The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-05-29
THEINFLUENCEOF BOOKS
Prof McLean's Advice to Both
= Old and Young.

Judge = Man by What He Reads-The
Power Of Concentration 10 Nsees-
sary to All Who Desire to
Be Cultured.
A man may usually be known by the
books he reads, as well as by the COM
pany he keeps, for there is compan-
ionship of books as well as of men, and
one should always live in the best COM
pany, whether it be of books or men.
All dangerous, useless, irreligious,
trashy and sensational books should be
avoided, says the Jewish Messenger,
not only as sinful waste of time, but
because such reading is demoralizing
to the taste for fine 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 insolvcnt,
and the sheriff may come and sell our
effects and leave us both homeless and
penniless, but he cannot lay the laws
hand upon the jewelry of our minds.
Endeavor to accumulate choice and
well-selected library, and add to it con-
stantly as fast as your circumstances
will permit. Money spent for good
books is always well spent, and the Ia
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 us 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 a rare gift, but every man
has talents of some kind, and all may
acquire tact. Most of what men call
genius is talent for hard work. No
greatness was ever acquired without
patient, persistent and well-directed
labor.
The superficial person who has q
smattering of SO many things, but
knows nothing well. may pride himself
upon his gifts, but the wise man hum
bly, confesses, like Newton, that he has
only been engaged in picking shells
upon the shore, while the great ocean
of truth extends itself all unexplored
before him.
The most efficient culture of all re-
solves itself into self-culture. The edu-
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 self-education after def
mite plan and system. Economy of
time is as necessary to the student as to
the business man. Take an inventory
of your time as you would OF your
capital, in order that you may invest 1T
wisely. Lay aside certain number of
hours every day for regular study and
reading.
It is only by meditation that man
can understand himself. Yet all other
knowledge without this is splendid lg-
norance. Close examination will be req
uisite for the forming of true opinion
OF ones own powers, temper and dis
position. Ignorance and self-conceit
tend to make us overrate our personal
ability. Common sense is defined
sound practical Judgment; the prompt
decision of irnperverted reason. It is
practical wisdom applied TO everyday
affairs. The possession Of sound com
mon sense is a rare and valuable gift,
and can only be acquired by thorough
self-knowledge and judicious mental
culture.
Moral and intellectual philosophy is
not only a useful and practical study,
but it affords a valuable means OF high
culture and mental development. 1t
teaches the principle Of sound reason
ing and enables the student to cultivate
those habits of correct thought which
are as necessary to success in life.
However, by attempting too many
studies the student incurs the risk OF
becoming superficial, and by devoting
too much time to single study he
must neglect others. The chief object
of mental culture is not merely to I'LL
the mind with other mems thoughts
and to be the passive recipient OF their
impressions of things, but to enlarge
our Individual intelligence and render
us more useful and efficient workers in
our sphere of life.
To study effectively the mind must
be concentrated on its work. Make 1T
the first object to be able to Tx and
hold your attention upon y our studies.
He who can do this has mas tered many
difficulties, and he who cannot DO IL
will never succeed as a student. The
most profitable study is that which Is
conducted with a definite and special
object, all reading, attention, observa-
ton and reflection being directed upon
it for the time being. BY thoroughly
mastering any given branch OF knowi-
edge we render it much more valuaole
for use at any moment. -.
The study Of the higher mathematics
besides being mental discipline, IS es-
nec;allv useful to one whose calling re-
ouires such knowledge. A course OF
mathematics is also good preparation
for any pursuit requiring HABITS OF
close, exact reasoning, careful analysis
and minute investigation. The STUDY
of natural philosophy opens up a neio
of investigation which is as interesting
rs it is unlimited, and a knowledge Oh
the principles of each OF the physical
sciences is not only necessary Par'
of a liberal education, but most use
furGnd entertaining pursuit.
Schools and academies, however use
full, are not absolutely necessary 10 'he
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