Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-01-22
and the day-dawn Of thought came

His method inspired not only accu.
racy of thought, but accuracy of def
milton. Often in his intercourse with
the young and self-confdent, he
would draw forth from them a defini-
ton of some principle, and then step
by step make their own admissions
prove its error or incompleteness,
and lead them ultimately by their own
effort to the accurate definition.
Particularly connected with this is
that valuable feature Of his system
which led his pupils to critical intro
spection. This result cannot be too
highly appreciated, for introspection
establishes just estimate of ones
own abilities, dispels self-conceit,
makes tue mind humble and teachable,
eager to seek for that which it has not.
That this feature of the. method of
Socrates is important, is forcibly IL
lnstrated in his conversation with
Euthydemus concerning the lacenic
inscription, 'Know Thyself," ON the
wall Of the temple at Delphi.
The power of the Socrates metEodI
is demonstrated by the impetus that
IT gave to philosophie inquiry. From
its school sprang Plato and Aristotle,
themselves q host, all the leading
spirits of Grecian speculation for the
next fifty years, and indeed all the
devotees of speculative philosophy
| down to later times. That the mind
and method of Socrates permanently
enlarged the horizon Of Grecian spec
ulation and multiplied its thinkers in
manner unparalleled, is universally
admitted. Later philosophers may
have enrolled more disciples, and
NAV have inculcated moro elaborate
doctrine; but.none of them ever so
skillfully used the same life-giving
method, and none of them ever so
sharply struck Gut of other minds that
fire which lights original thought.
Finally, the catechetical method,
when skillfully applied, is preemi-
nently fitted to establish fixedness-d
attention on the part of the n'amount
this is a consideration mort is the
t importance. Pr"-in the realms of
I tslisman of -.nematies, with its long
2 thonol differences, demands 1t; and
f.. the gentle art of song would
'ianguish without it. The renowned
Carrandinl and Barratti declare that
the unrivalled impressiveness of their
song is as largely attributable to their
intense attention in the study of SEN
timent, as to their vocal power. Pa
tlent concentration is the watchword
to success in the iightest art, and it
is the rocky road to discovery in the
sternest science. Newton attributed
his discoveries, not to any special
| endowment, bit TO untiring attention.
Descartes and Bacon arrogated moth
ing to their intellectual force, but
hung their honors upon their superior
faculty of concentration. Indeed,
one Of the shrewdest and most analyt-
ical minds that France has ever pro-
duced has resolved genius itself into
a more noble cana.;A-.---f---.e-u u..i.o,
.nI q boot of 1~.t~----> -->.oirofitteS, cS@
tablishes the truth that he who would
enter the goodly chambers of gold
and purple either of nature or OF
mind must have the power to knock
long and wait patiently. Neither is
the acquisition of this power the work
of q moment. Malebranche says that
in order to acquire any high order of
concentration, the mind must begin
betimes to labor, for it is a law of our
nature that we acquire habits by acts,
and strengthen them by exercise.
Now, it is evident that the method of
instruction that can best adapt itself
to this law of our nature is the most
valuable; and that method meets best
the requirements of this fundamental
law, which brings the attention into
the most frequent and lively action.
That this is most efficiently accom-
plished by the keen, rapid, continued
questioning of the catechetical meth
cd is, in the light of results, indis-
putable. Therefore, it is best adapt
ed to establish that primary condition
of Ill mental activity-attention. tits
the system that our mental cOnstitu-
tion cries out for, and that which the
thinking school demands. This is the
only school that can educate the
American mind, for it is the only one
that meets the requirements of the
fundamental principles of free gov
ernment. OF this school tie cate
chetical method is the spirit and the
power; therefore, the catechetical
method is primarily essential agent
in American education. The lecture
is, indeed, its worthy auxiliary, hut
it is the mighty power that begets
active, energetic, independent thought.
Let us, therefore, ever rememember
that we, as educators, hold the destiny
of this Republic and let this solemn
responsibility direct us, at all times,
to that selection of method which
shall infhse into the individual mind
the highest conservative power for
our national liberties. Then shall
the spirit that hrsathed into our ma
i tons nostrils the breath of life one
hundred years ago abide with us, and,
under the guidance of that nation's S
God, shall transmit the blessings Of
our free civilization to ages yet un-
|, born. -. q. .z-.,.- .4s.-+.z --.- s-s
| Etiquette in Arkansas. 81
From the Little Rock Gazette. a-
Last night two men from Philadel-
phia engaged in quarrel at hotel
| -, the fau al 1>sr,1e A