The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-13

EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
CONDUCTED ~ =. \. SWEENEY.
ns column, by kisdnsss of The psspriesor q The ps
sks Propsrsy sf shs s.sehsn q .beIs county and
tsre<t IN hy occasionally Offering any sssws whatever
a edcssdsnai character. thss nay further the
| n our midst
Benefits and Proper Method oi
Reading.
"yos By csnpanion<hip. alone
BY What reads . nan 10 known"
The benefits to be derived from read.
ling are not numerous, but their import.
ance amply compensates for what may
be wanting in numbers.
/ He who would reason, must necessari.
lily be possessed Of facts from which to
reason and what better method, OF
what broader sphere is there for the at
;;tainments Of these facts than that OF
reading.
The main uses to which reading is ap-
Iplied are for the cleaning OF knowledge
and for purpose Of amusement or pas
thine. Ii is TO our intellectual what
food is 10 our physical system. II il
the thread from which our thoughts are
lsrun. IL will mould our minds and
keep them in proper, healthy channel,
Iand also tend 10 incite Us to higher aims
and nobler ends.
knowledge IL power is : maxim
conceded by al to be true, and as we
Ican secure this knowledge sooner by
reading than by any other known
method, certainly that IL the proper
course TO pursue But as this power
may be either good or bad thing, ac-
lcording 10 the manner in which il j.
used, IL certainly beho0ves Us also 10
pay due attention 10 the methods BY
which we acquire IL, and the class OF
reading to which we devote ourselves
One who early acquires TASTE for
reading and love Of books. will realize
that his education is only begun. when
his schooldays have come to an end, and
70 complete il will be the aim and am-
bitionDf the remainder Of bic days.
The love of knowledge comes with
reading and Is constantly growing upon
liz; and love OF knowledge. and conse-
Iquentiy Of books, planted in . young
mind, IL almost warrant against passion
and vice. Beccher says:
"A little library, growing larger each
year. IL an honorable part OF young
Inau's history. Il is mans duty 70
have books. A library Il not luxury,
but one Of the necessar:es OF life.r
But reading, to be beneficial. and that
the greatest possible amount Of good
may be derived from il. must be pursued
in proper aud systematic manner
Al the present time the trouble is not
that people do not read; for every man,
woman and child reads something but.
by reading in single vein, which ap-
peals 50 strongly 10 their peculiar. indi-
yidual tastes; il is not study nor inn
proven1cnt at al, and hence they abso-
iuteIy lose their power OF studying.
The rule for successful and profitable
reading would then seem 10 be 10 read
Ionly what one does not like 10 read
This II in great measure true: for. that
reading which requires no special effort
ION our part, should be only occasionally '
Iindulged in, for recreation; while that.
which We know is important 70 our
knowledge and culture, should occupy
Imost Of our time and attention. and
should be taken in regular doses
Neither does the trouble arise from
the fact that We do not read enough ;
but. that We read 90 much Of that afore-
mentioned stuff which simply pleases us.
and affords us means Of willing away
Our time 60 much as to DESTROY the
power Of reading that which will i'm
prove and extend our budget Of infor-
nation.
Light reading Il entitled to its place
and should not be prescribed altogether !:
but then. light reading need not neccs-
sarily be useles reading. as 80 many seem
to think.
Facts Of all kinds are always OF great
value 10 those who know how 10 make
i proper use Of them But much. or
most Of this so-called light reading.
tends TO no result whatever, excepting
present amusement; and Il has been
truly said that, "nothing IS more de-
structive Of every manly energy than
amusement pursued as business"
Time spent IN reading that which we
have no desire 10 remember. j. Just that
much time lost. or worse than lost: for
the more We read without retaining Il in
our memories. the more defective will
our memories become. NO book. nor
article. does the reader Of il any good,
unless Il is understood and remembered.
Unless We have some new. definite and
distinct ideas or thoughts impressed mp
on our minds some old ones strength
ened or enlarged. by reading; II il
worse than useless 70 spend our time
at IL
Without cultivated memory. or a
exceedingly strong natural one. person
may be devourer Of hooks. but he viii
rarely be anything more.
Wa vorv froossc..tf.- ,.acx 18th ~~~l~-~