Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-12-04
THE OF BOOKS
Prof McLean's Advice to Both
Old and Young.
Judge . Man BY What He RsAds-Ths
Power Of Concentrates u Nseos.
saFy 70 All Who Desire to
De Cultured.

A man may usually be known by the
books he reads, as well as by the COM
pany he keeps, for there is q compan-
ionship of books as well ms Of men, and
one should always live In the best CON-
pany, whether it be of books or men.
AL dangerous, useless, irreligious,
trashy and sensational books should be
avoided, says the Jewish Messenger,
hot only rs sinful waste Of time, but
because such reading is demoralizing
to the taste for hne culture. Such
works are the poison weeds in the field
Of literature.
Ignorance Is the curse of God;
knowledge the wings wherewith we fly
to heaven" knowledge cannot be
stolen from us. 1t cannot be pur.
chased or sold. We may be insolvent,
and the sheriff may come and sell our
effects and leave us both homeless and
pcnnilcss, but he cannot lay the laws
hand upon the jewelry Of our minds.
Endeavor to accumulate q choice and
well-selected library, and add to it con-
stantly rs fast as your circumstances
will permit. Money spent for good
books is always we'll spent, and the in
vestment will afford more profit, COM
fort and improvement than any other
possibly can. Books introduce us into
the best society; they by their perusal
bring as into the presence of the great
est minds that have ever lived. We
have what they said and did, we par
ticipate in their thoughts, their expe-
rience becomes ours, and we feel as if
they were onr friends.
Genius Is rare gift, but every man
has talents OF some kind, and all NAV
acquire tact. Most Of what men call
genius Is talent for hard work. No
greatness was ever acquired without
patient, persistent and well-directcd
labor.
The superficial person who has q
smattering of SO many things, but
knows nothing we'll, may pride himself
upon his gifts, but the wise man hum
bly, confcsscs, like Newton, that he has
only been engaged in picking shells
upon the shore, while the great ocean
Of truth extends itself oil UNEMPLOYED
before him.
The most efficient culture of all re-
solves itself into self-culture. The cdu-
cation received at school and college is
but beginning, and Is mainly valu
able in SO far that it trains us in the
habit Of continuous application and
facilitates sclf-cducation after q def
mite plan and system. Economy Of
time is us necessary to the student rs to
the business man. Take an inventory
Of your time as you would OF your
capital. in order that you may invest il
wisely. Lay aside n certain number O.
hours every day for regular study ant
reading.
1t is only by meditation that a nal
can understand himself. Yet ~ athe
knowledge without this is splendid ig
norance. Close examination will be req
uisito for the forming of true opinion
Of ones own powers, temper and dis
position. Ignorance and sclf-concci
tend to make us overrate our persona
ability. Common sense is defined n
sound practical Judgment; the 10 p
decision Of impcrvertcd reason. 1t
practical wisdom applied to eve. e :,
affairs. The possession of so-nd ON
: mon sense is n rare and valuaDl ri
and can only be acquired by thorough
sclf-knowlcdge and judicious menta
culture.
Moral and intellectual philosophy
not only useful and practical study
but it affords q valuable means of L. q
culture and mental dcvelopmei >.
teaches the principle Of sound reacoI
ing and enables the student to cultivat
those habits of correct thought W. &c
are rs necessary to success in lif;
However, by attempting too man
studies the student incurs the risk c
becoming superficial, and by devotin
too much time to n single study
must neglect others. The chief objct
Of mental culture Is not merely to fl
the mind with other mems thought
and to be the passive recipient of thci
impressions of things, but to cnlarg
our individual intelligence and rende
. us more useful and efficient workers
our sphere of life.
To study effectively the mind mu.
be concentrated on its work. Make
the first object to be able to fix an
J hold your attention upon y our studio
He who can do this has mas tered man
, difficulties, and he who cannot do
: will never succeed as student. II
most profitable study is that which
conducted with a definite and speci;
object, all reading, attention, observ,
ton and reflection being directed upo
it for the time being. BY thorough
q mastering any given branch Of know
n edge we render 1t much more valuab
for use at any moment.
The study of the higher mathematic
besides being a mental discipline, is c
u pecially useful to one whose calling r
quires such knowledge. A course
mathematics is also n good prcparatiC
p for any pursuit requiring habits
4. close, exact reasoning, careful analys
and minute investigation. The stut
y OF natural philosophy opens up fe
q Of investigation which is as interestir
s as it is unlimited, and knowledge
- the principles of each of the physie
|. sciences is not only n necessary pa
= Of a liberal education, but a most us
full and entertaining pursuit.
Schools and academies, however us
full, IRE not absolutely necessary to Il
attainment Of the highest mental CT
.. ture. Many Of the greatest minds ha
been self-taught, and have reached Il
highest plane Of intellectual devclo
ment by persistent study and force
will. School education, even the be,
n very often fails Of effect through Il
Incidence of the student. The cha
~ acter Of great men is essentially the
s. own work. Education must come fro
e within, whether aided by all the arts
10 the schools or worked out under eve