The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-04-16
We have devoted our column this
week to an essay which we hope
will be interesting to our readers.
AN IDEAL Student.

Take fast hold of instruction,
let her not 60" So says Solomon,
and it is most excellent motto for
a student. Alas ! how many do not
take hold Of instruction, but are
only too willing to let her go. The
ideal student should have this
proverb always in mind, for wisdom
can only be gained by taking "fast
hold of instruction" But there are
other things just as necessary as
this for the ideal student. In the
first place she must have perfect
health, physically, in order to have
perfect health mentally. A girl
cannot do herself justice if she is
endeavoring to study when her
health Is not perfect. So a sound
mind and body are very essential.
In the second place earnestness and
interest are needed. She must be
in earnest about learning her les
sons and enough interested in them
to put hard study on them. The
girl who prepares her lessons and
goes through her recitation in a
half>hearted, Indifferent manner, is
far from being an ideal student.
Patience is another essential which
is deficient in many student. A
girl who has no patience, who be-
comes easily discouraged and gives
up, is conquered by her study when
she ought to conquer it. Thinking
and acting for ones self is very
necessary. Some girls will 60
through school depending upon 9TH
ers to do much of their work for
them. No one ever became. famous
in that manner. il a girl gets
some one else to write her essays or
work her examples, depend upon it,
she will never become good writer
or a thorough mathematician. A
good student should be able to con.
centrate her mind upon her studies
Much time is lost by going mechan-
ically over lessons while the mind is
occupied with other thoughts. A
most abominable habit is that o.
putting off essays till the last min
ute, then writing them hurriedly
and neglecting other duties because
one had not been done at its proper
time. An ideal student should no
have this habit of procrastinating
| Perseverance is necessary quality
If she begins a study she should
keep it up and endeavor to master
it. If it is hard for her, it shows
that her mind needs the discipline,
and patience and perseverance are
both exercised. An ideal student
is in the habit of trying to learn
something from every book she
reads, and from every one she comes
in contact with, and improves her
opportunities to the best of her
ability. She does not cram for
examination, hut reviews every day
the lesson of the day before. She
is also thorough in all her studies.
If there is anything she does not at
first understand, she thinks it over,
and then itshe cannot make it clear
to herself she goes to her teacher
and asks for an explanation. She
is always punctual and does not
disturb her teacher by coming in in
the midst of a recitation. She cul
tivates the habit of close attention
and while she is in the recitation
room does not allow her mind tc
wander and think of things foreign
to the lesson. She is ambitious and
wishes to stand we'll in her class
but if another gets ahead, she cher
ishes no i'll will or envious feelings
because she is also magnanimous
She has strict regard for the rules
of the school she attends, treats hel
teachers with respect and listens tc
them with attention. Her conduct
toward her schoolmates is courteous
and she shows them all the kind.
nesses she can. She has control over
her temper, and does not get angry
even when the girls tease her, but
knows how to take joke. She
does net attempt to be a young lady
and q school girl at the same time
hut has wisely decided to wait nnti