Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-08-13

| will naturally select the easiest studies
and thus cultivate the memory to the neg
lect of the reason. Some men, though
considered educated, have no opinions O
their own. They will give the opinions O.
authors on all subjects. In philosophy
they will tell you what Plato thought and
what Bacon said, but never give an opin.
ion of their own. Their memories are cul
tivated and not their understanding.
They are not the men to plan great under
takings. The mind may be loaded with
learned lore, and yet be unable to grapplt
with practical questions, because it re-
members but does not think and reason
| The man whose intellect has been proper
| ly developed will think for himself; and
when he deems it right, will take posi-
tion contrary to that of the majority.
When Gen. Jackson, at the battle of New
Orleans, had a rampant fellow arrested, a
judge released him on a writ of hdbeds
corpus. Jackson then imprisoned the
judge, and declared that though heaven
fell he intended to be obeyed that day.
A properly educated man is always will
ling to assume the responsibility demanded
by any emergency.
Young men should have an aim before
them-have something to accomplish.
When a yopng man at college is asked
what he intends to make of himself, it is a
bad omen if he answers that he does not
know, Such boys go to college beca use
they are sent there. They remain by au-
thority Of their parents. Their study is
slavery, and like a slave they do just as
little work as possible. It is pleasure to
study with a great aim ahead. Lord
Brougham studied with aview of being at
the head of English statesmen and he sue
ceeded.a He studied Mathematics, Phil
osophy, languages all to that end. and
found pleasure in all. Young men can
make what they please of themselves. 1t
is wrong to imagine when reading biogra-
ply that the famous characters were all
men of great genius. They were not born
great, but made themselves So One way
to become great is to bring tile mind into
contact with noble and exalted objects.
By studying the Bible and thinking of
God men become more like God: it en-
mobiles the mind. Latin and Greek should
be studied because they embody the Latin
and Greek mind. Greek emboaies the
philosophy and literature of that cultivated
nation. Contact with it made the Arabs
great in the seventh century. 1t will make.
any mind great if the ideas be studied and
not the structure of the language only.
Sir William Gladstone relieved the tedi-
business of a debate in the British Parlia-
ment by translating the hymn s'R ,ck of
Ages into Greek, without the use Of a
lexicon. Few Americans could do it!
Men educate themselves. Colleges pre-
pare them to do this. Ex-Gov. Wise, of
Virginia, in addressing the graduating
class of Roanoke College in 1878, said that
they were now prepared to go out into the
world to instruct themselves. He said
they had been taught how to study and
were then passing to the state where they
could instruct themselves.
Some men educate themselves without
the assistance of colleges. Several years
ago DR.. Bittle was spoken to in Richmond
by member of the House of Delegates,
'sDo you know me?" ssNo." "Well, do
you remember an old woman in Gettys-
burg, Pa, and her little boy that brought
your washing to you at the college?"
ayes" "I'm that little boy" He edu.
Gated himself. But most men need the
assistance rendered at college.
The majority of people live for the pres
ent and are not capable of great aims and
enterprises. They want JobaccO. perhaps
whiskey, good eating-that is glory enough
for them! They bound their thoughts
with life's narrow horizon; great men look
into eternity and as the great hereafter
looms up their present life. is filled with
different a1,inals.
Any man who has self denial industry
and perseverance, however poor lie be,
can obtain an education.
The pastor of a leading congregational
church in Washington, while at college
lived on cold corn bread, with now and
then an egg, for luxury. Through his
untiring efforts the fine church, now
served by him, was built. His college
training fitted him for such hard work.
Mayor Havermeyer, Of New York re-
marked to a gentleman on the street as
another passed them, II went to school
with that man and we carried our dinners
with us. l knew from the way in which
he ate his, that he would never succeed in
life." On being asked why the Mayor re-
piled, because he ate his pie first,
and bread and meat last, and knew that
man with so little self-dcnlal would never
accomplish anything" So DR.. Bittle said
it is with many in this day. ''Give me
pie, cigars, whisky, &C. Never deny
themselves anything. The Doctor thinks
he can tell from boys eating what he
will make of himself. If at the table he
takes chicken, ham, beef, potatoes and
plate full he will never come to anything
considerable" wonder if the Doctor
takes boarders?) AVat
There was u MOravian student at College
with DR.. Bittle, The poor llow.received
S25 Tor his failure to replace IN old suit of
clothes with decent one. But the self
denying student bought Hebrew books
with the money and continued to wear his
threadbare suit. Such self-denial must
succeed. 1t cannot fail. v
With some remarks Of encouragement
to poor young men DESTROYS of educating
themselves, the speaker closed amidst APP
plause His remarks were well received
being often interrupted with laughter at
his amusing way Of relating incidents and
anecdotes. Space forbids our ''sketching'
him as we intended. He is grand ole
man and has done, and is doing, a great