The Placer herald., 1872-02-24
Written for the HERALD.
"NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN"
BY A. T. CHER.


This is an old adage, and one which is as
true as it is old. But how many, oh, how
very many, young men and middle aged
men, young women and middle aged women,
think because they have been deprived of
the privilege of an education in the days of
their girlhood or boyhood, that they are too
old TO learn. This, my fellow young men
and young women, is a mistaken idea, and
one that is dangerous to indulge. For our
own benefit, for the benefit of the society in
which we live, and for mankind in general
it is our duty to do all we can to exalt the
race to which we belong; and this can in no
way be SO effectually accomplished as by
fully developing the finer faculties of our
minds. God gave us our talents, and He
expects us to improve them, and to do so
continually. He has not said in His Holy
Writ, for so many years shall you labor to
improve the talents have given you; but
He expects us to do so whenever we have
an opportunity. In the day of final reckon
ing we will not be pardoned because we were
too old, but will be held strictly accountable
for the improvement of all our talents, of
which the mind is not the last. Then let us
arouse to energetic action in the performance
of one Of the greatest privileges we possess;
let us learn all we can, that we may be the
better able to behold in the stupendous works
of nature the infinite wisdom of a Divine
Creator, and appreciate more fully His ell
during kindness and continued mercy, as
displayed by the workings of His wonderful
laws. In life many little duties are enjoned
upon us. AS boys and girls it is our duty
to be digent and perseverng in our studies
while at school, and, oh, how particular we
ought to be in the punctual performance of
every duty, How sweet, indeed, is the
| slumber of him who can lie down on his pill
low and review the transactions of each day
as they glide by into eternity, without con
demning himself.
Ours is young and growing country.
Extensive is the pioneering that has had to
be done in order to open up the frontier and
provide homes for the thronging millions who
have from time to time sought refuge in this
our free and happy land. In opening up
new tracts of country, at different times, the
laws which prompt men to provide bodily
comforts have been prominent. The time
| Ill w iIiSil SIoNn W uluiihoou vi
womanhood has elapsed before the necessity
of schools and mental culture has begun to
be felt. Consequently there are many in
our land, and in our midst, who have been
deprived of an education, who have grown
up, as it were, in a cloud of literary dark
ness, and who are still enveloped in that
cloud But what is worse for them and for
society, they have fallen into that popular
but erroneous opinion, that they are too old
to learn. Let us, then, who have had the
advantage-be it more or less-of intellect
ual culture, unite our energies in dispeling
that cloud; teach and preach to those in
darkness the doctrine that it is NOT too late
to do good, no matter in what sphere Tell
them it is their duty, but that duty is ex-
acted of no one without its due reward BY
doing so we will be doing our duty, besides
the satisfaction of being engaged in noble
work. We may not see the effects OF our
labor at once; but as we perceive the shadow
to have moved, but did not see it moving,
SO in our advancement in this worthy cause,
as they consist of such minute steps, are per-
cevable only by the distance.
If the learned everywhere would only en-
gage in the work of dispelling ignorance
whenever opportunity offered, we would
soon have the satisfaction of seeing the hu-
man family in more general state of intel
lectual advancement. We would then no
longer feel constrained to cry out in the Ian
guage of some inspired writer: go, Provi-
dence! how many of Thy poor innocent crea-
lures are exposed to be trodden to death in
each path!