Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-07


" He is a man of intelligence and
cnlture.v Let that man be said
concerning man, and you at once
feel more respect for him than If you
were to hear it said Of him, he is a
rich man, 1t is better to have q
reputation tor intelligence and cul-
ture than to have a reputation for
wealth.
What is an intelligent mani One
who knows a great deal, perhaps
you may say. A man may have a
great deal of knowledge, and yet not
be very intelligent man. The word
has reference to mans capacity
for understanding things, rather
than to the amount OF his knowledge.
1t relates to the condition of his
mind for knowing, rather than to the
amount known.
You may have very good advan-
tages for acquiring knowledge from
books; you may lack both leisure
and books; but you have advan,
tages for becoming intelligent. An
intelligent man is one who has ca
pacity to understand things-capaci-
ty to reason-to think. You may
not have it in your power to acquire
certain kinds of knowledge, but you
have it in your power to become a
thinker!
What is a thinker Did you ever
hear it said of man that he did his
own thinking! You have, and you
understood the remark was one of
commentator. Every one ought to
do his own thinking. 1t is as impor-
tant for his mental growth, as doing
ones own eating is for his bodily
growth.
You do not need to go to school in
order to form habits of careful OBJ
servation. You have simply to fix
your attention on objects that are
around you. A farmer was asked
some question relating to his farm.
Ask john" was the reply, " he
notices everything John was one
of his sons. He had only the adj
vantages of very ordinary district
school. After he was cold enough
to work." he went to school for only
a few months in the winter, and yet
lie became justice of the peace,
a member of the Legislature. and a
judge of the county court. These
offices were notsought by him. They
were given to him because he was an
intelligent and honest man. 1t was
said of him by his father that che
noticed everything.' The boys used
to say of him, "John sees all there !
is to be seen.n The consequence
was, he saw a great Geal more than
the other boys saw. He did not con-
fine his attention to facts learned by
the eye. When anything was said,
he listened to it, and if worth re-
membering he tried to remember it.
When he was at work on the farm,
he thought of what he had seen and
heard. For example, he heard two
men talking about what government
ought to do IN regard to manufactur-
ers. The two men differed widely
in their views. He noticed what
each one said, and thought over it
while at work. He drew several
conclusions. He could not decide
which one had " the true side Of the
question:" He Inferred that Mr.. A.
read more on the subject than Mr..
b. He also inferred that Mr.. b. had
the best mind and the best command
of language. He saw that it was
important to keep cool while argu-
ing; for Mr.. B. made some mistakes
which he would not have made if he
had not been excited.
When he noticed u thing, an OBJ.
ject or fact, it was not merely for
the purpose Of seeing 1t, and saying
that he had seen it. He asked him.
himself, what can | learn from this
fact? He thought about everything
that he saw or heard. He thus be
came thinker. Men looked up to
him. They came to him for advice
They elected him to office.
Thinkers always have influence
"Think and act" says distinguish
ed man "and you will gain influ
ence." To gain influence is to rise
in the world. The influence gained
by the thinker is lasting influence
From the elevation which he gains,
he is never compelled to descend.
Influence is sought in many ways
often by deceit. Influence thus
gained is liable to be lost at any
moment. Influence gained by in
telligence, honesty and kindness
will be permanent.
think you desire to become q
thnker-to sway men by the power
OF truth. You know how to become
thinker. You can do it without
books, though books NAV aid Won