Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-08-27
Wilton for the HERALD.
EMPLOYMENT OF LEISURE TINE
BY THE YOUNG.

There seems to be Il period in the
early part of most mems lives which is
not as profitably improved as it might.
1t is an importantpariod, and the char
acter of man very much depends up
on its being properly occupied. We
refer not SO much to the professional
men-for they must perceive the ne
cessity of study if they would be en-
inent or useful-as to the working pOr-
ton in society who labor a great part
of their time for a living. The public
common schools are on a good footing
and all may be taught the rudiments
of knowledge before they are fourteen
years of age unless their parents are
criminally negligent in giving them
an opportunity to obtain that degree
of information which is now generally
considered to be essential But after
this period and this advantage, youths
who must attend to manual labor for
a subsistence, their literary as well as
their moral advance depends very
much on themselves. And if they
have duly improved the means of edu-
cation afforded them, they have laid q
foundation on which they may erect
goodly superstructure. a perception
of the value of knowledge it issupposed
u youth has already acquired. His de
sire, as well as his duty, will be to
make further progress. lie may meet
with difficulties and obstacles in his
way, but these must be overcome, and
they can be overcome by one of a res
olute and perseyering spirit. He will
not have so much time for reading and
study as he may wish, but, if he is only
ardent in his desires to cultivate his
mind, he will find hours which he may
devote to it. II must learn to redeem
time. Less must be given to sleep and
to amusement. His business is eXer-
else and recreation enough for him.
Instead Of eight hours for sleep six will
be found sufficient, and the hours thus
saved must be given to study. Two or
three in twenty-four will afford oppor-
tunity for much study in the course OF
d year. The difficulty of procuring
books is not now very great. In every
neighborhood will be found library
of useful books which the generous
owner will rather loan to u studious
young man, than to have slumber on
his shelves. And in most villages
there are circulating libraries, for the
use Of everyone disposed to read. The
key of knowledge is not in our coun,
try in the hands of q few who would
lock up books from the people as was
done three centuries aro. And q few
volumes we'll chosen and we'll studied
will contribute more to the improve.
ment of the young than a great mum.
| Der of the common trash OF the day, or
hasty perusal of even those of bet.
ter character. There is nothing fully
understood without study, and youth
is the proper season for application.
Much depends also upon the character
of the books which the young read
| They should choose books for profit
rather than amusement: to acquire
useful information rather than to pas
away time A nowledge of our owr
language and of geography is import
ant to every one. Mathematics richly
merits large portion of time. An
cient and modern history should bt
read compends will be sufficient il
judiciously selected. But the history
of our own country should be more
closely studied: there is much in it tc
instruct and to improve. No one
should be ignorant of the history o.
the nation to which he belongs. Every
man is liable to be called on to legis
late, or to give an opinion, or q vott
on great constitutional questions. |
is shame for Republican to be guild
ed wholly by others. He should b
able to form an opinion and to give
reason for that opinion. There ar,
some books on theological subjects, no
of controversial character, which
would make useful reading such a
Paley's Natural Theology, and hi
other Evidences of Christianity. Treat
ises on ethics and moral philosoph,
are highly useful, for they will enabl
us to understand our own minds, thei
faculties, powers and capacities for i'm
provement. Physics, or the laws o
nature in all their variety and branche
cannot fail to be useful, as the mind j
enlarged and elevated thereby and
sure preventive is furnished agaius
superstitions and idle fears and at tn
} same time we are presented with abunC
ant proof of the infinite power, wisd oI
; and goodness of the Creator, We shal
| see intelligent designs and barevolen
} purposes everywhere displayed. w
repeat, there is much time for almos
every one, from fifteen to thirty-flve t
: devote to reading and study and til
) occupation of it in study will saw