The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-07
BY DEvER PIcKENs

ne title 81 tins essay IS question so
often asked and So seldom satisfactorily
answered, that We can only think ii at
ting subject for delicate treatment and
well worth careful attention.
\ TO begin, We must first turn away our
\ thoughts from the present and reflect on
the ages long gone BY. We must see
what estimate the ancients had for that
fine and delicate cultivation 81 the intel
lectual powers. We must then consider
leducation as II appeared IN the middle
agesa PROSTATE power at the feet Of
barbarism and finally. before satisfacto-
Try conclusion concerning its advantages
are reached we must once more glance
upon education as It appears in more Re.
Icent times. As far back as time bears no
record at all, when man roamed the for
Tests and stood at but one degree Of edu-
cation above the beasts, there was evil
fdences Of the advantages Of education,
(which always distinguished man from
lower beings and render them subject to
his viii it was always an evidence Of the
superiority Of mind oversmatter. The ed.
ucation Of the ancients either intellectual
or physical, or both, was their proudest.
fglory. It gave rise to their religion,
which, though Of course inferior to the.
Divine Revelation, it was in many respects
far nearer to the true religion than that of
less educated nations. It brought about
| their high state Of civilization with power.
The attainment Of the highest pitch Of
architecture was due to the development
q education. What a contrast! Popular
education is almost wholly neglected. We
are not surprised to see slavery, war, and
famine reigning everywhere; that the ma
tionsof Europe are broken up into petty.
fragments, and continually falling into the
despotic hands Of some ambitious unloyal
lord We come to more recent times, in
Guiding the age in which we live. Again
what contrast! In ancient times there
was education without christianity; III the
dark ages there was hardly either, butiin
modern times both exist sid by: side In
viewing the age in which we live, we see
plainly that education is gaining hold
among the masses. Its advantages are
better felt than described. Governments
IS well as men are sensible to them. A
/ Christian government feels the benefits Of
education as % adhesive power which
keeps its various parts together. We
| may now say the advantages Of education
are inulncrablc The man Of education,
however thin his purse may be, maybe
on an equality with the millionaire, while
the imam Of wealth may, for the want Of
refinement Of manners, be a mere cipher
in society" II the character Of the edu-
Gated man knows no blea,ish, society hon-
ors him; men fear him much more than
l5shey do physical strength; his trained and
subtle wit is keencrA and more singing
than the sharpcst weapon; his is the
mighty pen, not the sword his word IS
| law, his position high and his reputation
as an authority unquestionable.
Learning, which is the fruit Of eduea-
ton, taketh away the wildness, barbarism
| and ferceness Of mems mind and leaves
them in sense Of conposure, tranquility
and moderation. But we must not forget
to notice one Of the most obvious benefits it
confers on us One of the most estima-
bic blessings humankind is that pleasure
whichit affords the soul
| The advantages of education are still
| more obvious. Education is, and not on.
" always was, the foundation Of knowl
edge, but knowledge itself knowledge
| IS power. Education in the form Of
knowledge has ruled nations in word,
it was education that brought about their
destinies rather than ualor, il was by
means BY which most of the greatest bat.
tiles were won for victory usually implies
for the victor Of great struggle, superb
erity, skill, training or study. which are
more or less synonymous with education.
Education was the means by which the
great inventions were perfected and BY
which the greatest discoveries were made;
| ii was the means BY which the greatest
problems, either spiritual or intellectual,
moral or spiritual were overcome. Educa-
ton lifts the world up 70 i higher state Of
i rarfact;an Ed,,ratior,# ,vhen ininsd ~