The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-23
EFFEOTS OF TRAINING.
Tho Influence Of Surroundings Upon
the Habits and Destinies OF Young
Io

the Habits and DestfDies OF Young
People.
Cities, States and nations are proud
of their distinguished sons ; schools
and colleges publish lists Of theil
famous graduates to prove the value
OF the instruction given them, and
elementry schools never fail to mon
tiop the great mon who were started
in life from their portals. The dis.
tinction has been won by the men them,
selves, but everybody associated with
them in any way claims share Of the
honor. Nor are these claims wholly
unreasonable. The course even of a
man of genius is largely determined
above the common level. II resump-
tion is that he had good t lining In or
out OF school. The city or State that
sends forth great mon may fairly be
| presumed to have some features OF so
| cial life Or custom favorable to. the de-
| velopment of genius.
A little town in Pennsylvania has
given birth to number of eminent
lawyers and politicians out of all pro-
portion to its population. 1t would
| be interesting to trace, if possible, the
| reasons for It's emlnence in this respect.
The people who settled in this town
| wore of a. sturdy and intelligent race
they established good schools and it
became custom in the community to
honor learning above anything else.
The youth who was born there in
herited disposition to, study and the
| ability to acquire provision was made
| for his education and he was stimu-
lated to effort by the traditions of his
birthplace and the example of his pre-.
| decessOrs. This much Is known, and
under these favorable influences a
large number Of men distinguished
Ia State and national life have grown
up in Bellefonte.
No very broad conclusions can be
drawn from this or. similar Observa-
tions, but 1t seems reasonable to con-,
clude that the influences known as en-
vironments may be favorable or un-
favorable to the development of talent.
The effects of training have been fire.
quently observed. A preparatory
school gains reputation because it's
students are the honor mon Of colleges
and universities the head master dies,
and ii tho course of time IL loses its
reputation. We cannot affirm that it
has similar material to deal with, but
it appears to be similar and yet it does
not meet with it's old-time success. 1t
is fair Inference that the instruction
given Ia not OF the same quality. Its
courses Of study may remain the same,
but there Is lacking the inspiration Of
real teacher. The pupils are no
longer we'll grounded In their STUDIES
and no longer distinguish themselves
in after life.
This, at least, seems to be q fair in.
ference, for when we turn to less COM
! plex problems of training, such as
thaG of tho lower animals, we know
beyond doubt that training counts for
almost as much as natural ability.
The pedigree of q horse counts for
something, his training for great
| deal, and the jockey who rides him Is
often the prime factor in o race. 1t is
| possible that the same factors deter
| mine the course of man, though 1t Is
difficult for us to determine the factors
In his case. His pedigree is not care
fully kept. or, If kept, is not as easily
measured as that of q horse of his
training we can have little knowledge,
SO numerous are the influences brought
| anything about the impulses that ride
him like jockey In bis race. We may,
however, fairly infer that training
counts for something, and that it is
| therefore our duty to surround the
growing boy or girl with as many Ia
fhuences for, good as possible.
The school training should be thor
Ough, even though it should NOS be car
ried very far. Deficiencies in that
respect may be made up in after life,
provided a. good foundation has been
laid: But above all, the home training
and the training of social life should
be made wholesome and .cleyating.
The city, State Or nation, which has
done it's duty In promoting educational
influences can be justly proud Of those
of it's sons who may have distinguished
themselves ; 80 also the schools and
colleges may share in the honors won
by their graduates, provided they
have given sound training and proper
direction. to their pupils. The inilu.
ences of training are far-reaching, and,
though we may not be able to say just
what they have been In determining
the course of an individual, we should
aim at least to make tnem wholly
sound and wholesome.
| .. e.
GRATITUDE.--"W When / meet o man
who fought for his country" said Miss