The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-16
Why and What.

1or TO Natures stOrehouSe where
le Keeps all her rich and curious
lags.
What is collection of a few sam,
| , p that different people at different
ines have brought away from the
, 5.ofehouse.
Ify0u have the Why you can al,
Ways get the What. Why is the only
eoin that passes current in the realm
y knowledge. What represents col
lGtlvely the many things you can
bay. What is a great, miscellaneous
edlertion Of facts, facts of all sizes
aid Kinds, most of them labelled and
arranged Systematically - we can't
talyet. But that there is system
az Sparrangement would never have
I fksssssNi32e1own to man had it not been
for Why. And you and /, reader, if
we do not keep Why constantly at
hand, will get this arrangement of
What in our minds all jumbled up,
and we must always use Why to
straighten out such a tumble.
Why is small and can be cGnve-
niently stored away in the head.
What is big, clumsy thing, and the
head will hot hold much of it. 1t is
better to keep it in books. Books
hold facts better than the head. They
hold more and keep them in better
condition. Facts are very apt to get
mixed in the head, In books they
can be kept moderately straight.
What is force in operation. Why
is latent energy. What is most ex-
cellent servant, Why is delightful
companion. What will carry your
burdens. Why will point out to you
the beauties Of landscape. What
will read to you from book in dreary
monotone. Why will tell you fresh
tales, always exciting and entertain
ing. What can play for you on a
handorgan. Why will sing you new
songs. What is always common
place. Why is always original.
Still, What and Why are good
friends, for Why is always adding to
the stock Of What and What is con-
stantly enIarging the bounds of Why.
Any educational system which is
not built upon Why cannot be very
great success.
Any educational system which is
built upon What must be always
either partial or complete failure.
J.s.ii eiIild knows .Why-2 times
are he will never be able to learn
the multiplication table. Why tells
him how to make discoveries, how to
dc things in new ways. Why in
vented the steam engine, the cotton
gin, the printing press, the loom, the
sewing machine. the telegraph, the
telephone and everything else con-
trived by man. What simply con-
structs these c0ntrivauces. Why is
genius, What is trained mechanical
skill.
Why is progressive, always thing
of to-day, always of living interest,
and it sticks in the mind of a child.
What is always becoming old, dry
and imperative. The mind does not
retain it. Why expands in the mind
and the mind expands with it. What
never grows. 1t is the same yester-
day, to-day and tomorrow. To stuff
the mind with What makes it no
bigger. In fact, What takes up so
much room that it crowds out the
mind. II crowds out Why, the grow
ing principle of the mind.
A child's mind should be regarded
as a garden, not-a corn crib. 1t Is to
constantly produce new crops, not to
be stored full of the fruit of other
gardens. Why is a fertilizer to en-
rich the ground. What is the crop
raised. Keep. just enough of this
crop in the mind for seed, store the
rest away in books or works.
Why is enterprise, What is busi-
ness ability. Why is shrewdness,
Why is smartness, Why is luck.
Why makes fortunes, Why makes
statesmen, Why makes all manner
of success. What without Why
makes plodders, makes mediocrity.
What is a chest of tools. Why is
the hand that works with them. The
tools can always be bought or made,
but the cunning Of the hand must be
trained. Tools will never beget tools,
What is not productive. Why alone
produces.
With all thy getting get under.
standing. Understanding is Why.
What is a cyclopedia. Why is the
key to the universe.
Don't forget three little words -
"Ifyou please" Life is made up noj
| of great sacrifices or duties, but o