The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-02-19
What Ia Education?

made by the impoverished Southern people,
since the war, to educate their children our
fourishing schools and colleges, would seem
to make this question superfuous; but, many
who think SO, would be very much at loss
to answer it correctly. Every man in free
country, wants three sorts of education: one,
to fit him for his own particular trade or call
ing, or professional education; another, to
teach him his duties as a man and citizen ::
his moral and political education; and third,
to fit him for his higher relations, as one OF
Gods creatures, designed for Immortality,
which is religious education.
In point of fact, that is more useful to man
which tends most to his happiness; thing
SO plain, that it almost seems foolish to state
it. Yet people constantly take the word
useful" in a different sense, and mean by it,
not what tends most to mans happiness, but
what will get the most money for him; hence,
they call professional education very " use
full thing, while they grudge, as thrown away,
the time spent in general education, whether
moral or religious, more especially, if it in
anyway interferes with the education which
enables man to gain his livelihood, and make
money. Yet We might be perfect in our sew
eral trades and professions, and still be very
ignorant, very miserable and very wicked
In fact, we might do very well while at work,
but no man can work always.
There is time which we spend with our
families time we spend with our friends and
neighbors, and a very important time which
we, especially, spend with ourselves. If we
know not how to pass these times proftably,
we must be very contemplate and worthless
men, be we ever so excellent as editors, me-
chanics, lawyers, doctors, ministers, farmers,
laborers, or whatever may be our particu-
lar calling. Hence, it strikes us, that
it is our general education that enables us to
pass these times well, not our professional one,
as is we'll illustrated by the ladies, who in
speaking Of an agreeable gentleman, say " he
leaves the shop at home" The education
which all men equally need, is that which
teaches a man, in the first place, his duty to
God and his neighbor which trains him to
good principles and good temper; to think of
others and not all Of self. It is that educa-
ton, which teaches him in the next place,
his duty as a citizen; to obey the laws al
ways, but to try to get them made as perfect
as possible; to understand that good and
just government cannot consult the interests
of a particular class Or calling, in preference
to another, but must see what is for the good
Of the whole; that every interest, and every
order Of men must give and take, and that if
each was to insist upon having everything his
own way, there could be nothing but the
widest confusion or the meanest tyranny -
1t the greater part Of all that goes wrong in
life, public, or private, arise from ignorance,
stupidity, and bad reasoning, it should teach
us to reason justly, and put us on our guard
against the tricks of unfair writer's and talk
ers, or tie confusions of the mutton headed,
and it will prove the most valuable part Of a
mans education, part he will derive bene-
| fit from, whenever he has occasion to open his
mouth to speak, or his ears to hear.
Finally, all that makes mans mind move
actively; all that gives him nobler and more
beautiful ideas; is great addition to his hap
piness, when alone, and to the pleasure 9th
crs derive from his society. Therefore, it is
most useful to learn to love and appreciate
what is beautiful, whether in the works Of
God, or Of man whether in the flowers and
fields, mountains and rivers the woods, sea
or sky; OF in fine pictures, splendid buildings,
sweet music, and all the noble thoughts and
glorious images of poetry. This is the sort Of
an education, which will make man happy,
people good, wise, and great. Give this, and
the ends Of professional education can never
be altogether lost; for good sense and sound
principle will ensure a mans knowing his
particular business; but knowledge Of lis
business alone, can never ensure them. Not
only all secure knowledge and goodness, the
rarest and most profitable qualities, with
which any man can enter upon life now, but
they are articles with which the market will
never be glutted, and Of which no competi-
ton or over reproduction will lesson the value;
further, the more We can succeed in manufac-
turing, the higher will be their price, because
there will be more to understand and love
them. AS Solomon said, 8 Happy is tie man
that fndeth wisdom, and the man that get
eth understanding" For the merchandise
of it is better than the merchandise of silver,
and the gain thereof, than fine gold J" and
Her ways are ways Of pleasantness, and all
her paths are peace"
The CONVENTION IN RIcHMoND.-We
have not bored and disguised our readers, by
filing the Valley Virginian with reports of
the Convention, now being held in Richmond.
We pity the City papers which have to do it,
| and we pity the Conservative gentlemen who