The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-03-01
CURRENT HISTORY.
A Study which Should Be Taken Up b
the Young People Of America.


the Young People Of America.
A class Of young girls, who have
left school, was formed in Washington
City. not long ago. for the study Of
current events. They met twice q
week. and were under the direction Of
a woman OF knowledge and experience.
The newspapers were diligently read
and each subject of public interest
whether It concerned European poll
tics. the tariff. the prospects Of P resi-
dental candidates, or the execution OF
the Anarchists-was carefully studied
and explained, until each pupil had q
clear and rational comprehension Of
Il
We would recommend such a course
not only to our boy. but to our girl
readers also. warning them that it
will not be ms easy rs 1t appears at
first sight. 'The study Of history"
says Gabeaux, increases in difficulty
As 1t approaches our own times" If
we seek to find out the truth about
Brutus or Cicero. there are but half-a
dozen authorities to consult, and we
can not question their veracity; but
II we wish to make correct estimate
of living Presidential candidate. the
air is filled with countless contending
voices, and we know not which to
credit.
An English woman, well-known in
the literary world, observed, while
travelling in this country, lately: Il
find your young people well-informed
as to the character and events Of the
reign Of Elizabeth, but singularly ig-
norant of those OF the present day in
England. At dinner-party, largely
composed Of young women in New
York, the question Of Imperial Fedora
ton was broached, and not one Of
them even knew what was meant by
it,"
No doubt the lady was right in
thinking that the young people Of this
country-and the old people. too. for
that matter-are not very close stu
dents of English politics, although
they have had. during the last year or
two, surfeit of dispatches and arti-
cles in the newspapers regarding the
Irish question and home rule.
But it would not be just to young
Americans to represent them as more
ignorant Of what is going on in other
countries than are the youth of En-
gland or France. Fancy a young En-
glish boy or girl. in any walk of life.
called upon to give an Ineligible ac-
count of the movement known here as
Commercial union with Canada'-a
subject which has been much more
discussed on this continent than the
federation of Great Britain and its
possessions has been discussed in En-
gland. Not one Of them could do 1t.
In urging our readers to interest
themselves in what is going on. there
fore, we by no means intend to inti-
mate that they are more in need of
being stimulated to the study Of cur
rent events than are the young people
of other lands; but we insist that all
would be greatly broadened and inn
proved by acquiring general knowl-
edge Of what the world is doing. Tits
not only as necessary, as matter Of
education, that woman should know
the current events Of the age in which
she lives, as we'll as those Of the past,
but tho immediate effect of such study
is to lift her own mind. and bring her
into the spirit of the times.
Young girls Of the present genera.
tion. to whom the higher education ID
open, are apt to look down upon the
intellectual condition Of their gra nd
mothers and mothers. Yet the WON.
en-, both of the South and ofthe North.
who lived during the revolution and
the civil war. developed remarkable
strength and vigor Of mind, which was
shown. not only in frequent deeds OF
courage. but in indomitable fortitude
and endurance. The reason was that
they were brought in contact with
great thoughts and events. They did
not study history. but lived it; they
were educated, not by text books, but
by battles, by suffe ring. by noble de.
votion to q cause which seemed Just to
them.
Let our girls 60 outside of petty
pursuits-of painting china and ART
needlework = and bring themselves
face to face with the great move.
ments Of the day in which they live
Youths Companion.