Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-06-30
Education.

|
and the most valuable heritage parent can
bestow on his offspring. The one is efficient
to guide and direct us in the ways of wisdom
and virtue, tho other to give us energy aud
! vigor to meet and surmount obstacles to our
advancement in lifo. Physical culture is sell
dom neglected, proceeding generally from the
very nature aud necessities of man. Our
pleasures and enjoymcnts in life are iu meas
ure Of character to give tone and strength
to the muscular or physical system, but the
development Of the mind requires labor and
instruction. Its training Is, however, Of
grca er importance than that of tn. body,
since it constitutes the true distinction be-
tween man aud the lower order Of creation.
AS it grows under the power of instruction
aud study, tho moral and intellectual facul
ties are expanded, giving US clearer and gran
der views of Deity as illustrated in the
works of creation, aud Strengthening our con-
viction of right, and our powers of resistance
| of wrong Education thus becomes power
full moral and religious clcmcnt in the char.
acter Of each individual, stronger or weaker
| according to tho kind and degree of culture
Not only is this true, bnt education engcn.
dcrs that wisdom and virtue which will cna,
| bic its posscssor to attain true greatness and
| usefulness Knowledge has been truly said
to be- power, and, as it is the fruit Of mental
culture, the mind is power. If properly d.
rcctcd, this power will be devoted to the hap
pincss and elevation OF tho human race, and
tho honor Vt the individual if neglected il
will breed the vices and cnrruptions Of the
sensual passions. For it is not true that with
out instruction the mind will remain o,lcsccnt
Like the body it will grow aud gather such
| TODD M ita own c.rnal appctitcs crave, or as
surrounding circumstances may offer. As
| tho body hungcrs for food and thirsts for wa.
| ter, so the mind longs for aud will have some
employment. 1t cannot remain Inactive
! You caunnt restrain it. IL must progress
| You may direct it through the influence Of
reason you may refine aud stimulate its
powers to works of morality ana virtue, but
certain it is, unless guided by education in
| Legitimate paths, it will seek qualification in
some low and vicious enterprise. Every per
son is, to great extent, what he is, from the
opportunities afforded him in early life. All
men seek distinction 10 one way or another.
Some in gambling, some in wrestling, some
in licentiousness, while others are animated
by love of the high virtues of morality aud
literature. The choice depends much on
early influences and opportunities. The boy,
Alexander Of Macedou, was probably infu
enced to the life Of rapinc and conquest
which terminated so disastrously, by bis sue.
cessful competition for prizes at the Olympic
games Apart from the accident OF knowl.
edge Caesar may have sru"ht distinction in
ring Of wr, stl rs, ntcad Of the extension Of
the power and glory Of the Roman name
Under more favored circumstances, both pos.
scssed qualities of head and heart, which
would tave reflected more virtuous and on,
during credit on themselves and honor on
their conntry. So it is ut this day and time
Many Calhouns 20 down to their narrow prs-
on houses unwcpt and unSung, for the want
of That cducation, which, though in easy
reach of their parents, 10 under valued. Ma
ny others from like neglect pcrvcrt their high
powers t" ignoblc ends Let no parent for.
get that lie owes the education of his chill
dren as a duty to God, to himself and to
them. There can now he no excuse for fail
ing to bcstow this priceless boon upon them
Schools abound aud books are to be had for
a trfe There is too, within our own coun
ty, ii college cminenty adapted to render
both moral and intellectual instruction to any
and all who desire it. Its doors are open to
the youth of the country. For triflc, the
satisfaction, the excellence, the morality, the
usefulness Of knowledge can be had LII the
voyage through life, amid the temptations
and trials which meet them, it will prove II
taisnan against all Ills ruddcr and compass,
pilot and sealnen, harDor and anchor to the
soul.
Nor should we forget That the youth Of
this generation will DC The men Of tho next
That the responsibility and duty Of guiding
the interests Of the government in proper
way Will dcvolvc on them Aud that the
qualities necessary to this end can only be
acquired 10y education, The influence Of
men is now measured by the qualities of the
mind and not by the strength Of the body
The Red man selects his leader from these
possessed Of physical strength and rrowcss in
the highest degree, but tho white man csti.
mates his leader from the qualities of head
and heart he possesses. Nor is individual
benefit the only aavautaye gained for chuca.
tioK conInces to the highest degree Of liberty
and prosperity III the State. The history Of
Greece and Rome, in their panicSt days of
literary and artistic excellence, illustrates
this. Nor is its tendency less apparent in
the powerful under. current, which is now
shaking to the centre the crowned heads Of
Europe. The steam engine, the printing press
and tclcgraphy have brought knowledge to
tho hearth stones OF that people, and awak.
| ~ Ca, !: