Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-05-10

ed that such a system could be put in opera.
ton at once in all parts Of the State, but il
could be in large portion, and coaId be
commenced everywhere, and completed a.
fast ~ the growth u the country and the in
crease of means allowed. Ii is not expected.
either, that these collections of specimens
would amount 10 much for the first few
years, butin single generation, with prop.
er care, large and useful collections might
be accumulated, which could then bs pre-
eeryed and increased indefinitely. 8a g.
We shonld build, not for the present alons,
but for coming generations I: and sif CON.
plete permanent system Of schools Of all
grades could be stsblished in one genera
ti0n, it would be . glorious aehicvement.
But wherefore, say many, spend 50 much
time and money collecting cabinets, and
studying things Of which the present gener-
alton know SO little 2 hss iaisg
Few are % rash ss to deny, at this age Of
the world, the advantages Of liberal edu-
cation, but many still think that the Ian.
guages and mathematics should be employ.
ed, IS of old, for this purpose. The opinion
gated the subject is, however, changed, and
the study Of the laws and varied phenomena
Of nature has been found to be quite as use.
fal for mental discipline, more satisfactory
snd attractive to the student, and much more
practical. It is certainly q great satisfaction
and often great advantage, for one to have
an accurate knowledge Of the natural pro-
cesses he directs, or the artificial ones be
employs, instead of blindiy doing Is others
do, with no knowledge Of the reasons there
for.
But money-making is by no means the
highest use Of knowledge. How to interest
the minds Of young people pleasantly and
prv6tably, so that they shall have neither
time nor inclination for dissipation, is one of
he most serious social problems we have !;
one that has long occupied, and still occu,
pies, the minds Of many parents, teachers,
and the friends o. progress and morality.
Social temperance societies, and other social
societies, have sometimes been useful in this
direction, but sometimes only negatively so,
only substituting other dissipation Of less OBJ
jectionable surroundings; Sabbath schools
and their libraries have some influence. but
cannot keep up their influence from Sabbath
to Sabbath, year after year libraries, city,
town, and school, are of some benefit, but
only lev young people will spend much of
their leisure time resdingL,mless II Be nov
els, which will make them, as rule, more
apt to acquire bad habits good books are
not, as rule, very attractive to young peo-
pie; With an that has been accomplished by
these different means, many, very many
yousg men seek society or exsitementA At the
saloon store or tavern, and their sisters rack
their bnins fr some 1ew axcpssf(r visit
or parry, which stall vary their monotesous
lives. Friends demonstrate without evAil
acknowledging the truth Of everything said
about wasting time and mingling with bad
company, the young people say they must
have variety, excitement, and company, more
than they have at home and they get it, to
the sorrow Of their parents, and Of all good
people in the community. se.s.sage
Ii still another remedy for these Difficult.
ties can be provided, that shs1Niso secsre .
valuable fund Of knowledge, ana an eyer
ready source of amusement available at.any
period Of life, double benefit viii have been
obtained. Such remedy can be provided
in the study Of the beauties Of nature around
US, and the structure of the earth beneath
us. That man is far more of man, and
has a more adequate idea of the greatness
and wisdom Of God, who understands the
construction, and can interpret the plan Of
the works of nature around him. Aud let
his location and circumstanc be What they
may, the boundless cabinets and the fault>
AN lsbsatories Of nature are around him,
uexhaustible IN 'smusement and study, in
beauty, wonder, and mystery. And this re>
fined amusement, this useful, refining, and
attractive study, is not alone for the student
Of lifetime, or ior the man of means and
leisure with such knowledge of natural sci
ence as any Of our young people may acquire
before they are twenty years of age. One can
find. in any township in Iowa, By devohng
= that purpose. each SAfw@ey aiesnoon Of
. yeAf, With instruments ana materials cost
ing twenty dollars, more objects Of beauty
and interest than . persee ignorant Of these
subjects can find in the same length OF time
by travelling thousands Of miles, at an ex-
,pfnfe sef thotssnds of dollafs, TIL
Every season has beauties OF its own the
flowers OF every month. are different from
those Q. any other month, yet all are equally
beautiful and wonderful in their construc-
ton their variety is as remarkable - their
unity Of plan and their mathematical exact
ness of construction. And when the last
brilliant AeWers. Of autump disappear, the
scarcely less brilliant autumn foliage re-
mains for wesks; from that time tall spring
geological specimens are, Of cosrse, muchof
the time accessible, and also different species
Of shells, Of variety ana beauty not suspect>
4hytloN vAdhavs s1hesr paid esy asten>
feniion TO them to say nothing Of birds, in
sects, snd animals, either Of which classes
Of beirgs afford an unlimited field for study.
The collections thus made, such Of them ss
will not take up too much room in an ordi-
nary dwelling, may be ever At hand for IN
idle hour or rainy day, are equally interest.
ing to = social PARTY or single friend are
entertaining and instructive alike 10 young,
middle aged, or old. a lad interested in
these will not 60 of miles to the railroad
station, ~ 10 town, . rainy satunn evening,
beeaussit i SO dull at home, leaving his s;s-
ter moping because she cannot go with him.
And il is . mistake to suppose that these
studies are dry or disagreeable large ma.
jority Of young people, under proper instruc-
ton, will soon acquire their rudiments, aad
become deeply Interested in themsygvery
few young people seek snlgss annasnents
or vicious company for the sake Of the vul-
garity or vice it is for the variety, excite
ment, social feeling, and pleasant hours let
them find these elsewhere, and but few will
seek them to their own hurt-only those by
nature low spd vicious.
Even without instruction, stud ying almost
by themsslvss, nsny youth, especially 10 the
east, who're the lss5e farm houses and Hn
occupied rooms give good opportunity to
study and make collections unmolested, have
become adopts in these studies have passed
many busy, happy hours thus, enlarged their
stock Of kaSsls5ee ivory mnchs and made
very interesting collections. Here, where
lumber is so expensive, houses do NOT usual
II have extra rOoms, and private collections
Cannot so wen be made, except Of botanical
specimens, which take up but. little room;
bue shi ! 6hs1Aelol leo1ld not bs,a serious 6ie
If every county shad ia cabinets, accessible
to all, y which WI could contribute, and in
which every ts(6de6t ID theA cSuaty would feel
3 peFso1al Intsss1e.salAs he(bre snted, thsse
collections would net amount 70 very much
for the frst decade, perhaps fof The hrst gen.
grafton = and the want Of teAchsrs with .
ihorsugh understanding sG these sciencss,
and the ignorance and ND iGerence of parents
end ftiendsin rek1sd 70 them, would long b
obstacles to perfect seccess. But these Oh.
stacles would disappear il single genera.
tion and We are building institutions, not
r.. r.. Al.