Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-01-25
Study nj. Home.

From newspapers We get certain
sort of culture, but the reading Of
newspapers does not make a scholar
never did, never can. From the peru
sal of magazines we get another kind of
culture. and one of great value, but
magazines can never be made to fill the
place of books. The subject under
consideration changes too often, is not
sufficiently elaborated, is not Kept be-
fore the mind long enough to make it's
due impression. Take for example Ma
caulay's brilliant essay on Milton. A
person having read that may form q
very good conception of Millions life
and character. But let one read Ma
sons life of Milton in two volumes,
and for while he lives Millions life,
he gives himself time to come under
the moulding influence of that great
mans mind, to think his thought, to
comprehend his motives, to be lifted
up to the level on which Milton habit
ually lived; SO that the great poet be-
comes, SO to speak, part of him, and
the sympathetic reader is quickened by
and transfused with the spirit of that lu-
minary of his age. While we cannot dis
pense with periodical literature, with
volumes of essays and miscellanies, we
must remember that they are side
dishes, made Dishes" and not the
staples-bread and meat-of intellectual
life and growth. For these we must
go to books.
Right here comes in the question,
"What books shall we begin with?"
The answer to this question may vary
in each individual case, and must be
decided according to the circumstances
and abilities of each one who asks it..
Some cannot procure such books as
they would like, and must take what
they can get; others have ability to pro-
cure what books they choose, but must
first develop capacity to comprehend
and assimilate what they would read.
In general way the following outline
of procedure may be found hopeful.
Those who wish to read history should
begin with that of their own country;
from this take up English history;
that will lead to the study of the his
tory of the different nations of modern
Europe and back to Roman history.
This thread it is easy to follow so far,
and when one has done that he can be
his own guide in further historical read
ings. In science the student may be-
gin with himself and master the ele-
ments Of physiology as given in our
text books; then he may take up the
rocks under his feet and study geology,
or he may study the ''stars in their
courses" and become acquainted with
the outlines of astronomy. The sciences
60 hand in hand; he cannot go far in
geology without being compelled to
know something Of chemistry, Of bot
any, of zoology, of the whole "circle
of sciences" But though the field is
boundless, he has only one thing to
learn at time, Just as with all eternity
before him he has only one moment
to live at time. The measure of his
success in accommodating knowledge will
be his patience, his persistence, his in
dustry, his thoroughness in learning
we'll one thing at time. Ii English
literature is what the home student de-
sires to acquaint himself with, he may
begin with some Misunderstanding
like Harper's Hail Hour Series--con-
tanning specimens of English literature
in the several stages of its develop
ment, so that he may have taste OF it
from the beginning down to the pres
emit time. Afterward he may read up
more fully the different authors of
whose style he has had taste. In the
selection of these, his readings in his
tory will help him.
An hour given every day to the pur-
suit of any one study will amount in
year to fifteen days of solid work. or
to term of twelve weeks of study for
for six hours every day, counting out
Saturdays and Sundays, and allowing
FIVE days over for Interruptions. What
our students at home need to do is to
count the moments of every day,
crowding all work into work hours, so
that hours of study need not be en-
croached upon. By regular and sys-
tematic employment of these long
evenings, so soon to be ours, the dill
gent and persistent study at home may
enrich his mind, enlarge his intellec-
tual boundaries, and feel himself day
by day growing in wisdom, in knowl-
edge, in capacity for enjoyment, in the
ability to command that outlook upon
the world and life which liberal ed
ucation gives.-N. Y. Tribune.
CHICKEN CRooUETTEs.-One pint of
milk or cream, one tablespoonful sum