The National tribune., 1894-01-18
EDITORS CHAT.
SeH-Education and How You May Best
Secure IL.

SeH-Education and How You May Best
Secure IL.
Editors chats are interesting and instructive. 1
read them first of all. Please give us a Chat on
self-education. I have no time to go to school L
study al home in my spare time.
Christian Sinlenson. Holmes City, MINI.
This request comes from one of our valued con-
tributors whose letters always neatly written.
and show study and thought He says he has no
time TO go 10 school, yet is quite apparent that he
is IN the line OF good education.
Worcester one Of our best photographers, says:
Education is properly to draw forth, and implies
not so much the communication of knowledge as
The discipline OF the intellect the establishment Of
the principles. and the regulation of the heart"
In short while instruction present knowl-
sdec il is the person instructed who can alone
receive and assimilate that knowledge. Teaching
e an aid to education, but without teaching. in
these days Of text books, il is possible to become
well educated.
To bepome educated one must have the will to
educate himself. Books may be provided, the
pupil be placed under the best Of instructors, who
assign lessons and impose tasks, but unless the
pupil does his part he never become educated
while the world stands.
There is no royal road to education, is maxim
tried and proven. There is but one road and
kings as we'll peasants must walk that road,
oftimes over hardest obstacles, if he would attain
bis end.
The baby prince is no better than the begging
waif when for the first time book is placed in his
hand. Each must learn the characters in the same
way. Each must spell out the words in blunder-
ing jerks. and often when the page is finished IL is
The beggar child that goes up the 'front.' and the
little prince who goes down TO the ounces seat.
Education is sefconirol, the cultivation of the
study habit. 1t is the requirement of the faculty
Of continuity and application and memorizng. II
is TO learn how to analyze, and compare. and alb
sorb; to reason and to understand
Self-education has many more obstacles to
counter than education, commonly so-ealled,
though It's processes are the same In the former
ease there is aliying instructor at hand 10 explain
and encourage, and unite the gordian knot of many
a hard problem. The only teachers silent
books, the great mute forces of nature.
But sll education is to extent self-educstion,
and the greater the self-education the more thor
oughly educated the subject becomes Given
the rudiments only. there are many who have
taken very high rank In the world of letters and
public affairs.
Where there Is will there is q way and educs-
3on is not difficult of attainment as one on first
hoHght would suppose. What, then, should one
who is deprived of The privileges Of schools and
sollegesf
First. one having grounded himself IN the rudi-
mentary branches which underie all education, he
thould secure good book rhetoric and study
construction and style Of language
Second. be should choose standard books for his
reading, giving attention TO phraseology aud COM
position, well 60 the substance of the con-
tents Of the book. He should give attention also
70 capitalization, psrsgraphing, and punctustion.
Third. he should choose books that require
study, analysis. and menorizing, as books of
mathematics and science, aud history and essay;
such books. IN fact. put him on his mette and
which require the maTsbsing Of the best powers Of
bis mind in order TO comprehend and absorb. He
should write down abstracts Of his studies and
residing. which will be found q wonderful aid to
memory.
Fourth, he should not attempt too many books
or studies at time. He should master what
ever be undertakes. and be able to rejoice in the
mental triumph he has achieved. Never slight
anything Go over, and over. and over again any
problem or proposition you do not understand.
Fifth. get 8 good dictionary and study II, not
simply when you want the meaning or pronuncia-
ton OF a word. Make a companion of il, and YOU
viii find in il never-failing source Of informa.
too.
In reading or studying. never skip over a word
II your dictionary is not at hand make a note of
g. When You bear a sermon or a lecture, make
memoranda Of all the words that are new or
strange TO you in usage pronunciation.
in conclusion. acquire the study habit When
once you have IT. every hour. every moment can
and will be utilized. You can soon acquire the
power Of reading studying with noise and racket
sll around you. You can carry your lessons in
your mind In q way that you can cali them uu
and go over them aI will
trained memory or mind Is like a COW which
chews her eud. Stores Of information can be
slowed away, 10 be brought at the proper time
nsstcsted, and made fit for digestion and assimi-
lEtion into the blood.
One learns great deal by attrition ia contact
with educated minds. Cultivate the best acousint
hnces hear the best sermons aud lectures Join the
best societies and clubs within your reach Sinh.
scribe for = good magazine two not too many
Memorizine is good mental training. Commit
TO memory The fine thoughts Of others; sentiments
epigrsms, poems. Abraham Lincoln the boy rail.
splitter, when he was working out his own edu-
cation, memorized largely When he WAS Presi-
dent Of the United States lac used repeat poe ans
learned in the back woods
never understood the full meaning Of Pope,s
eoupie,-
lis education forms The common slind
just as the twig is bent the tree IS inclined
until had seen appletrees ia France t,sined along
treiiises like grapevines, peach-trees in Scot
land tackled 10 the walls Of greenhouses like run.
ming roses.
good way 10 educate oneself Is to set out "a
learn something new every day and consider that
Gay ~ spent IN which something new has not
bee" learned. II the day has been 20 full that you
baFe bad no time for abstract study you can get
mnei' fr'm The world all around you
Ihe heavens declare he glory Of God and earth
Fho~eib forth his han diworL. Day unto day nt.
iereth speech aud igirl nj lat showeth kno wi.
edge. 80 said the inspired Psalmist, and witl
thoughts Ike these yelling - ia your heart there
VIII be no day FOR you so fal hat you cannot gel
some light int be cries Of the universe
FIJI your mind with good. grand beautiful
thoug and mediate upon them day and Ig hl
Whatsoever i lfiiealt viii become plain, whateye,
's obscure WI! flow out ia a weispring OF delight
IL were a begii hef would rather take my
chances for an edueatioH with a firm will and \
good memory. without "a teacher than with an ia.
ener"h' spirit and mind incapable Of consecutive
hAeHSHb an the finest college OF the land.