Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-13
agricultural department. Children's department.
fOrigillal.
COMMON SENSE.

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makes proper use of what he knows. A
man may know great deal and yet be little,
if any better than fool. He may know a
great many things, and still make no use, or
an unwise use of them. On the other hand,
an individual may not be possessed of exten-
sive knowledge, but still be wise man, be-
cause his knowledge is properly applied.
Learning and knowledge mean nearly the
same thing. 1t is possible for a man to be
very learned and at the same time ludicrously
ignorant. This may seem to be contradic-
ton but whatever appearances may indicate
the fact is incontrovertible This is not the
only seeming contradiction which we meet
with in life. There are multitudes Of persons
in this world who have great mental powers,
and yet they have very little sense. 1t would
not be difficult thing to find men who could
talk metaphysics all day discourse most flu
emily on the stars; reason logically on theol-
ogy, who are as ignorant as babes about the
common affairs of life.
We once heard of man who had the rep
utatiou of learned theologian, who had no
idea of the weight Of log Of wood, and who,
on one occasion, attempted to carry log
which would have been a sufficient load, if it
had been placed on u wagon, for two horses.
Another repnted learned man, went to a
provision store to lay in years provision for
himself and wife. His purchases consisted of
a tierce of rice, pound of coffee, and half a
a pound of sugar. On arriving at his resi-
dence, he congratulated his wife that they
were safe for one year.
Another learned man, on one occasion, walk
ed into the garden and saw the beans which
his wife had planted, had come up with the
old bean attached to the stem. He at once
concluded that his wife's beans had made a
grand mistake in coming up wrong end fore
most, and he at once determined to pull them
up and reverse the ends. This he did to the
great annoyance Of his wife.
1t would be easy to multiply to any extent,
instances of learned men doing senseless
things. In some respects these men were
great, and it may be, wise men but in many
others, they were great fools. They had
much of what is called book learning, but
knew nothing of what is called the common
affairs of lfe Ignorance of the common af-
fairs of life, often subjects us to much incon-
venience, and affords others many a good
laugh at our expense.
Once young preacher, just from the semi
nary, was sent out on missionary tour. 1t
was before the days of railroads, and ne was
obliged to ride. Strange as it may seem, it
was to him a subject Of much anxiety to know
on what he would feed his horse. He seems
to have known that the horse must live by
eating but what he would eat he seems not
to have known. Late in the evening of his
first days travel, he fell in company with a
country boy and made known his troubles
The boy was what is usually called a wag
who had more fondness for good joke than
he had respect for the clergy. On being
asked what horses we're fed upon, he replied,
"Irish potatoes" Night came on and the
young clergyman stopped at the house OF a
farmer and bought half bushel of Irish po.
tatoes and poured them into the horse trough
for his horses supper. When morning came
he bought another half bushel; but on going
to the stable he found that the horse had not
touched the potatoes given him on the prevl-
Gus evening. The wag had gone to the house
with the young clergyman to enjoy the fun
A little common sense would have saved this
young man from being thus imposed upon, and
certainly would have done him no harm, so
far as converting sinners and consoling saints
was concerned.
Book learning is a good thing; but little
book learning and little common sense, is
far better than extensive book learning and
no common sense Sometimes men think it
makes them appear great in the eyes OF 9TH
ers not to know anything about little things.
This may be so; but it will be long time
before plain people will regard the man who
does not know wheat from oats anything but
a. born fool. Sometimes young people affect
ignorance of the common affairs of life, sup
posing that-by this means they will make the
impression upon the minds of others that they
are very rich, and have been realised in great
luxury and ease.
We once heard of a young girl who feigned
that she did not know COW from sheep.
We say feigned she did not know COW from
sheep, for surely no mortal, not an idiot,
could be so ignorant. If she did not know
the difference between these two domestic ami
mails, it was shame to her, and if she feigned
not to know, she was very silly. In either
case she was an object Of pity, and should
have been sent to the cow-pen and sheep-fold
to learn little sense. No practical young
man would like to marry such a girl
Run FOR THE L1LLY-PADs-"How many
of you boys ever went 6shing?" asked the
minister.
Instantly fifty boys eyes sparkled, and fifty
boys hands we're raised.
"How many of you ever 6shed for pick
erel ?" continued the minister.
Up came most of the hands again-little
hands that, as the minister knew, had been
nearly every one of them guilty of taking
what was not theirs; for they belonged to
BOYS who were in a reform school, and most
of them for stealing, some little and some
much.
"Did you ever have any trouble in getting
the pickerel to bite ?" asked the minister.
eyes, sir" cried the boys.
$50 have l." he replied. have Gshed for
nickerel q great many times often in a GER