Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-09-15

The Importance Of Educafio5.

/ FOR the Hffait-
The Importance Of Educatio5.
An education is one Of the greatest
blessings that We can enjoy The IN
huenee that it exerts over the human
mind is wonderful It unfolds and d.
reefs our whole nature. 1t inspires
our minds with noble thoughts an !
deeds, and coinprehends taste for
whatever is beautiful in life or SUB
lime in character. It's Office IS to call
forth powers of every kind powers Of
thought, affection. will. and power to
adopt good ends firmly. and to pursue
them efficiently; power to govern our
selves and to influence others; power
to gain and spread happiness Real
ing is but ali instrument. Z iacation
is to teach its best use. The intellect
was created. not to receive passively
few words. ideas, and facts, but TO be
active for the acquisition Of truth; ac-
|cordingly, edueation should labor to
inspire profound love of truth, and
to teach the process CT investigation !
Nature can endow us with a fine in
tellect. but without education shedding
its eniightening influence over the
mind. it cannot become as useful to
us, or to the world, as it would lave
been. had a proper education been ap
piled. 1t may grow aud bloom in an
humble station, but its avenues of
usefulness in a higher sphere ate linz
tied without a proper education Ed
ucatioI net only strengthens orr
minds, but improves our morals also
y human soul without education is
like marble i'll quarry. which shows
none Of its inherent beauties until the
skill of the polisher brings out the
colors, makes the surface Shine. ard
discovers every ornamental spot cloud,
and veia that runs through the body
OF it. Education after the same man
ner, acting upon a noble mind, brings
to view every point. virtue, aud per-
fiction, which, without such help,
never could make their appearance.
AS the statue lies hidden in the mar
bic, SO education unreveaied to those
who are too indolent to seek it. What |
the sculptor is to the block of marble,
education is to the human soul. Tie |
philosopher, the saint or the hero, the
wise, the good or the great nlen very |
often lie hidden and concealed in a |
plebeiau, which a proper education
might have brought to light When
we look from this civilized land of ours
to the abodes Of savage nations, the
blessings Of knowledge is fully realiz-
ed. The inhabitants Of those unciv-
ilized counties are living in the depths
OF degradation and ignorance. Knowl-
edge is unknown to them. There we
see courage exerting itself in ferce-
ness. resolution in obstinacy, wisdom
in cuuningness, patience i'll sullen-
ness and despair. To what might
that savage greatness Of soul which
appears in these creatures on many
occasions be raised, were it rightly
cultivated. It is an unspeakable
blessing to be born in those parts of
the world where wisdom and knowl-
edge flourish, though it must be con-
fessed there are in many parts Of this
country poorly INSTRUCTED people.
Let Us return to our statue i'll the
block Of marble. We see ii sometimes
being Clipped, sometimes roughly
hewn,- aud but just sletched into a
human figure, sometimes we see the
man appearing distinctly in all his
features, but seldom do we meet with
any that cannot be improved. Useful
knowledge can have no enemies, ex-
cept those who do not value il as they
should. Indoleuce is the rust Of the
mind, and the inlet Of every vice.
There is a pleasure in acquiring
knowledge. Each new fact learned
leaves us stronger for the mastery Of
future difficulties. The mind feeds
upon knowledge. Food is not taken
simply because it is food, but to nour-
ISL the body. So it should be with
the mind, Every new truth should
increase its power Knowledge is not |.
an end of education, but a means. All
truth is in harmony, and the etlucat
ed have more avenues of happiness
open to them, than the illiterate
God helps those who help them
selves. - AuRAH L. GARMoNG
S.1