The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-07-25
SELF EDUCATION.

Notwlth- LANDING the prevalence of
educational advantages in our land,
there are great many who by various
circumstances are unable to derive i'm.
mediate profit from them. Many thus
placed have an Unsuitable appetite for
knowledge and an aspiration to make
of themselves all they are capable of be-
ing. For such the suggestions here
written are intended.
Some of the most influential and
noble men our country has produced
never dwelt within college halls. Our
great Washington was not perfect
speller, and knew little or nothing of
Greek and Latin but sin saving COM
mon sense" in incorruptible integrity,
in the ability to choose and manage
men, he was unsurpassed
Benjamin Franklin had only a COM
mon school education, but when he
died he was member OF most of the
learned societies of Europe.
Abraham Lincoln was a self-taught
man. He mastered the principles Of
geometry in order that he might know
for himself what quOd erat dem0nstran-
h,,f ha hal
this branch OF mathematics.
ttorace Greeley got his education in
a printing office no man of his time
was more influential than was he.
Mrs. Mary Somerville, by her own
unassisted application, became capable
OF performing the most abstruse mathe-
matical calculations. There were only
four men in all Europe who were her
peers in this department of science.
Caroline Herschel had few advanta-
ges of an academic character. Maria
Mitchell, SO long the honored Professor
OF Astronomy at Vassar College, was
largely self taught. No diploma testi
fed as to her attainments.
The life of Sir William Jones Is full
of suggestiveness to those who are
climbing the sleeps OF learning's hill
alone. He had few simple maxims,
the observance of which was of the
utmost service to him. He never neg
lected an opportunity of improvement.
While visiting at the German Spa with
his pupil, he acquired the German
language at favorable time he learn
ed various manly accomplishments,
riding, fencing, music, the use of the
broadsword, and the art of playing on
the Welsh harp.
He believed and acted on his belief
that whatever had been attained BY
OF ers was attainable by him, and that
t real or supposed difficulties of any
pursuit formed 10 reason why he
should not engage in it, and with per-
feet confidence OF success.
1t was also a fixed principle with
him, from which he never voluntarily
deviated, not to be deferred by any
difficulties which we're sumountable
from prosecuting to successful termi-
nation what he had once deliberately
undertaken.
His time was allotted regularly to
particular occupations, and he scrupu-
lously adhered 10 this distribution
hence all his studies were pursued
without interruption or confusion.
BY thus regulating his life and labor
he became the greatest linguist of his
-ge. His knowledge of history,
philosophy, laws, religion, science, and
manners of nations was most extensive
and profound yet he died when only
forty eight years old.
The young man, the young woman,
who will have an education can get it.
Every upward step gives increased
strength and increased breadth of view,
a wider intelligence as to what IS the
next best step, and frmer confidence
in the possible achievements of the
future.