Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-07-31
Education of the Heart.


; All writers on Education agree that the
| chief means OF Intellectual Improvement arc
five: Observation, Conversation. Rc,d;ug
Memory, aud Reflection. But have some.
times thought that education did not bring
out the two last into the command ing and
paramount importance they deserve, ,sacriic.
ing them to a wider range Of reading and
OF studies. knowledge is not what we
learn, but what we retain. 1t is not what
people at.but what they digest that makes
them strong. IL is no, the amount OF money
they handle. but what they sare. that makes
them rich. Ii IS not what they read or
study. bn' what they remember that makes
them learned. And Memory. too. is one
OF those wondrous gifts of God TO man lha,
should be assiduously cultivated. Much Of
your mental acquisitions will come from n
secret fund, locked up even from your own
eyes tall you need to bring it into use;a
mystery HAT no philosopher has yet been. or
ever will be, able to explain There it lies
hidden. weeks, months, years and scores Of
years, ill maybap bali century afterward
1t bursts when needed, at Memory. com.
mand. upon the mind. like a hidden spring
bubb!ing up at the very hour OF need in the
pathway Of the thirsty traveller.
While have counscled Self reliance. and
would 90 further and urge you to labor TO
deserve the good opinion ofyour fellow men.
do not counsel that longing Tor fame which
IS 50 much more largely developed under
our free republic than in any other realm
upon the globe. Lord Mansfield once
ut cred as advice, what history teaches us
he should have declared as an axiom. that
that popularity is alone valuable and endur-
ing which follows you, not tha, which Won
run after. II was Sumner Lincoln Fairfield
who wrote:
Fame It's the mainess OF contsnd!ng thought.
Toiling in tears, aspiring in despair;
which steals like Loves d-Iirum DER the brain.
And, while II baries chidhood's purest joys
Wakes manhood's dreary agonics into life"
Far be 1t lIom me to counsel loneings for
such a fame as this. .Toiling in Tears
aspiring in despair" Is but poor prepara-
ton for the enjoyment of popular honors or
the performance of public trusts. And
there IS an exceedingly better way. 1t
to climb, young men, with buoyant heart.
the Hill OF knowledge. 1t i, TO boldly
scale the Alps aud Apennines which ever
rear themselves in your pathway. 1t is TO
iecl your sinews strengthen. As they will
with every obstacle you surmount II is
TO 6uid yo,Tseif. developing mental
strength. uuiiring energy. and sleepless
zeal, ierVcnt patriotism aud earnest piinci.
pie, until the public shall feel that YOU are
the man they need, and that they must COM
mlnd YOU into the public service. And If
pcrchancc that call should not happen to
come, and you should be forced to remain
an American sovereign instead of becoming
public servant, you shall have your reward
in the rich stores OF knowledge YOU have
thus collected. anil which shall ever be at
yourcOmmand. More valuail lr than earthly
trcasurc-whilc fleets may ink. and store.
houses consume, and banks may toitcr and
riches ilee-the Intellectual investment YOU
have thus made will be permanent and en-
during. unlading as the constant flow Of Nj.
agnra or Amazon a bank whose dividends
are perpetual. whose wealth is undiminisbed
however f,concr, the d,,c. n,on :, ..L;.L
,bo,rL ,,,,, ,,,.,. -. ..l..l -
,.,, no,.t.o.L Il. -,
so, b.. 49,. en,L1..
f,g p,nr ;,,, L.. -,
anil ,,l..,, en-, H.. :, Il,
hold another DION
vopr mind ,b,o,1b ,.h,l. 1;,,,;,g. -.
ost,ovlci.,. ,,o,uo 60. .....;.-i,,..
,o a.,..t.-,-u..