Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-09-15
MENTAL CULTIVATION.
Helpful Hints and Suggestions as to Self
Education.

Education.
Every year scores OF young people
graduate or leave school. The major
it, of them, it is to be feared, imagine
that further mental cultivation is UNI
necessary, if indeed they consider that
any thing remains for them to learn.
Suppose a farmer should say: II have
titled my land ten years; now / will let
it alone and see If it will yield me crops
without cultivation" Silly as such
resolution might seem, it would be no
more foolish than it is for people to
cease cultivating their minds when they
leave school, or at any time of life.
No opportunity for mental improve
ment should be lost. Lack Of time
need rarely be given as an excuse for
not studying or reading. So much may
be done in spare moments. II single
fact day is added to ones stock of
knowledge, in three hundred and sixty
five days will not the gain be consider
able? lH. " r ei
There are few who can not devote
twenty minutes day to reading.
Those who read thoughtfully and care
fully, If but for short time daily, and
who reflect upon what they have read
while engaged in mechanical occupa-
lions, thereby fixing it in their men,
cries, can not fail of becoming well in
formed.
Not moment should be wasted up
on trashy literature. Solid reading
should indeed be alternated with fic-
ton, but with only the best.
II one is at all doubtful as to the
pronunciation or meaning of a word
let the dictionary be consulted. This
requires but little time and mental
effort, yet it is valuable means of
education, and one within the reach of
all. Likewise the atlas should be con-
suited whenever one meets with q geo.
graphical name which he canunot To-
cate.
Another invaluable aid to people
whose time does not equal their desire
for mental improvement is the CYCLIC
pedia.
The histories for young folk are both
instructive and entertaining reading
for older ones who have to gain only a
general knowledge of history, and who
often may not be in condition for
heavier works.
Every sentence written or uttered
should be regarded as an exercise in
composition. The writer once heard a
distinguished author say: Cultivate
a habit of listening critically to your
own conversation and that OF Others
Train the ear to discriminate between
correct and faulty constructions, be-
tween elegant and inelegant modes of
expression" A most excellent mental
exercise, which can easily be practiced
while one is engaged in some other
occupation, is to construct sentence
in as many ways as possible, and try
to determine by the ear which is best.
One who makes good use of all the
easily-attainable means of intellectual
culture can not fail to become an enter
tanning and desirable member of good
society, and such means should not be
neglected, whatever accomplishments
one may possess. Society can not find
perpetual enjoyment in witnessing the
display of accomplishments. lt..
Moreover, is not the art of convers-
ing well in itself an accomplishment?
and one, alas, all too rare! II the ma
jority of young people would cultivate
it instead of pounding pianos, from
which they have no ability for extract
ing music, or painting pictures that are
a WEAKNESS to the eye, the benefit to
society would be almost beyond esti-
mate Christian at Work.
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nDIkAITlNE A1rENC