The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12
HOW TO KEEP A JOURNAL.


Autumn is as good time as any for
a boy or girl to begin to keep journal.
Too many have the idea that it is hard
and improbable task to keep a journal,
and especially is this the case with those
who have begun, but soon give up the
experiment. They think it is a waste
of time, and that no good results from
it. But that depends upon the kind of
journal that you keep. Everybody has
heard of the boy who thought he would
try to keep diary, He bought a book,
and wrote in it, for the first day, ode
cided to keep a journal" The next
day he wrote, SCOT up, washed, and
went to bed" The day after, he wrote
the same thing, and no wonder that at
the end of week he wrote, decided
not to keep a Journal" and gave up the
experiment. 1t is such attempts as
this, by persons who have no idea of
what a journal is, or how to keep it,
that discourage others from beginning.
But it is not hard to keep journal if
you begin in the right way, and will use
little perseverance and patience. The
time spent in writing in journal is not
wasted, by any means. 1t may be the
best employed hour of any in the day,
and well-kept journal is source of
pleasure and advantage which more
than repays the writer for the time and
trouble spent upon it.
The first thing to do in beginning
journal, is to resolve to stick to j.
Don't begin, and let the poor journal
die in week. A journal, or diary,
should be written in eUery dag, if pos
sible. Now, don't be frightened at this,
for you do great many things every
day, and this isn't Il very awful condi-
ton. The time spent may be longer or
shorter, according to the matter to be
written up; but try and write, at least
little, every day. ''NWLL0 dies sine
611e0''-no day without a line-is n
good motto. 1t is great deal easier
to write a little every day than to write
up several days in one.
Do not get for journal a book with
the dates already printed in it. That
kind will do very well for merchants
notebook, but not for the young man
or woman who wants to keep live,
cheerful account of happy and pleas
ant life. Sometimes you will have a
picnic or excursion to write about, and
will want to fill more space than print
ed page allows. Buy substantially
bound blank-bOOk, made of good paper;
write your name and address plainly
on the tly-leaf, and, if you choose, paste
a calendar inside the cover. Set down
the date at the head of the first page,
thus: TUESDAY, Oct. l, 1873" Then
begin the record of the day, endeavor-
ing, as far as possible, to mention the
events in the correct order of time
morning, afternoon and evening. When
this is done write in the middle of the
page, Wednesday, Oct. 2" and you
are ready for the record of the next
day. 1t is well to set down the year at
the top of each page.
But what are you to write about?
First, the weather. Don't forget this.
Write, "Cold and windy" or "Warm
and bright" as the case may be. 1t
takes but moment, and in few years
weather, which will be found not only
curious, but useful.
Then put down the letters you have re-
ceived or written, and, if YOU wish, any
money paid or received. The day of be-
ginning or leaving school; the studies
you pursue; visits from or to your
friends; picnics or sleigh rides; the
books You have read; and all such items
of interest should be noted. Write any
thing that you want to remember.
After trying this plan a short time, you
will be surprised at the many things
constantly occurring which you used to
overlook, but which now form pleasant
paragraphs in your book. But don
try to write something when there is
nothing to write. If there is only line
to be written, write that, and being
again next day.
DO not set down about people any
thing which you would not wish them
to see. 1t is not likely that anyone
will ever see your writing, but it is pos
sible, so, always be careful about what
you write. The Chinese say of spok-
en- word, that once let fall, it cannot be
brought back by chariot and six horses.
Much more is this true of written words,
and once out of your possession, there
is no telling where they will 60 or who
will see them.
The best time to write in journal is
in the evening. Keep your book in your
table drawer or on your desk, and, after
supper when the lamps are lighted, sit
down and write your plain account OF
the day. Don't try to write an able and
eloquent article, but simply give Il state.
ment of what you have seen or done
during the day For the first week OF
two after beginning a journal, the nov.
city of the thing will keep up your in
terest, and you will be anxious for the
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