The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-08-10

cOlleSe anu HlgL SCHOOL naS StuuenCS ii
them who are not students, but VIII
have been placed there by ambitiou
aud maybe wealthy parents, anxious t.
make something more of their child
rem than nature designed. Pedantry
crops out on the street, in the parlor
and in the most unexpected places
while modest worth quie ly and unob
structively fills up life's measure Of re-
quirements as abb iy has been there
gwen, coming to the front when call.
ed there by f,ness of the reeds Of the
situation. Twas called to these refec-
tlons by the recent unexpected visit Of
fallen aspirant to the worlds honors
young lawyer, who called at our house
and desired nights lodging and en-
tertainment. He had studied law as a
means to mount the ladder Of fame.
Had been admitted to the bar, but his
''sounding brass and general lack of
iudg> ment and merit had driven him
from the prof, ssion for lack of clients.
Now he is wandering up and down,
getting his living by visiting and In
almost any way he can but by taking
up the shovel and hoe, which inple-
mems are the only ones he was ever
really qualified by ma ure to use, and
earning his bread in good cd orthodox
sweat Of the brow.
How are the mighty fallen, and how
they must continue to fall while they
build on such shaky foundations, while
they set ambition and the worlds favor
above duty and its requirements.
We knew this young man when he
was boy. He seemed to be a bright
boy and pleasing in appearance; could
"speak piecs" at an entertainment
and win applause from the audience as
the best of them.
"Some for renown on scraps of learning dote,
And think they grow immortal as they quote" )"
Bis father was persuaded that he was
unusually talented and expected him
to make mark in the world, and to
this end encouraged him to try the
great highway law. When will parents
learn to know that reclting other peo-
ple's thoughts will not stand for brains
and that good looks are not of the avail
that hard work is in securing honored
position? When will our schools and
seats of learning pay less attention to
elocution and the showing off processes,
and give more to those solid acqu' re-
ments that aid business, and turn the
mind into storehouss of historic facts
from which to draw as the years roll
by?
1t seems to me that we have had all
the evidence we need to prove that edu
eating the head alone does not develop
nor turn out practical and
successful business men and women,
and that it is time that the head and
hands of the rising generation were re-
ceivins equal attention.
Why do farmers sons and daugh-
ters so frequently outstrip their city
cousins in books and business when it
comes to contest? 1t is because they
have have had employment about the
farm as they grew up which city child
rem cannot have so readily. This ex-
ercise between school hours strength
ems their bodies, and consequently their
minds. Exercise, and l maintain use
full exercise, is a necessity to perfect
development. Not gymnastics and
foot ball and such. but the sort that
somehow helps to serve the bread and
bu ter problem. Had the young law
yer above spok en- of been taught to earn
his livelihood by some manual labor or
as he studied law, it might have been
the making Of him; it would at least
have been the saving of his relations.
In the understanding | have gather
ed from the years as they passed by, l
believe if I had twenty children to edu-
cate not one of them should be taught
IN a school that is only bookish
school, excepting perhaps the country
school, where some hours each day
cou'd be spent in chores about the
farm. The risk of uniting them for
but books is too great; and
the hazing, hanqueting and tricks that
are vain that are going on in those in
structions are enough to warn parents
against subjecting their children to
such associations and temptations.
This country is no: in need of any
more polished heals and idle hands
Its most crying need to-day is fors kill
ed workers, for men and women who
care more to be useful than ornament
al; who can plow furrow or shoe a
horse be- ter than they can talk phllos
ophy or plead at the bar; who can make
a loaf of bread and broil steak better
than they can chatter French and en-
broider pillow shams. There is no
use trying, we canno. rise above the
stomach. We must live, AMI we must
eat to live, and somebody must do the
work that living demands. And those
people who will not lend helping
hand, but wiling prey on their hard
working relations, are disgrace to
modern civilization.
The truth is, we are too ambitious,
too desirous for easy places; we'll do