The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-07-03


Greek daily most of the time, together with
the Latin and Greek Grammars, and Latin
and Greek prose composition, have taken
place On Wednesdays Of the first year the
school was instructed III general matters, en-
bracing rules for spelling, pronunciation,
meaning of prefixes and suffixes, derivation,
synonyms, history of the English language,
its composition, gains, losses. changes, etc,
great events in history, principles Of Philoso-
ply, explaining every day occurrences; local
geography, etc.
You see we have covered ground enough
Whether the work has been well done it be-
comes you rather than me to say. No effort
has been made TO hurry YOU over the ground
faster than YOU understood the subjects. On
the other hand, you have sometimes been
kept back when your inclnatioiis would have
takei1 you on.
| OF these branches l wish to recommend one
for further study. think It should be stud
led by all pupils of your ages, and it might be
pursued with advantage by those even young
er. You will probably be surprised when you
hear it named, as it is generally regarded as of
no practical value whatever, and that Is
enough to condemn it, for this practical age.
recommend it because it seems to me to be
very practical, inasmucli as Its principles un-
derlie all study. | refer to Che science Of
Metaphysics or Mental Philosophy. And here
l am reminded of the Dutchman's definition
of this science, "When you hear a man talk
ing to another and he don't know what he is
talking about and the man he is talking to
don't know what he is talking about either,
that is Metaphysics
This is the whole science In a nutshell to
most people unacquainted with it. AS just
said, this is a practical age. 1t is also SUI
perfcial one, it is superficial because it is
practical in the narrow sense of that word
No sciences are now popularity regarded as
having utility except those which aid directly
in the accumulation OF wealth, or the attain
ment of some temporary good. Sciences are
no longer pursued for their subjective vslde.
Man is no longer the proper study of man.
kind. He is no longer regarded as an end un.
to himself. His perfection and happiness are
no longer the end of education. The cultiva-
ton of mind and heart for their own sakes is
now little thought of Owing to these mis-
conceptions as to the end and objects of edu-
cation have arisen superficial misooncer-
tions respecting it's different branches, which
are far from the truth the studies which,
in reality, are of the highest value, as means
of intellectual development, being those which
are commonly put lowest in the scale of util-
ity while those which are generally denomi-
mated the useful arc those which, in relation
to the true ends of liberal education, pos
ess the least utility. In considering the prac-
tical value of a science we ought not to esti-
mate it wholly by the direct bearing it has as
means of gaining livelihood, and discard
the indirect value it has as means of ad.
vancemert in the other sciences. The latter
value may be far the greater. Arithmetic for
example is a science now generally regarded
as of great practical value, but am of the
opinion that it is so regarded not so much be-
cause it cultivates the mind and thereby fits
it for the pursuit of the other sciences, as that
it teaches how to reckon up potatoes and
corn, the interest on Investments, the value
of stocks and bonds and other practical ques-
tions. Geometry, as means of developing
and strengthening the reasoning faculties is
of far greater value than Arithmetic, whose
principles and relations are comparatively
few and simple, and yet Geometry is not re-
garded as of much utility, for the reason
which have given. But the end of all study
is not the Improvement of man as an instru-
mehit for the attainment of something higher
Except as a means for the glory of his Maker
he is an end unto himself. An education
should, therefore, be directed towards tits
end No higher reason can be given why
science should be pursued than that it con-
tributes to mans perfection and happiness.
The science of Mental Philosophy may,
think, be justly regarded as the study which
of all others cultivates the mind by supplying
to it's higher faculties the occasions of their
most vigorous and therefore their most i'm
proving exercise.
IT does not, Il Is true, tell how much Al
bushels of turnips would bring at 20 cents
half-peck, but it cultivates the mind and
heart and makes Que more man everyway,
which is quite as important.
trust you will give attention to this study.
l. 90 NOT KNOW " RTduuer ONO III Lne WDOie
curriculum. About what can it be of greater
interest to know than ourselves, as thinking,
feeling ard willing How much more import
ant to know the laws Of the mind titan those
of the body.
trust, too, that You will not allow your
other studies to fall into disuse. Do not sup
pobe that to cease going to school means to
cease from studying. have sometimes heard
young ladies. graduated from fashionable
boarding-schoo speak of their education do
fnished trust that no one will ever hear
such remark coming from you, else people
OF sense will wonder where you were brought
up, and who did so much for You as to finish
your education All that has beer done FOR
you thus far is to lay foundation upon which
you are to build. Perhaps should say, rath-
Or, that you are to improve and perfect the
foundation, for no one gets much above that.
/ hope that your education will never be fin
ished. Education is life work. 1t is some
thing, too, that each must obtain for himself.
1t cannot be purchased with money /; no one
--.- - "a