The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-10-08
Mr.. Greeley on Education.

ception at Kurtzlown, in Berks county,
and made an address at the Normal
school in that town, in which he urged
the study Of the physical sciences.
The speech is worth quoting:
Education, my young friends, has
it's legitimate objects. the development
of the man or woman, Intellectually or
mentally, and the development Of the
workman. When l advocate the pro-
sale side OF the question OF education |
do not mean to disparage the other.
From the days of Plato it has been un.
derstood that education makes the man,
and his fitness for the exigencies OF the
world will come after. l have known
not less than q thousand thoroughly
educated-that is, extensively educated
men, in New York-men who have en-
tered German or English or American
colleges, and have been sent forth
with diplomas. who are yet utterly un-
able to earn their bread and are to-day
pacing the stony streets in vain search
ior something to do. consider it the
reproach and shame OF education that
while every robust, temperate ignora-
mus that lands upon our shores with
money enough to buy an axe is morally
certain 10 earn his bread, to become in
time thrifty citizen. his children being
heirs to all the possibilities OF our con-
dition, the educated man is not 30 GER
ia n. My condemnation Of education
is that it is not complete, it is not fully
rounded 1t does not prepare us for
the exigencies Of life. The German
student, who has become dyspeptic
over his midnight art. who can
discourse learneily Of Kant, Hogel
aud Sp noss, yet has not been taught
how to earn bis bread When !
say my daughters ought to be scientific
cooks do not meal that cooking is
the chiei end OF womanhood. for some
women have aspirations TO become law.
yers and even Pres dents, it is getting
on to that end I believe laughter but
1 mean that they should have some
accomplishment in perfection with
which the world is not likely to get out
OF fashion. A bad education eends man
into the world useless Educated men,
while they are capable OF better work
than mere manual labor, ought in the
absence of that better work be able 10
do the manual work better than the
uneducated man. II they have to dig
bitches they ought to dig them better
than the ignorant man. When old
men are asked to pay $1,000 tor
a sons education they say they
don't know about it. This educa,
ton is not efficient in their sphere
Of life. A farmers son ought to come
back from college quail fed to show his
father how to better work his 'arm. II
not, il he returns with great deal OF
philosophy, mathematics and sciences
out OF range Of the old mans apprehen-
sion, such education is likely to be un-
duly disparaged. We ought to expend
more money than We do on education,
but We must make the people who pay
the money realize the good in education
l an told that the higher and mere ab-
truse studies are an excellent discipline
Tor the mind. But why will not more
solid truths, less out OF the way truths,
serve as discipline As we'll as these ?
I have been forty-aix years away from
school. never had aught but COM
mon education. My life might have
been more useful and better otherwise,
Tor have travelled all over this earth.
from the Adriatic sea on the east to the
Pacific ocean on the west, and every
day have deplored the knowledge Of
chemistry and geology, as ! walked
dumb and blind amid the wonderful
works OF Gods creation across plains
which spoke with Gods eloqnence,
which my limited education prevented
me from enjoying. / bad no other time
Tor schooling than in the winters Of the
first ten years Of my youth. ! never
ssw during that time book on chem
istry or geology-never knew that
such books existed-aud I feel now
that my life would have been
more useful and more enjoyable il I had
had time and the chance to study them.
Learn al We will We are imperfectly
taught. Let the little that the student
may know then irradiate the path Just
about him. When graduates cav, II
an educated, and there ore cannot work
with my hands" they are miseducated.
We are educating young people out Of
usefulnees Tie true man will do the
best work that to-day presents to him.
Labor 10 becoming With our sdvapcsd
skiliaHaa nNs intallsstaal AL lsue