Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-05-07
( From the Shepherd College Picket.
Giving Advice.

1t has often been said that it is of no
use TO offer advice to younger persons.
This has frequently been said by persons
who do not intend to convey the I'M
preston that is sometimes left. The
Young need advice and need to see It
acted upon by those who give 1t. They
will follow example rather than precept.
If they can once understand what makes
men and women Of value to commun
ity they are apt to follow that line of &C
ton
The giving of advice to any one IS
very serious matter. 1t is an act which
will bring good to the one receiving 1t
or cause that same one to lose confidence
i'll those who give it. The matter is much
more grave when the person advised is
Young, and one whose mind is being
trained for its future use. Often have
persons been led to neglect this training
and to disregard the teachings of an
earnest teacher because some one total
w unified to advise in that direction
has caused that mind TO doubt by asking
the question, of what use is all this?
This question may have been made i'll
an unguarded moment and possibly with
no intention of doing injury, but it has
been done and who is responsible. The
training of mind is study and the laws
ofthe development of mind are known
and are taught that those who undertake
the work Of teaching may know what IS
TO be done. The business man would
repudiatc advice given i'll his line by one
who knew not the laws ofbusiness. But
we have found many i'll that line of
thought ready and willing to give adj
vice to young men as to the development
of their faculties. This.is wrong, and If
they would but view the matter from a
business standpoint they would not III
dertake what is often so thoughtlessly
done. Every one, i'll whatever depart
ment of life, needs every faculty devcl-
opcd as a foundation on which to build !
any special course of life. Different
studies have their different uses. Some !
develop more readily one faculty than
others.
To make the full rounded man or wo-
man mentally needs studies other than
the three RS. Hence those studies have
been arranged by our educators so as to
accomplish the purpose of our schools.
In the matter Of selecting a calling i'll
life many offer advice very thoughtless-
ly. Not knowing the temperament oftheir
individual they advise against that
The persons follow this advice and fire.
quently too late see the mistake they
have made. 1t may be a disappoint-
ment to parents to have their children
enter upon a certain calling when they
desire them to follow another.
In the matter of giving advice all cir
cunstances surrounding the individual
should be taken into account. Careless
ness i'll this respect will inevitably lead
to certain mischief and to irreparablc
wrong We should examine ourselves
carefully to see whether we are compe-
tent to give what has been asked.
Let no careless assertions, noquestions
which might put mind in doubt, be
made to the young. If we remember
that the Creator will demand Of each
one what he gave and i'll addition to that
all the possible culture Of which that one
with opportunities is capable we will
hesitate to tread upon grounds with
which we are not familiar.