The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1873-11-29

iohVo MS JItdSuItS WlIuOuJ que COnSlQ-
Grafton, and without the just reeompense
for which he may with propriety look,
is alike worthy of condemnation with
the miser who boards within the secret
chambers of his own mind stores of in
formation and wisdom which might, if
jud!ciously distributed, contribute wide
ly to the benefit and advantage of his
fellows. In the matter of learning we
are, ople, no less trustees than in the
matter of material wealth invested in
either case with such responsibilities as
forbid any wanton extravaganza in the
one direction, or selfish aggrandisement
in the other.
A remembrance of this inter depend
ence OF one upon another, this relation
of the common gifts and of the common
wants will, l think, go very far towards
elevating our intellectual toll beyond
that drudgery which too many account
1t to be, and give to all we strive TO a.
chieve in the way of mental acquire
ments dignity and nobility wNich it
may otherwise fail to exhibit. 1t also
evidently cultivates an integrity and
generosity IN our moral characteristics
which else may not find expression. It
at once allies all our possession to their
Divine origin, and opens to our eyes a
dearer vision as to the real purposes for
which we have our being and endow-
ments. | should hope, too, that as the
consciousness of this debt we owe to our
fellows takes the firmer hold upon MS, it
would act as powerful stimulant in not
only discerning between what is good
and what's evil, what is profitable forus
to learn and to retain, and what is bet
ter to be avoided and rejected-but also
in diligently prosecuting our researches
in the various fields Of knowledge, that
we might thereby enlarge our oppOrtu-
mites of beneliting those who MIGHT re-
quire our aid. "Self, the measure of
all things" is, practically, the motto
which many students seem TO have
adopted, and it is not to be wondered
at when such fail to leave any impress
even upon their own age, and in the
next generation their names are clean
forgotten.
Another means of avoiding the evils
which L have attributed to an almless
education, would be found in employing
more of an analysis in our studies and
by the term analysis as thus used, do
not mean that exact and scientific ac-
quaintance with all their constituent
parts 10 which the thorough chemist or
anatomist would lay claim in treating of
the subjects of their investigation. l
simply mean such an inquiry into the
real value and character of the various
branches of information and knowledge
which are proposed to us, as may enable
us to select those which appear TO be
the best adapted for fitting us to occupy
the different positions in the world to
which Providence may assign us.
There are certain requirements which
appear to be equally essential to all in
regard to which there is very little. if
any, room for choice. TO neglect them,
were to expose one to public cenSure
and to ostracise one from all respectable
society. There are Others again, which
while they may be necessary TO YOU
may not be so to me. Indeed, it may
be equivalent to waste of time for me
to devote myself to their obtaining, un-
myself placed. And yet for you, 1t is
OF prime importance that you should be
entirely familiar with them. No intlex-
able rule can te laid down upon this
point, and yet it is quite evident to
the least casual observer that much
valuable time and energy are squander-
ed by men in studies and pursuits which
Will never be of any practical benefit to
them, to the utter neglect ofothers in
which they might have exceIled. 1t
ought to be made a matter of conscient-
Gus consideration on the part OF each
one in his sphere to discriminate between
what presents itself to hun for his es-
pousal, and he should see to it that his
labor Is expended upon that which
promises to afford him the greatest
amount OF satisfaction and profit.
There Is much book learning and, what
l might term, conversational lore, which
are very speciOus in their outward ap.
pearance, but which when critically
analysed will show themselves to lie the
counterfeit OF wisdom, without any in
herent capability of recompensing US for
the amount of toll we undergo in attain
ing them. The miller is careful to sep
arate the wheat from thu chatf, altho'
DOTH maybe brought to him TO be ground;
.he broker will cautiously examine the
coin which is offered him, lest lie una
wares be beguiled with some spurious
metal. And so the student must needs
apply his tests to the various subjects of
learning which meet his eye on every
hand, and only apply himself to the
mastery Of such as will bear practical
and unprejudiced rule of scrutiny.
For lack of adopting some such meth
od as this, the lives of some men have
been rendered miserable aud fruitless,
and Others have wasted their prime in
whore properly directed
their talents would have been of meal
culable value in the management OF the
worlds affairs. 'I
D.scoursing upon q kindred theme,
Lord Bacon quantity observes, "Some
books are to be tasted, others to be
swallowed, aud some few to be chewed
and digested that is, some books are
10 be read only in parts, others 10 DO
read, but not curiously, and some few
to be read wholly, and with diligence
and attention" "SOme books also,"
he continues, ".may be read by deputy
and extracts made OF them by others
but that would b. only in the |. IS I'M