The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-08-03

in the hands that produced our civilizations;
| and he who best educates himself educates
| and benefits mankind. The diligent seeker
| ifter knowledge obtains the reward. Nature
never yet revealed any Of her secrets to the
ignorant; and wel-,tored mind with cult
waited intellect, is pleasure in itself, that can
never be taken away.
Is not strange that we do not seek this lasting
| good. Here in this land of free schools; here
where learning is at premium, where we
have equal chances; where the people are the
rulers of the country. l say, is it not strange
that we all do not strive to excel each other in
all forms Of learning.
| If we look over our country we see the por-
tons, where the people are the best educated
! the most prosperous, we see the New Eng
land states poisoning like the rose. What
Else but education cansed those barren rocks
TO pr. duce that famous race Of cultivated men
| md women! What other cause can we assign
for the fame of that great old state of Virginia
than that her sons and daughters were edu-
Gated? We look around us to-day, and see
the great majority of men eager in the race
for wealth. We see others running after every
bubble of pleasure. We see women giving
| Up their whole lives to dress and fashion; but
when the years are added up, when Time
shall roll them together like scroll, we shall
see that they only remain who have purseud
the paths of learning.
| If then you would achieve true renown be
educated If you would assistin the advance
| ment of your race be- educated, whether you
be rich or poor; become educated whatever
vocation in life you choose first, choose to be
! we'll educated.
We refer here more particularly to a sound
practical English education. The collegiate
I E>r
| to whom higher education means something,
md who really deserve it, will find some way
10 get it. Too many rich men send their
sons to college simply for the name of it.
Zoo many young men spend years within the
walls of our colleges, which would be better
spent behind plough, But good practical
| education will be of benefit to all. 1t will
| make you better carpenter, better tradesman,
!, better husband, kinder parent, and more
exemplary citizen.
We should all insist on our children having
thorough training in all the branches now
'aupht in our public schools. The young man
intending to become a blacksmith is apt to
hink that the speeches of Daniel Webster
will be of no value to him. The boy learning
the carpenters trade declares that working
| .lgebralc problems will not really benefit him.
The girl, raised only to think of marriage,
will soon learn to devote more time to her
oilet than to her lessons.
These young men and young women, grow
ing up all over our land fail to realize the fact
that from their ranks we take our jurors.
That they are the ones who viii. build the pub
| ic buildings of the future. That to become a
mother in the high sense of the word is great
or than to be queen.
| There is another means of education that
/ la nd hat iS
he reading of good books on subjects of gen.
.ral interest. In these busy days we are like
| to pass over books and content ourselves
With the daily papers. Now while the news
| paper has its place, and demands portion of
our time, it should not be allowed to take the
place of good books. The papers simply
bring US the daily happenings throughout the
world. Many things happen that are Of no
vital importance to us. Much of the contents
| Of the press is trash, political symbols, per-
sonal attacks, or records of the vile actions Of
| the scum of society. that ever comes to the
top. This will not help US. But the reading
Of books on worthy subjects, written by men
who are acknowledged leaders in that line Of
thought Histories, biographies, essays, true
poetry, these will aid US in our life-wnrk of
becoming educated men and women.
The newspaper is good thing in its place,
the common school education can not well be
over estimated, but if we stop at these, if we
| 10 not continue to advance, the world will
not be likely to number US among her great
ones We shall not be apt to hear the voices
calling us to come up hig her. We shall miss
the acquaintance of the purest, the noblest
and the best minds the world has ever seen.
Who, then, would not bow at the feet Of this
beautiful goddess? Her invitations are ex-
tended to all, she turns no one away unSatiS-
fed, she blesses all, she frowns on none With
a touch of her magic wand she transforms all
her worshipers into white winged angels. She
touched the feet of the young man telling
trees in the forest. and led him from a log
cabin to the white house, she touched the
hand that was labelling pots of backing in
dingy London shop, and Immediately that
hand wrote words of cheer to all of earth S
suffering millions. She touched the lips Of
him who was on his way to Damascus, and
behold. those lips uttered words of eloquence
that moved thousands. She touched the eyes
of the blind poet and To- those eyes beheld
visions that no other man had seen. She
touched the brow Of a boy who held horses at
the door of theatre, and made him i'm
mortal.
| -Carter's Liver Bitters for the cure of dys-