The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-21
EDUCATIONAL.

GRAY BEARD.
EDUCATIONAL.
ANOTHER LETTER TO THE YOUNG.
My Dear Young Friends. 1t is wei
worth while to labor hard to obtain a gooC
education. No other worldly advantage
can equal the advantage of having a minG
cultivated by study and enriched with
stores of useful knowledge. Wisdom i.
better than rubies and all the things that
thou canst desire are not to be compared
unto her,
The durable riches of the mind and
heart can neither be lost, spent or stolen
The more you impart these treasures tc
others, the more you will have for Your.
selves. Write, converse, teach and lavish
them in every way, and like good seed
they will multiply hundred fold.
A mind made rich and active by study
will fit you for business, and for mingling
with good and intelligent society. Knowl
edge will feed your thoughts in retirement
and comfort you in seasons of affliction.
But more than mere knowledge is gain,
ed in education. The strength of the mind
and its activity are soon doubled and Won
derfully increased by its own efforts in the
acquisition of knowledge. The powers OF
the mind, like the limbs of the body, grow
weak through inaction and strong by la
Dor. Study stirs and employs the energies
of the sluggish mind. 1t produces love
of truth and invigorates the talents which
would otherwise remain feeble or dormant.
Again, study does yet more than impart
knowledge, life and power to the mind
For it also gives you skill in using your
knowledge and in directing the energy of
your strong and active minds.
1t trains your faculties into habits of
vigorous and we'll directed thinking. 1t
gives you the valuable power of selfcon-
troll. Just as the smith gains strength of
muscle while welding the heavy hammer,
he also gains at every stroke a nicer and
surer skill in directing his heavy blows.
Have you ever thought, my young friends,
how difficult and how important it is to
control your minds and to direct your
thoughts at pleasure ? Think for mo-
ment how they wander away after vain tr-
flies and are hopelessly scattered and lost.
o. if we could command these hayward
and rambling thoughts, if we could govern
these INSTRUCTED movements of our busy
minds, we would be far nobler beings than
we are. How can the great and happy
power over our minds and thoughts be
gained will tell you. 1t is study, dill
gent, hard and persevering study. Study
| is constant effort to collect our thoughts
and to keep them employed on some sub
icct This effort constantly maintained,
gradually gives us the power of keeping
our minds under the control and guidance
of orr wills. so that we can fix and keep
them closely on some important subject
until we can properly consider and under
stand it.
Now appeal to your good sense, my
readers, to decide whether you should not
be willing to form and to cultivate those
habits of study, which impart to the mind
such knowledge, skill and power Would
it not be far better to become such men
and women as cultivated minds and man.
ners can make you, than to pass through
life ignorant. useless and unknown? See
how men often toll for perishable riches!-
They rise early, work hard and lie down
late, day after day through many long
years, and think themselves well rewarded
if they gain very moderate fortune. And
will you be so indolent and careless as not
to study and strive to acquire the better
and unperishable riches of the mind and
heart? 1t is for you TO decide whether
these things shall be yours or not. They
must be gained mainly by your own efforts;
and they must soon be gained or never
The great advantages of education are
scarcely ever acquired after the season of
youth. Now is your seed time of knowl-
edge. Sow speedily, SOW bountifully or
you can never reap.
The flight of time and the demand of a
busy world will soon hurry into the cares
and labors of life whether you are learned
or ignorant, ready or not Do not dream
that wishes and intentions will educate YOU
You must study. You must constantly
employ your powers of mind. This labor
must not offend you. 1t brings 4 great and
sure reward.
The man who ascends the sleeps of some
lofty mountain, is constantly cheered with
the increasing glory of the prospects which
widens as he climbs So your most labori-
GUS studies will be cheered and rewarded
by the conscious improvement of your
minds and by wider and wider views of the
boundless fields OF knowledge.
Yours truly, j. A.