The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-04-25
Five Gents
The Value of Knowledge.

The Value of Knowledge.
Editor Mirror:
In the present age it is utterly impossible
to fathom the extent to which we can i'm
prove our mental and physical abilities.
Instances on record show that birth or
origin in nOwise alter our mental powers.
1t is presumably wise law of Provi-
dence that peasant and prince should be ell
dowed with faculties alike on entering the
battle of life. 1t is obvious that the sur
roundings of prince tend to bring forth his
mental powers to higher degree than those
of the peasant. Place the son of an edu-
Gated man at school with the son of an un-
educated one and watch their progress;
aside from exceptional cases the former
will advance the more rapidly. We natur-
ally ask why? The answer is simple: the
one goes to a home, no matter how plain,
where his efforts to learn will be appreciated;
he is spoken to in a kind and loving man
ner, and is stimulated to still further efforts
by the general air of refinement about him,
and having once acquired craving for
knowledge his education is assured. On the
other hand. watch his equally capable but
less fortunate mate on returning home;
should he speak Of his days studies he is
Informed in tones harsh and resonant that
the wOOd-bOX or cOal-Scuttle needs replen-
iShng. or with those supposedly smart par
ents he is effectualIy squelched by hearing:
''Children should be seen but not heard"
Should not speak until spoken to-" ETC.,
and receiving no inctenent to learn becomes
diSguSted with his studies.
| 1t must not be deduced from this that
children should not help their parents by
doing light work after school hours; but
that parents should listen to their children.
correct their mistakes when possible, make
| known their wants in cheerful manner:
and always show their interest by kind
words and actions, which will not only give
an impetus to the latent powers of their
children, but will be ever treasured by them
as mementoes OF happy childhood.
TO bring the question closer home. are
there not many of us here sOrely deficient
even in branches of common school educa-
tiOn? Many of us have received a part of
our education from the ineXhaustible store
house of that stern teacher, Experience.
We have also found out our deficiencies
from the same source. knowledge is
pOwer;" it acquires wealth for its pOSSeSSOr,
governs men, guides the destiny of nations,
| dHu lS pOWcI Uculllu CIlt CllIOllG VI
which we read so often. These facts should
suffice to excite in us desire to improve
ourselves III every manner possible.
Industry is greatly diversified, and text
books on all trades and employments are so
plain and complete that it is within the
power of any of us to attain proficiency in
some occupation that will well repay for
the mental labor expended. Though text
books are simple, they are not within the
range of that class who are unwilling to
make the slightest intellectual exertion.
regardless of the end in view. They claim
| it requires genius to learn from a book.
This is absolutely correct. but their idea of
genius is very vague. They consider it
great mental power shOwered on some one
without any effort on his part, when it is in
reality the result of mental toll and appli-
cation to study. Would your muscles be-
come hard and strong by merely eating and
drinking in the usual manner? No, they
require regular and proper exercise. Until
convinced of this fact it is useless to waste
time and money trying to master anything
worthy of the effort. that will improve our
present condition. j. L. r.