Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-01-04

For the Spirit of The Age.
Why College Student Should Indus.
triously Apply Himself.

First it is sdgtE be s 2sss !.lJ "a his jsSudg6t g6S66 16
der his care he assumes the duties and
responsibilities of his parents in imparting
to him an intellectual education, and the
student has to regard him as such, whilst
under his guardianship.
The instructor may make his best en-
deavors to improve the young mind he
may studiously employ the assistance of
the midnight lamp in unraveling science
from its dusty confnements, to lay be-
fore the student in all its simpleness and
| |singeness he may brood over the alb
struse reasonngs of a Steward, Ricd, Whe-
WELL and Wollaston as he replied to the
theories of DR.. Priestley, and a Hamilton
and many others, to offer light to the stu
deut He may thus labor to discharge the
duty thus imposed upon him; vet his ex-
ertions are vain unless the student give him
an attentive ear and strive to treasure up
the lessons Of his instructor as some great
pearl. Let him apply himself; let him
JOIN his instructor by the f1ickering lamp;
let him lay aside his fancies of fashionable
enjoyments, and he may soon reap the re-
ward of the dHigent
Secondly, it is a duty he oaCeS his Pc
rents-who have laborcd much to pay the
precious debt they owe their beloved off
-, Spring-whoso faces have been furrowed
by an earnest solicitude for their chiIdren's
wcfare-who have placed them in liter
ary institution, there to equip themselves
for the stern and responsible duties of life.
S 1t is the students duty to respond to the
cares and labors of his parents, by studious
. application, and thus he may pay the debt
f OF fiial gratitude, and be crown of honor
to them in their declining years.
> lie thus may rock the cradle of their reposing
age,
. And with lcnient arts extend parents breath,
Make languor smile and smoothe the bed of death.
u Thirdly, it is duty he owes to himself
It Though he may have genius and natural
5. talent, yet he will never ascend the hill o.
b literary attainments with them alone. But
e let linn studiousl y apply himself, and strive
d with his genius and talent to look into the
Al mysterious workshop of Nature, and soor
n his store of knowledge will be greatly en-
.&gged. And as youth is the time for the
At culture of the mind, he should regard hi
- time as precious, remembering that hi
y youthful days are gliding on like the mis-
o. of morn; and should he let them pass un
j. improved, as some fancied vision, his latte
lc days will be days of bitter anguish and re
49, gret at misspent time. He will be assigned
o, place among those who have proveo
Is false to their chances Of acquiring knowl
h. edge. He will be as lame man in tn
IL wilderness. The spring of life has com
| and gone, and he has failed to bloom, S
Mt no fruit will he furnish in the Autumn
or The genial rays and enIivening showers c
nd summer will fail to have the desired effect
,s ana he can have no harvest when its sea
Id sen approaches.
in FourthIy, it is duty he owes his couu
lt) try. His country calls on him, whilst er
u joying the mental training of a CoIieg
as life, to fit himself for usefulness in her sci
- vice. She tells him to prove himself wol
in. thy of the noble institutions, reared an
ut nurtured upon her soil by his venerab
th sires-that soon she will transmit them
iy his care and keeping. He will then
to summoned to take their stead-to approac
he the helm of State, guide, protect and d
SIX fend her in light or in darkness.