Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-10-16
SOCIETY AND THE STUDENT.

student Reading is with many
people mere mental dissipation or
idleness. They use it as a means to
enable them 10 dispose of their time
without much effort. For such per
sons reading has no results. They
do not think while reading or after
wards, and, Of course, do not acquire
any mental possessions.
Some read much because when they
are alone with themselves they feel
that they are in very poor company,
and they resort to books to escape
from the unpleasant companion
ship.
Others skim daintily over the sur
face of many books, that they may
have the reputation of being learn
ed. They esteem knowledge as wo-
men value many articles of dress
It is to be worn where it can be seen;
and is something external, having
its chief use in intercourse with So
cietv, and not at all in any relation
to the needs of the individual life.
But the student is one who is de
voted to the pursuit of knowledge !;
one i'm whom the desire to know is a
controlling influence and an unfail-
| ing inspiration. The true student
loves knowledge on account of its
essential excellence and beauty. He
perceives that truth is divine, and
all that is best and highest in his ma
ture is fed and nourished by it
knowledge becomes the beauty and
lioy of his being; the very life of his
life.
For one who is moved by this spir-
it.who has taken knowledge to be the
object and the reward of his labor,
the pursuits and ambitions of other
men have little attraction. 1t is not
for hun to Join the mad rush for the
foremost place in the mob called So
ciety; or the reckless struggle for
visible, immediate success in which
every man strives to rise by thrust
inc down his fellow. To the stu
dent money is not the chief good !;
it is of use only as it may aid him
in acquiring knowledge. Nor does
the student covet fame. His life is
perpetual self-renunciation. He has
one hope, one inspiration, and with
singleness of purpose he strives for
but one reward.
If any one will be student, let
him know what is before him; let
him know how society stands re-
lated to his purpose and work. If
he has not love of knowledge
which will be to him instead of all
things that other men seek; let him
not adventure upon the student S
life of lonely and unnoticed toll.
The attitude of society in this part
Of the West in regard to the stu
dents work. and his estimate of
things, is that of positive and uni
versal hostility The seeker after
knowledge need not hope for encour-
agement or help from any of the
leaders of society. Ifhe would be re-
cognized and encouraged, let him
love money, let him live for it-let
him get it.
To these busy, prosperous men of
our country the student is a poor,
shiftleSs creature :-''IIe will never
he worth n dollar - The dollar is
their standard of value. and all
things in heaven and earth are meas
ured by it.
Every hand is extended with
ready aid for the man who is SHARP
who Is not scrupulous as to the
means by which he attains success
but the student is not noticed in his
silent work, because he is not sun
posed TO be able TO contribute to the
advancement of the designs or in.
terests of those around him.
But he quietly delves on. He does
not feel the lone illness: he becomes