The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-24
rgg TIM gs=RICn MoND Va "WEDNESDAY APRIL q 1898

deeing from the schools ere they have
scarcely finished the primary grades.
Rovs and girls want to be men and wo-
men at fifteen and sixteen The BOYS
want TO show their independence, by go
ing into business. They fondiy imagine
that being In a store, or ONCE, or ware
house. or counting-room makes them men,
inst as they long 10 smoke. In order
to be manly. The girls are eager to
come out. to 20 into society, and they. on
their side. think that II they sit at home
and do nothing they are society young
ladies' II they are educated up TO the
fashionable modicum. they have a smat-
terine of music. and tinse Of art;
snack OF literature. or toucn OF mdth-
emat.cs.
/ wonder why education is neglected by
those who have the power and the OPP
nortunities TO acquire It. A good educa-
ton brings with 1t more happiness and
blessings than any other human posses
sion When one has acquired IL, II is
ones wealth for all time. 1t cannot be
inherited nor bequeathed. IL must be
self-acquired. and there is no possibility
OF its being taken away. though all other
t.ings may take wings and NY.
An educated person has opened up Tor
him avenues of enjoyment and paths OF
Measure that are denied TO one of limit
ca mental resources. There are fields and
meadows through which he may wander;
there are sentiments. hopes. ideals. and
asuirations for him, which are utterly de-
MED IN the latter. Just as We, in music,
drama. painting. literature. and art. have
more and varied means OF enjoyment ana
pleasure than has the Zulu or the Hotten-
tot. so, relatively speaking, has the edu-
Gated man more than his ignorant neigh-
Dor. An adage has well put 1t That
man 'is as many times man as "e
can speak languages
MAKES ONE LIBERAL.
A liberal education makes its possessor,
as a rule. liberal and tolerant Of the
opinions of others. It is the Ignorant
that are bigoted, that cannot see beyond
the circle OF their own little world, with
its hopes and fears and fancies and SUI
perstitions When we begin TO learn we
begin to find out that there are more
things i'm the world than ever our philos-
ophy dreamed Of" and we begin 10 re-
spect the opinions and convictions or
others. And the more we know. the more
humble and considerate we become, as
we begin to realize with Socrates that
"the more we know the more we find out
that we know nothing
said at the beginning that education
was the best aid to religion. 1t gives TO
man the measure Of himself and his
standing I'm the world. his rela lion TO God.
Consider the position man holds IN the
universe. Wherein does he agree with
ana wherein does he differ from the rest
Of existence. and wherein IL he. II he
be. superior 10 all that visbly is?
Look to his body his physical organiza-
ton. II is a most wonderful mechanism,
with every part, both massive and min
ute. so nawlessly formed. so harmonious
Is blended and adapted, 50 exqustely
working toward its appointed end and
purpose. Yet this mechanism is not any
more wonderful or more glorious than
| that OF any OF the animal or even yege-
table kingdoms. His sight is not more
keen than that Of the bird OF prey, that
decries its carrion from its eyre on the
mountain peak HIS hearing or his
smell are not more acute than that OF
the hunted stag, who scents his nursuer
on the wings OF the wind and hears him
by the dropping Of a leaf. His whole
| system OF being. complex and wondrous
as IL is is not more wondrous or COM
pick than that of the leaf on the tree.
that drinks it's life from the noistdre
| of the 50 !.
MANS BRAIN.
But mans best possession Is IBIS Train.
True, herein does he rise superior to the
beasts of the field. But 1t is superior
| ity of degree only. and not Of kind.
| Mans brain is only more highly de-
! veloped organism than that OF the ami
| NAL. The memory and the reasoning
| power that render possible the acquisi-
| ton Of knowledge, are but a development
in higher form of the rudlmentary in
| stinct and memory Of the beast. Man $
| knowledge. wide, vast and all-embracing.
as it is. is but in greater measure the
| knowledge of the beast, which guides II
in all its walks Of life, that teaches II 10
avoid the harmful and seize the beneficial
to II, that points out what il may devour
and what leave untouched, what is poison
and what is not, where it shall lie down,
! and where not make it's couch.
But mans knowledge can make him bet.
ter than the beast Of the field. can make
him divine. if it be properly directed \
true education enables man to go lit
| tie closer to nature, to learn or her
silent yet sure and wondrous methods
TO see the infinite law and order that
permeates and governs the universe.
Tradition says that Solomon under
stood the language of the beasts and
flowers of the field. and the fowls of the
air, and the fish Of the sea; hat he used
TO listen to what the flowers had TO 'ay
TO each other. what the blushing rose
whispered TO the pale lily. what the doves
cCoed 10 one another, what the lion roar
what the fish meant in its flight, or the
gull in its swift lush. or the stars by
their twinkiing, and then he would re-
turn and govern his people oy what he
had heard. Though this is only tradl-
ton, yet there is deeper meaning to II
that we can apply TO ourselves to-day. III
we could hear the whisperings OF the
flowers or understand the language OF the
blasts. If We were able TO fathom the
innermost secrets OF nature, Il will plant
i'm our hearts a love for natures Cod
and an eternal reverence for His in-
finite and unspeakable wisdom. We
could then hear the rose tell OF the good
ness Of God, and the lily speak Ills praise
the dove COOS Of the love Of the Almighty
and the lion. though king OF beasts, ye'
roars his devotion TO the eternal KING
of the universe The fleeing fish and the
swift bird declare the armament, while
the twinkIing stars are telling OF the
majesty Of Him on High.
A liberal education is a safeguard
through life. 1.-THE cares of life are bur
densome and perplexing; the suggestions
of doubt and fear utter their dismal wills
pers in our ears, the sickness. suffernss
crimes, and vices Of mankind drive us
to the verge Of pessimism. temptations
OF wealth. gaiety, and luxury dazzle and
| perhaps. allure US. Against such perils
liberal education is barrier IL carries
Us beyond the events OF to-day 10 thos'
OF past generations. and shows how sure
Ia though slowly mankind is improving
II carries us beyond our city to the broad
fields Of humanity. and repeats TO us TN
lessons and facts of ages. IL points u
the perpetual calm. and the silent meth
DDS of nature, and the oyersuling powe