The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-04
We may be happy yet
You betl
What He Needs for self-improvement.

Ambition for self-improvement is displayed
by very many Of our correspondents, oil
whom this inquirer is an example:
have an hour or of leisure time every day and
should like to know the best way of improving It,
What in your Judgment would DO OF tho most practical
and material benedt to moi have thought some OF
employing this In studying law. but the fact that
hero are many starving lawyers In the country has
made me hesitate.
"ImAy add that am % years of age single with no
prospects Of being married aud fairly we'll educated"
The trouble here Is that we do not know
enough about our correspondent, his habits
and pursuits. to advise him properly. 1t
may be that the best use to which he could
put his leisure hours would be In physical
exercise or social enjoyment. Perhaps his
body requires cultivation even more than
his mind, and knowledge Of men and the
world by actual contact and experience may
be more serviceable for him than the study
OF books.
Perhaps the improvement most valuable
to him in every way would come from en-
ploying his leisure in learning more about
his trade or business 1t may be that In the
pursuit OF general intellectual profit his
thoughts would be carried away from the
specific labors upon which 1t Is necessary for
him to expend all his energies to win the
practical success essential to him.
II it be profitable for him to give an hour
or two n day to study perhaps the best use
to which he can put the time will be in
learning some other language than his own.
That will be Of practical advantage to him,
whatever his calling, and 1t will extend the
range of his reading. There Is nothing more
kH,,I Ahn., 30 10 inf 70
literature. tall comes so fresh to You. as
first discovery, and adds interest to the lit
erature to which you had before been con-
fined. Take French. for instance. The
French style is beautiful in its simplicity
and perspicuity, and the language Is always
serviceable to man.
If our correspondent wishes to pursue
course Of study in history philosophy. sell
ence, or polite literature the Chautauqua
system offers him valuable suggestions and
directions. Hundreds Of thousands OF people
are reading under its advice and supervision,
and experience has shown that its courses
stimulate the zeal Of its scattered followers
and provoke their ambition. All things con-
sidered. it meets very well the wants OF
people Who like our correspondent. are anx-
not know how to get It,
Whether it is worth while for him to study
law in his leisure hours, We cannot tell. II
he has been spending his years since boy
hood in learning some other business, as we
suppose to be the case, the probability Is
that he would make q mistake in under
taking to go into the law at twenty-eight;
and to become a lawyer he would need to
give up the chief part, II not the whole OF
his time to the necessary preparation. An
hour or two day, and casual study. would
not be enough. But 1t is not true that law
yers in great numbers are starving. The
profession is no more crowded than any
other, than the run Of employments.
Why Is it that our friend Is so sure that he
has mo prospects Of being married Z" He Is
only twenty-eight, and that Is a very sus-
ceptible age. Does he mean to confess that
his eyes are blind to beauty and his heart
hardened against tho feminine charms that
are all about him? If so, 1t is his heart
rather than his head that needs improve
ment Let him marry good wife, and in
her he will find his best adviser as to how he
shall spend his leisure time, il he has any.