The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-08
Official Paper Of North Yakima
THE BEST OF LIFE.


and animal is in the brain. Whether it
DO gray matter or white matteJ; whether
Il DO urged TO action from the heart or
from the mind dlrect-Minerva like-is
not a question Of importance. The best
part Of life is what We think about II; the
best part Of any man or woman 10 those
with whom be or she may come in con-
tact, Is the mind; and how many Of US
who are mature regret that there could
not have been more eultivation-more ed
ueation in our own cases. Il is with
most Of US question Of opportunity, and
generally those in the newer parts Of the
country have been without opportunity.
Washington is, indeed, one Of the first
states 10 come into the Union with full
educational advantages. The best build
ings In the new state are thesehool build
ings. Here in Yakima two fine brick
structures afford graded schools, while,
apart from the public schools about the
county, and the parochial schools in
town, there is the Ahtanum academy
Offering special courses Of study and the
best Of opportunity for a higher eduea-
ton. No one can 90 well appreciate the
advantage q a higher education as he
who has worked by himself along the
road, with glimpses Of what might have
been under proper instruction, and It is
safe to assume that not one American 10
ten can be found who does not want 10
give his boy or girl q better chance in
life, 90 far as mental cultivation goes,
than he had himself. Il seems, some
times, as though the higher education
were almost necessary TO make the com.
mon school part Of ii fully available to
the best minds, for the reason that the
broadening matter at the top always
reaches outside the text books. There Is
caro- and thought In it above and beyond
the routine Of the graduated class RON
which teaches how to make the most Of
ell the best that may be had 10 these
later days. Nothing is despised that con-
tributes to the fullest knowledge. The
absolute good in life never comes In sep
araie and special packages, and now, as
In the time Of the Caliph Of Bagdad, It Is
be who has the discrimination to end It
In whatever gnise, who takes it to him
self Tor the uses Of life.
Not long ago there was half dozsn
county teachers In a public room In
North Yakima, gossiping over their COT
fee, and the talk turned upon the morn
ing's work at the Institute. AlittIe miss,
barely mature enough to hold q certificate
for the lowest grade. pertly remarked
that ''the Professor" spoke her mind ex-
aetly when he advised them all not to
read the daily papers. Then they all
ehimed In with commendatory remarks,
and proceeded 10 mentally turn up their
moses At newspaper reading generallyg
One unobserved listner to that converse.
ton, who had two sisters teaching 10 the
eastern states, and Who had missed much
IN his lie by reason Of insufficient school
ing. pitied their narrow views. AZ
though Information, coming to the hu-
man mind through the regular channels
Of the senses, should be Disseminated
against beesnse il was ii a newspaper in
stead Of in 4 book Give US an educa-
ton high enough 10 prepare the mind to
receive lie messages from wherever they
may come; aud an education untFam-
meled enough to leave the mind pure
enough and strong enough TO discrimin-
ate for itself and retain the useful. The
time has been, but will never come
again, when the information that i'm
pinges upon every human life will not be
brought In the newspaper, and an educa-
ton that includes a contempt for what
comes through these sources will never
carry a man or a woman very far toward
human wisdom. Wisdom lies at the end
Of the path along which education leads
rs, however the education may be OBJ
tanned, and TO know this Is 10 understand
the value Of the fullest and best that may
be had. There Is ever a generation ripen-
Ing TO maturity, and with the opportuni-
ties at hand, and Increasing all about ne,
there Is no reason why our new state
should not bo as much the seat Of learn
ing as Boston or Athens or Alexandra
and Il may be that our own county will
yet be the center Of il all. The more
academies the better. and the more they
teach the better; but let the fear Of IN.
formation be nowhere taught. That ideu
belongs 10 the dark ayes.