Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-11-07
Prepare for Living.

In the service of mankind to be


And make us shine forever-that is life.
Too much and too morbid attention is paid
TO the matter of death, II is the theme on
which moralists too exclusively suspend
their hopesfor changing the sentiments and
altering the conduct of thoughtless men.
Death is no affair of ours; it follows wise
and equitable decree; its certainty is as
sured; the nature of its limitations is well
known. Reason and revelation unite to
show that it is the present which deter
mines the hereafter. 1t is, hence, with life,
and not with death, that we have to do.
The argument and appeal then, is for the best
life possible under any set of circumstances.
The preparation has been begun when
once it has been recognized that knowledge
is power. Power to elevate the personal ma
ture and found individual character power
to lift other natures heavily weighted with
ignorance and consequent prejudice power
to originate or apply systems, create meas
ures and appliances, control and direct
agencies, which give life to or increase the
material and moral prosperity of neighbor
hoods and nations. No other gift of God
or acquisition of men can do this Wealth
cannot do it. The effect of wealth is usually
debasing. How God estimates wealth may
be judged from the kind Of people to whom
he usually gives it. With some exceptions,
neither in the church nor in the world can
he use them for a solitary noble purpose.
He wills to give wisdom and knowledge as
marks of eternal favor, or, else, as the equip
ment essential to the realization OF his
own benign counsels. The judicious pa
rent, therefore, who, if necessary, suffers per-
sonal sacrifice and deprivation to place
knowledge and the means to know-
edge within the reach of his child,
exhibits the purest and most enlightened
love, harmonizes in purpose and action
with the best of Beings and becomes a
benefactor to the entire race.
Difficult as is sometimes the task, every
effort should be made to impress upon chill
dren the greatness of their advantages, and
the fieeting nature OF their opportunities.
Childhood is more impressionabe than ma
turity, specially in studies primary and in
troductory; but childhood will soon have
passed. Beginning school life late entails
serious disadvantages, among Others, the
modification OF ignorance In contrast with
intellectual progress. The big girl of sixteen
is ashamed to stand in the same classes with
the little child of twelve. No matter whose
fault it may be, her own or her parents, the
shame and the hindrance abide. Of course,
when we speak of education our thought is
of those higher degrees toward which every
aspiring mind reaches as its ultimatum. But
there is no purpose or wish TO disparage the
excellent work accomplished in the COM
mon school. The instruction impaired and
the knowledge and aptitude for knowledge
gained in these is all that many can hope
for. For this very reason we heartily re-
joice that they are as capable and efficient
as they are. Great progress has been made
and is making. The Freshman class OF the
university our children attend is nearly
equal to the Senior class in the college
where we studied. The highest class in the
school ia pnnnI tn
lowest class in the former college, The
advance is mighty, and along the entire
line. God be praised for i'll We are not
bit jealous; we are thankful for what start
was afforded us our children will be al
most infinitely better educated than our
selves; and they, in turn, will be left far
behind by their children What we urge
is, that the present opportunity be seized
and improved. That every moment of school
days be counted more valuable than a dia-
mond; that the foundations be laid long,
wide, deep and strong, and that the future
noble structure be coveted with quenchless
desire and longing!
Destiny walls In some souls from the
use of unspeakable privileges freely granted
Others But in case of those debarred fiom
early education there is often an apparent
compensation. In his sketch OF Roscoe, the
English author, Irving has this passage
ut is interesting to notice how some
minds seem almost to create themselves;
springing up under every disadvantage,
and working their solitary but irresist-
BILE way through a thousand obsta-
cles Nature seems 10 delight in disap.
pointing the assiduties of art, with which
it would rear legitimate dizziness TO matu-
ri;y, and TO glory in the vigor and Ia xuri'
ance of her chance productions. She scat
tiers the seeds Of genius to the winds, and
though some may perish among the stony
places of the world, and some be choked by
the thorns and brambles Of early adversely,
yet others will now and then strike root even
in the clefts of the rock, struggle bravely up
into sunshine, and spread over their sterile
birth place all the beauties Of vegetation"
This he applies TO Roscoe American his
tory is as full as English OF illustrations,
periods of existence considered. Henry
Clay, when nearly a man grown, was rid
ing bare.legged and guiding his horse with
rope reins To a country mill. No power on
earth or under it could keep Willard Fill
more to the backsmith's forge. From the
tow path to the presidency is recent ex
ample. might easily fill my paper with
such examples. These are called "self- made
men"-a totally misleading expression; for
where was there ever man of merit or dis
tinction who was not self made? But there
is in all this infinite encouragement TO those
conscious of intellects and chafng under
adverse conditions. Let them dare what
others have dOnei
1t is good, too, to act on the belief that ut
is never too late to mend" Those whose
early education has been, unfortunately,
neglected, have il yet in their power, If not
TO soar to eminence, at least to climb to
lower but firm and solid seat of knowledge.
So many helps are at hand. The pine knot
gave way To the tallow candle; that to lard
oil and kerosene; next came gas, and now
the hamlet aspires TO electricity. Their
needs no great supply of books to yield
much useful information. First learn the
Greek alphabet; get an unabridged die
tionary, study the origin and history Of
common words get all the history, chemis-
try, anatomy, botany, astronomy, etc, there
in contained, and you will not be educated,
but will know more about multitudes OF
things than many educated people know.
Almost the most fluent speaker ever knew
was my dear friend, the late Rev. DR.. 9. y.
Swan. | asked the secret, and he replied
that for years he had toied over Etogets
Thesaurus of English words.
Those for whom this editorial is specially
written have many opportunities OF I'M
provement. They are joint proprietors OF
library VIII ich, though small, is choice
The youngest child cannot hope TO live long
enough to gather the best things from these
554 books. Yet systematic course of read
ing, of the solid, instructive, rather than OF
the merely entertaining author, with full
and accurate annexation, will produce sur
prising results in cumulative knowledge
seeking minds. The original essays, which
are specially solicited aud encouraged. con-
stitute the very best means Of literary i'm
provement Those who have tasted Of the
spring of knowledge and are thirsting 10
know more should lead others TO the fount
of divinest pleasures. 1t is sad TO enter
homes of comfort, SO far as the needs Of the
body go, and mark a desert of the mind
No books Fine stock, fine Improvements,
| fine furniture; but no books Half grown
children but no books Father and
mother, but no books Friends, acqua int.
ances, and sometimes flowers, but no books !