Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1878-03-16
Why 1t Pays to Eead.

his muscles-his feet-his hands-is
onlya living machine. 1t is the mind,
controlling and dircc ting that ma
chine, that gives it power and effici-
ency. The successful use of the body
depends wholly upon the mind-upon
its ability to direct we'll. If one ties
his arm in n sling, it becomes weak
and finally powerless. Keep it in
active exercise, and it acquires vigor
and strength, and is discipline to use
this strength rs desired. Just so ones
mIhd, by active exercise in thinking,
reasoning, planning, studying, observ-
ing, acquires vigor, strength, power
of concentration and direction.
Plainly then, the man who exer-
cises his mind in reading and think
ing, gives it increased power and eff
cheney, and greater ability to direct
the Efforts Of his physical frame-his
work-to better results, than can
who merely or mainly uses his mus
cles. If Il man reads a book or paper,
even one he knows to be erroneous,
it helps him by the effort to combat
the errors. The combat invigorates
his mind.
OF all men, the farmer, the culti-
vator, needs to read more and think
more-to strengthen his reasoning
powers, SO that they may help out
and make more effective, more prof
table, his hard toll. There can be no
dou bt, that that farmer who supplies
himself with the most reading, the
most of other mems thoughts and
experiences, will in the end, if not Mt
once, be the mo It successful. \
"The mind makes the man." is q
trite but very true adsge. How much
above the brute that tolls with him,
is the man who merely works, eats,
and sleeps, and cares for his progeny?
The brute does all this. The man
rises in dignity, i'll self.respect, in the
respect of others, just so far rs he
rises i'll intelligence. We have GER
tain regard for the ant, or colony of
ants, tnat ny f5fig, aard, pss:..s. <,;I,
gathers fine, large, snowy mound of
earth-ycllow earth it may be, or of
silvcry white. In what is that man
superior to the ant, who spends his life
wholly i'll scraping t'gcthcr q mass of
land, and II pile Of yellow gold or
white silver, and large house, lives
III it, and dies there? Hc may be
called Il successful man, rich man,
but what docs that amount to after
all. If he be rich in good deeds, ifhe
be an intelligent man, if he be able,
by the superior cultivation of his
lnind, his thinking and reasoning
powers, OF only to plan successfully
for himself, cut to give wise counsel
to others, he commands our real re-
spect.
Farmers, think of these things.
Now, and fora few coming months,
while the field work does not press,
devote some time each day or evening
to mind development. Lop off, if
need be, dollar OF two here or there,
and will: it buy ono or two books,
especially those treating of your own
business, of the character and nature
of the soils you till, Of the crops you
raise, of the animals you have to do
with, their differences and character,
etc. This will lead to further think
ing and reasoning; it will deve lope
mind-power; it will make you more
intelligent; it will raise you higher in
| your own estimation, and higher in
the estimation of your family, and Of
your neighbors. 1t will aid you in
planning better for the future, aud
will thus really pay in dollars and
cents. Subscribe for some good pa.
per devoting whole or part of it's
space to agricultural subjects, and Sc.
lect some book, fist one that will inter-
est both yourself and family. Let it
be read and studied we'll. When its
thoughts become your own, lend it to
q neighhor and get him to read it.
Then choose another book, and do
the same with it. Next summers toll