St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-11-05

ondly, wholesome respect for education.
So long as the father is contented that
his son shall receive the same limited ed
ucation as he himself enjoyed, or little
less or little more, the standard OF edu-
cation in any town is compromised.
Every fathers ambition for his son or
daughter should be that his child should
receive the broadcast education that can
possibly be secured. / care not if that
father be the humblest workman, this
principle should hold true.
1t is true that the stream cannot rise
higher than its source, but when applied
to human lives and made to signify that
the education of son or daughter
cannot reasonably be expected to exceed
in degree and quality that which the
father or mother has secured, this becomes
an abominable fallacy, as pernicious as
the one which declares that "circunl-
stances make the man."
During the Civil War, gentleman
went one day with his 'son, a lad OF
twelve or fourteen, to great gathering
where the father was introduced to Cen
eral Grant. He then said, General, this
is my son Charley" "Wcll, Charley"
said Grant, I'm glad to meet you. |
hope that you will grow up to be a man,
good man, and a better man than your
father" That's right, General, f" said the
father, "any boy that does not become a
better man than his father is failure"
This was strong statement of great
truth.
If the measure of success for boy is
the earliest age at which he may be able
to get into business, or, Tor GIRL the
shortest process by which graduation
may be secured, then we might as well
admit that the least-educated citizen
holds the prize for abbreviated methods.
Not long ago parent became quite
| indignant when | insisted that his son
should pursue systematic course in the
study of English, in which subject he was
very deficient. What he wished for his
son, as he said, was practical educa-
ton" In other words, he wished for
his son practical education" which
should debar him from the litera-
ture Of his own mother-tongue and
keep the boy at his own educational
level, so far as possible. The outcry
raised, by more than one parent, when
courses OF instruction were outlined
which could not be applied directly to
the cultivation of corn or the making of
iron-work, has both amused, and, at
times, disheartened me.
Lastly, we need collateral educational
aids, in which all parents shall take an
active interest, for their children's sake,
if not for their own. Our lecture courses
supply such need, in part. Musical en-
tertainment of an order not too severely
classical to appeal to popular taste; il
Illustrated lectures on natural history,
famous places and events,-these aids to
education, and many like them. may be
easily secured, if parents can be made to
realize the absolute necessity of healthful
mental diversion for their children. The
mind, whether in adult or youth orr child,
is restless, grasping, craving, insatiate
factor Of our being. 1t must be fed.
Like nature, it abhors vacuum. When
| contemplate the enormous waste of
mental and moral energy going on daily
in this and every American town.
energy that might just as well be con-
centrated and applied to worthy ends
am appalled,.
Legislation cannot effect a remedy
Teachers cannot work out the problem
unaided Religious societies, young anc
old, are totally inadequate to meet the
demands of this great, vital question
, Sermons, exhortations, devoted and con
secrated lives of selfsacri6cing teachers
striving to accomplish the most impor
: tant and critical work done in this wide
world-all this is requisite; but, in the
last ANALYSIS, the home must be the strong
arm of kindergarten and college. The
saddest words that ever heard from G
student were these: II do not think that
my father and mother are acquainted
with me-" This is fear, too often thu
6 case.
r The svmpathies of parents should b.
actively in line and unison with the bud
ding, unfolding life OF their children ano
with the painstaking, earnest efforts o
, those who are trying to make noble
men and women-good citizens and heads
of households-out of these bundles o
possibilities"
: The parents are the constant mode
and example, and | care not how busy
their lives may be, portion OF the daily
life should be regularly and religiousl,
| COnSeCraltu W luS iSSuS VI thOsS WhOLi
| God has entrusted to their charge.
Let me tell you bit OF true history
For many, many years my life was en-
riched by contact with the life of nob
woman. Her school-days ended betor
= she was sixteen years OF age ere she hat
enioyed even the educational advantage
now offered by the first two years OF (
high school of moderate excellence
} Home cares prevented further pursuit o
c a formal education. After several year
she was married. Her husband was
farmer of limited educational advantages
but, like herself possessed by an uncon
/, uuerable determination to makethe mos
S Of himself in every way. They were re
solved to be artists, not artisans ant
so, as new faces made their appearance
in the family circle, they abored cease
e lesslv, not merely to shape Alright tn
: mental, moral, and spiritual growth o
, the children that claimed their love ant
thought, but to cultivate themselves, t
enrich their own mental and astheti
. being, that they might adequately NEE
' the demands that were certain to be lai'
4 upon them, contributing to and leaven
:, ing the symmetrical growth of thes
i children, who must have the very best.
S The home was simple, but its life de
: lightful. Farming was just as hard thel
!. as it is to-day, and farmers wife, wit
her many cares, had but little time 70
literary pursuits; yet, in the odd hour
2 that are so often merely idle, vacant
!. proftless hours, in the lives of busy mel
, and women, this couplcread and studied
not trash, but the true, the beautiful ant