The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-04
CULTIVATION OF THE MIND.

There has been given Us power
over the several parts of our bodies
to move them or keep them at rest
according TO our win. Our Creator
has also given us the power over our
minds to choose from among its Ideas
which it will think upon. and whether
il will pursue the Investigation OF this
or that subject with consideration and
attention, 10 excite in us these men
tai activities 1t has pleased Him 10
join 10 these several thoughts and
sensations. a perception Of delight, II
/ this pleasure were wholly separated
/ from all our outward sensations and
+ inward thoughts, we should have nc
reason to prefer one thought or &C
| ton to another so we should mel
Their stir our bodies nor employ our
minds but let our thoughts run
adrift without any direction or de-
| sign, and suffer our IDEAS like unre'
I gardel shadows, to make their ap
nearaneo hero or there,
In such astate, man, however fur'
nished with faculties of understand
| inc and will, would be very idle
inactive creature, and pass his time
only in a lazy dream.
AS with the body, SO with the mind
cultivation makes it what it is. And
most Of these cXcellencies which arc
looked upon as natural gifts will be
found when examined to be largely
the product of cultivation, and to haNt
reached the point of excellence only
by repeated exercise. Some men.are
remarked for pleasantness In ralilery
ana diverting stories. These by somt
are apt to be taken as gifts from ma
ture alone, because they are nos On
tanned by rule. Those who excel IL
any of them, perhaps never purposely
set themselves to study 1t as an arr
TO be learned. | do not deny tina
natural disposition may often give
the first impulses, but that never car
ries man far without that proper
use which cultivation alone can give
Without cultivation no porwer o.
the mind can be brought to perfec
tion.
In orr eagarness after knowledge
We are often TOO careless. II W
would be the possessor of hight
cultivated mind we must learn to con
troll our desires and allow nothing bu
chat which il instructive ana protf
able to enter il. Too often we ALLOW
our minds to dwell upon too many
things at one time; not giving II tim'
to net properly on any one thing.
To gain possession of the truth
in a matter of thought should II b.
knotty and the sense deep, the min'
must study without interruption,
Victor Hugo has said, Youth is tn
future and in preparing youth, yol
prepare the future" These are word
of wisdom uttered by close ot
O. server of mankind. We are apt f
look upon youth as useless staio
in life, but how mistaken we are, 10
/, II contains the most valuable years o
our entire llfe-years OF preparation
O the foundation stones Of the strut
ture of life. How important then tina
). we should be careful in laying thi
foundation.
I Youth is the period when school
ana colleges exercise their influenc
It IN cultiyating the growing mind.
Books are teachers. and they teac
d no hidden precept, for their lesson
are open to all mankind, but TO gras
, the ideas Of these great teachers ri
opres cultivation of the mind nj
a only to digest them thoroughly hnt
sNlfully assimulate them with tn
IL mass which has already crept int
the chambers of the mind.
IS The culture of the mind is great
aided by Close observation and travc
e for they broaden as we'll as strengt
0. en- the educated mind EducatiC
also broadens the usefulness Of o
II seryaton and travel, and books a
the best substitutes for they give
in all VINO will faithfully use them Il
society of the best and greatest
=" our race.
What is il that first strikes us In
ie person of education. and so instant
distinguishes the person of superb
Il mind? 1t is not the weight or novel
's of his remark, not any unusual int
ss est of facts communicated by hi
~ sill the difference will he felt. It
the unprecedented and evidently ha
nual arrangement Of his wor'
grounded on the habit Of forseeing
every sentence the whole that he tn
intends TO communicate.
To secure the best results let
- learn to observe closely. to be stu
Gus and to labor with perseyeran
These are the stepping stones
which we gradually ascend 70 tn
- point so far above us-that point
" life where we can truly feel thank
to our Creator for having given as
mind fitted for a high state Of GU
+. walton
a, Having once gained this honoral
position in life and looking back,
tracing carefully each step taken
re make our mind what it is. we sh
ga surely feel more than repaid for