The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-01
Overstudy.

The great strain of the school year
generally comes in the spring, and y;
this season the effects of overstudy are
most apparent. The body is debilitated
| by enforced indoor life and by the
breathing of air that is less pure than the
| outdoor air, and the mind and sinews
of the body are relaxed. But the exam
nations come in the spring. and one
cannot afford to lose what has been
gained by hard and continuous study
when little more exertiOn will win the
coveted hOnors. 1t is this little more
exertion which is ''the last straw that
breaks the camel's back And Just
now the question is pertinent whether it
is worth while to spoil the camel for
bearing all future burdens that he may
bear a little more now.
The strong are in even more danger
than the weak from overstudy. Inva-
lids live on year after year to ripe old
age, while the strong are cut down as
grass. And why? The invalid knows
his weakness and takes care of himself.
and avoids strains and weights; the
strong man. rejoicing in his strength.
cherishes the idea that he can bear
everything. endure everything. and so
he loads himself till little thing trips
him and he is down past recovery. The
one secret of holding out to the end is
not undertaking too much.
The student should keep clearly be-
fore him the great fact that the object
of study. the end to be attained by it.
is that the mind NAV be informed and
the life enriched. that the capacity to do
| for ones self and for others may be en-
| larged. that permanent good unmixed
| with evil may result from the years
| given to books. The mind is to be fed.
not crammed, the intellect is to be
| strengthened by exercise not strained
| by it; the faculties are to be developed
not Overlaid with armor so heavy that
they are incapable of movement. We
understand this in regard to our stom-
achs-the wise among us. at least-and
do not overload them, lest dyspepsia
torment us, but many student treats
his intellect as though its capacities
were unlimited for doing and retaining
and exacts constant activity from it and
constant appetite for fresh supplies Of
information. As a result he finds, after
| a time, that he begins to be surfeited
with study, and loathes his books, and
longs for change. and finds great diff
ficulty in compelling his mind to work,
and grows desperate as he thinks of ex-
animation day. This simply and only
proves that he has been Over-working,
and is the natural clamor of the intel
lsctual organization and its servant. the
body, for a remission of tasks, alighten-
ing of its burdens.
1t is scarcely possible for the student
to estimate at their intrinsic value col
lege and academic honOrs. He ia
almost certain to Overrate them. But
if he will run over the list of great
names he will find that very few bear
ing them got the very highest marks in
the recitation-room. They may have
held the highest rank as scholars in the
various departments, but preferred
wider general knowledge to the specific
knowledge required to receive the high
est marks. Such generally reap more
benefit from college training than any
other class of students, and carry with
them through life the width of view
and thOrOughness of preparation fol-
duties to be done which characterized
them in college. 1t is often the case
that the student who walks rigidly the
narrow line held in the recitation room
carries off the honOrs when there are
many others that more fully deserve
them. We would not say q word to
discourage an honorable emulation for
the highest prizes in academic life, but
we would caution the ambitious student
against paying too high q price for
them. They are not in any sense like
the pearl of great price, worth all ones
possessions of health and strength, and
yet many student will recklessly en-
danger both in the attempt to gain
them. Five years after they are won
he can see, too late, that he paid too
dearly for them, and that he might
have reaped larger benefits had he
widened his search and aimed broader
and less specific acquisition
When a student is almost worn out
with early and late and constant study.
one of the best preparations for exam
ination is abundant sleep. till the mind
resumes its tone and easily commands
its treasured stores. Fear and worry
only increase his difficulties and cloud
his mind. Instead of increasing his
uuIucuS uC Suouii lShlCh tHcIh uulit
they are easily borne. The idea that
one is through with his education when
he has passed all the examinations and
gets diploma. lasts perhaps week or
two, and then the conviction deepens
that the great work of life is all to come.
The fierce contests of rivalry in college
halls begin to look like boys play in
view of the long rivalries and contests
of mature life. Then if vitality has
been hOpelessly sacrificed in the prep
aration for real work, repentance comes
too late, college honors may prove all
the honors that shall crown life. the
chase for them having exhausted power
of further conquest
What We have said of college boys
and girls applies with equal force to
younger students. 1t is of no use to
force intellectual activity, to cram chill
dren with information; preeOcious chill
dren make dull grown folks. while dull
children often grow and develop into
the most interesting and notable people
of their time.-N y. Tribune.