The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-12-01
OBSERVATION.
The Faculty of Seeing and Being Inn
pressed by Thing as it is.
Baltimore SUM


vations, though it does not in itself
insure success in the professions and
in many business undertakings, is,
nevertheless, an important element
in the mental outfit of a man who is
to make his mark in any calling. 1t
is, therefore, faculty to be Guilt
waited. Men who have natural gift
of observation, who not only see
things clearly as they are and retain
mental pictures filled with detail,
have one great quality required in
the artist or the descriptive writer
The mere observation will enable
them to picture the things observed
to others; for that they need means
OF expression-language OF the pen
Gil. But unless they can see they
cannot describe; observation is the
have had experience in art schools
know, moreover, there are relatively
few people who observe accurately
until they have been taught to use
their eyes, The drawing teachers
task is more than half done when he
has succeeded in teaching his pupils how
to observe an object, and the pupil
soon learns the technique of express
sion after he has formed in his mind
clear conception of what he desires
to put on paper. Most people have
observed that they can talk and
write freely upon a subject that has
absorbed their attention, though they
have been ditfident on general topics.
The reason is that they have some
thing to say; the words and phrases
come readily enough when there is a
clear mental perception back of them,
they are elusive when the concept is
shadowy and vague. A parlor game
gives a striking illustration of the
neglect of most people to observe
common objects. A prize is offered
for the best drawing from memory
of the face of watch. Very few peo-
pie can make an accurate drawing of
the face of a watch until their atten-
ton has been called to its peculiari
ties, although they may have looked
upon it thousand times. 1t is not
an impeachment of mans ability to
observe to find that he cannot remem-
Der the details of watch face, for
the subject is not one of Importance
and may properly be neglected, but
it serves as strange illustration of
the failure of men to note details,
unless they are trained to observe.
When a father is asked BY his little
boy to draw horse, he excuses him.
self on the ground that he has never
learned to draw: bis inability is really
due to his inability to observe. He
has no clear concept of how a horse
is built, and, as a matter of course,
cannot make the drawing. The abil-
ity to observe is not only useful, it is
a source of much pleasure to the in
dividual. Children are easily taught
the differences between plants; they
may not become botanists of note,
but the training of eye and mind
they thus obtain will be a source of
en- ioyment to them throughout their
lives and may also be of great use to
them. Many inventions and discov-
cries follow. as matter of course,
upon close observation. Other facul-
ties are called into play to make OBJ
servation effective, but this is the
foundation of successful effort, and
special pains should be taken to train
children in the use of their eyes and
their memory. They should also be
I taught to answer their own inquiries
as far as possible, for the knowledge
gained in this way is much more dis
tinctly theirs than that which may
be given to them for the asking. An
observing mind is naturally inquisi-
tive. but it is not necessary to ask
questions to satisfy ones thirst for
information. 1t is much better to
find out for ones self. for the knowl-
edge thus gained remains fixed in
the memory. The child brought up
! to observe, to inquire and 10 think
is sure to be well prepared for sue
cessful business or professional ca
reer Observation will give him a
multitude of facts; inquiry will re-
veal the reasons for their existence
or the relations existing between
them. and thought will develop the
philosophy which makes use of the
lessons they have to impart. But
the foundation of all this mental ac-
tivity is observation.
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