Montgomery County sentinel., 1889-08-02
WHAT SHALL WE READ!



Ofall secular studies, none is more i'm
portant than history. A burning desire to
attain the higher orders of knowledge is an
affection peculiar to the high-souled few,
who know and are willing to pay the mighty
cost. The pleasure of knowing, which is
the direct gain, the consciousness OF secret
power ready for expression on proper call,
the faculty for importation which is proof
at once to the giver and recipient, the real
lied products of influence extending to all
worlds, yield incentive and reward. Even
the startled perception of the movable not
yet and never to be in possession has moth
ing Of discouragement in it; for reflection
reconciles to the REIMBURSEMENT unavoid-
able in finite condition, and the recogni-
ton of the present state Of learning as the
aggregate acquisitions Of the race. IL
sphere so literally bondless, he is fortunate,
indeed, who can understand one or two
things accurately, as human capacity can
compass, and gain some few hints of other
subjects equally interesting and useful.
For professional service, the true course
would, of course, be to expend most time
and labor upon that subject which is to en-
gross the thought and energy of a life. One
of the most eminent of Latin grammarians
regretted, late in life, that he had not spent
his entire lite upon the dative case. A false
judgment we must think; yet demonstrat-
ing the view of the infinite in learning apt
to impress master mind While worthy
of life long devotion to its revelations and
lessons, so severe a condition is not essen
tal to very telerable acquaintance with
historical instruction What makes the
study of history more agreeable is its foun-
dation in fundamental natural law. Curl
osity, sympathy, interest in the affairs of
men generally, excite desire to know what
was acted, what is now going forward, in
the world. The Athenians crowded to the
Plraeus, the harbor Of Athens, scanning the
sea for incoming vessels, eager to hear and
tell every item Of news. Antetating Herodo-
tus and written history, the poets recited
their verses to the eager and appreciative mu.
titudes assembled on the festive occasions of
Greece and Rome Centuries after, none
were more welcome guests equally in the
kingly palace, the lordy hall, or the peas
ants hut, than the minnesingers, trouba-
dours, and palmers OF Scotland, France and
England, because the songs they sang and
the tales they told appealed to the senti-
ment, recollection and experience of their
audiences The old man and the middle
aged turn to the newspaper as expecting to
find there what satisfies the innate craving,
| information of current events, in fact, how
history is making. The lad, with much
lighter heart, but with the same natural
bent, devours the account of actions imag
nary in the novel or, il blessed with bet
ter head, delights in veritabe narrative.
We all must read, you see, before we live,
Till slowly the inetfable light comes up
And MS it deepens browns the written word.
What is the best method Of studying his
turyl This question more than ever occu-
pies teachers of every kind, since the vast
Importance Of the study has been of late
emphasized by eminent educators every
where There is room for modesty in ad-
vising Dogmatsm might easily commit IL
bluuder The old system of beginning with
antiquities and plodding through dull tones
to lumber the mind with dates and names
which shall lie there covered with cobwebs,
| has little to recommend IT, A system there
must be, of course, in this as in everything
where progress and success are desiderata.
| But a system which shall combine auxilia
ries yielding present pleasure with planting
for future profit. You wish to know Scot
tish history. Read and re read Scotts ro-
mances. The setting OF historical facts is so
enchanting that the characters OF his fiction
will recall events you most desire to remem
ber Not many can go to the battle fields,
observe the positions OF the opposing forces,
examine preserved specimens of weapons
and armor, and so re create the battle.
The next best thing, then, is studiously to
follow one who has done all this, and whose
narrative palpitates with true Scottish pride,
courage, patriotism and herolsm. When
child eight or nine years of age, | read
Grimshaw's History OF the United States,
devoured it, rather, with All avidity rarely
ever the characteristic of seniority. The
treachery, the tyranny, the base means re-
sorted to for the subjugation of people who
| at first pleaded only to be heard infiamed
a youthful mind by nature destined to take
the weaker side in every conflict, and made
me hate England with hatred not dimn-
ished in the least as allei years have
brought familiarity with her lavorlte policy
| of waiting to see which is to bc the winning
side, and then applaudng the conqucror,
herself ready at all times 10 take by the
throat and strange any weaker power.
The essential thing is To remember; and
this prime object can never be attained com
pletely by the drudgery Of tasking The
period of The Commonwealth in England,
as described in the ordinary histories, pos
sesses to the average reader no more inter
est than another; but let it be studied in
some Life OF Cromwell, and there, between
the lines, you may discern the mixture of
Unborn hardness, intlexibility of will, we'll
concealed ambition, u shrewd knowledge of
men, great powers for organization, rei-
gious ianaticlsm, and holy whine, which
fitted an instrument ior regcide. With all
The extravagancies aud iollies, and pur
hind stubbornness Of the first Charles, you
must regret that, if doomed to die an igno.
BILE death, it must be by such mean hands !!
Emmerson says, "Our best history is still
poetry" Perhaps too sweeping IA statement
if intended in literal rather than tropical
senses yet to IA great extent true. 1T would
confirm what has been written above OF the
utility OF painting history; OF bringing be
fore the mind the people, their manners,
habits, ideas, sayings, as remarked in their
every day life. Who that has read Flodden
Field has not felt Scotts heart quake, AS he
stands on that spot doomed for Scotland, in
: that dark hour lor freedom, England's hosts
surging across the Till bridge, and Scot
lands leader, James, the iady's man, "inac
tive on his steed."
o for one hour of Wallace might,
Or we'll skilled Bruce to rule the fight,
And cry-"St. Andrew and our right"
Another sight had seen that morn,
From Fate's dark book a leaf be torn,
And Flodden had been Blnnockburn
Or. take that song of poor Robbie Burns,
which Professor Wilson says is the grandest
ode out Of the Bible, Bruce's Address 10
His Army at Bannockburn
Scots, wha hae wi Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has often led
Welcome to your CORY bed,
Or to victory.
Lay the proud usurpers low
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Libertys in every blow J.
Let us do or die
We may help ourselves in the study of
history by putting ourselves in the very po-
sition and mentally re enactng the scenes.
Waterloo is before US. Here, on this side,
were posted the French forces, led by "rhe
Man of Destiny" There stood Wellington
at the head OF the allied armies. The victor
of a hundred fields, the conqueror Of Europe,
is overpowed-not overmatched, for no man
ever matched hm-and to-day his shining
star shall fall With matchless skill, with
indomitable courage, he rushes against the
) mighty hosts, who reel like drunken men
L. I'M the