The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-07-17
IMPROVING ONESELF.

Read Aloud For Few Moments Each
Day and Look After Your Speech.
| Self improvement suggests at once
thought of self. Why? Because if
we are to be of any value to each
other in this world wo must know
our capabilities. A lady of limited
education not long since was heard
to say: II cannot accomplish much.
am not educated and might just as
we'll give up ever trying to do any.
thing" The fact that she realized
her lack of ability to perform some
thing beyond the ordinary was
long step toward improvement, yet
to give up or despair snot only fool
ish, but actually weak. Where there's
o will there's way. Every we'll
balanced person surely has the will
and should therefore make tho way.
Make up your mind to do a thing
and at once set about it, and here
seems wise the suggestion that few
acquaintance Unite forces and in
quiet and informal manner meet to-
gether and read and discuss good
books, as reading is the first and
best means toward self Improvement
in a literary sense. You need not be
an elocutionist to do this. Read to
your friends as you would relate an
occurrence or converse upon any
reasonable topic.
Read, then let your auditors. in
turn ask questions, and if any real
thinking is done it will not be at all
difficult to arrive at q clear under
standing of the subject in hand. To
be able to listen attentively is an &C
complishment, and one should, if
lacking in that respect, cultivate the
habit, as there is no better help to-
ward good memory. Bring your
mind to bear directly upon the work
before you. Think and digest, and
you will in short season of such
diligent practice be the one most
agreeably surprised at the good re-
suits. By reading good English with
the idea of self improvement you
will accustom yourself to the use of
the same in your conversation.
Carelessness in speech is inexcusable
in any person making pretension
to refinement The young girl who
uses slang not only retards her own
improvement, but her influence is
detrimental to those with whom she
comes in contact, whether in tho
home, school Or workshop.
It does not require any effort to DO
commonplace, but it is oommendable
in every one, no matter what their
opportunities may have been or sta
ton III life may be, to desire to at
tain to higher standard. We owe
it to ourselves to so improve each
hour that we become conscious Of
the value of time and should fully
realize that it is never too late to
learn. To think otherwise is q mis-
take. Select book by advice of
some one who is capable of under
standing your needs in such direc-
ton. Profit by any and every well
meant suggestion, and you will reap
a rich harvest in due time. Read
for improvement, and if you arc in
the right spirit you will be highly
entertained also.
With an Improvement of self will
come respect and due appreciation
of those about us.
Waste not even time, for if we
wish to overcome ignorance and
progress in life we must contract
habits of industry. Make the best
use of the opportunity before you
and reflect are you really inclining
toward self improvement. If you
are, you will pass the good advice
along.-Ladios' Every Saturday.