitual Provided the Ounce has persis-
tency and application, he will inevitably
head the cieverer fellow without these
qualities Slow but sure, wins the race.
1t is perseverance that explains how the
position Of boys at school is so often re-
versed in real life; and it Is curious to
note how some who were then so clever
have since become SO commonplace =
whilst others, dull boys, Of whom nothing
was expected, slow in their faculties, but
sure in their pace, have assumed the po-
| sition Of leaders to men. The author OF
this book, when a boy, stood in the same
class with one of the greatest OF ounces.
| One teacher after another had tried his
| skill upon him and failed. Corporeal
punishment, the FOOLS cap, coaxing and
earnest entreaty proved alike frultless.-
| Sometimes the experiment was tried OF
putting him at the top of his class, and 1t
was curious to note the rapidity with which
he gravitated to the inevitable bottom like
a lump of lead passing through quicksll-
yer. The youth was given up by many
teachers as an incorrigible dunce-one OF
them pronouncing him to be ga stupen-
dous BOBBY" Yet, slow though he was.
this Ounce had dull energy and sort OF
beefy tenacity Of purpose, which grew
with his muscles and his manhood and
strange to say, when he at length came to
take part in the practical business of life
he was found heading most Of his school.
companions, and eventually left the greater
number of them fa- behind The tortoise
in the right road will beat racer in the
wrong. 1t matters not though youth be
slow, if he be diligent Quickness of part:
may even prove defect, lnasmuch as he
who learns readily will often forget quite
as readily; and also because he finds nc
need of cultivating that quality of appll
cation and perseverance which the slower
youth is compelled to exercise, and which
proves so valuable an clement in the for
nation Of every character. Davy SAID
"What ] am [ have made myself; an(
the same holds true universally. The
highest culture is not obtained from
: teachers when at school or colleges, s.
much as by our own diligent set-educa
ton when we have become men. Parent
/ need not be in too great haste to see thei
children's talents forced into bloom. lie
them watch and wait patiently, letting
good example and quiet training do thei
work and leave the rest to Providence
: Let them see to it that the youth is pre-
vided by free exercise of his bodily pow
; ers, with full stock of physical health
!, set him fairly on the road of self-culture
carefully train his habits of applicasio
and perseverance; and as he grows oldel
if the right stuff be in him, he will be Ell
e abled vigorously and effectively to cult
q | yate himself