The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-05-11
Paper Read Before the Chd,tauQua Circle.
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Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
n DUCATlON is the art of ac-
H quiring knowledge, and such
l. knowledge should be acquired
that will give to us bodies
which are strong physically, morally
and Intellectually. AS some one has
truthfully said that in order to be a
good man we first must be a good ami
NAL, and to become a successful leader |
in any particular field one must first
become fitted for that work. There
are many problems which we must
meet and overcome in order to do this.
First in order to become a good animal
we must know how to live in the best
physical sense of the word, by know
ing the physical makeup of our bodies.
The general problem which compre-
hends every special problem, is the
right ruling of our conduct in all di-
rections and under all circumstances.
In what way to treat our bodies, in
what way to treat our minds, in what
way to treat our affairs, in what way
to bring up family, and some of us
who have children now realize more
fully the meaning of this. And again,
how to behave as citizens, and to use
our faculties to the greatest advantage
to ourselves. From this we can see
the function which education has to
discharge, and that is to prepare us for
complete living and not the too often
accepted idea that one may the more
easily acquire livelihood.
What a great number there are of us
who go through life with very limit
ed amount of knowledge of our own
bodies, and if any one doubts the i'm
portance of an acquaintance with the
fundamental principals of physiology
as a means to health, let him look
around and see how many men and
women he can find who are, in middle
life, thoroughly we'll. Only occasionally
do we meet with an example of vigor-
Gus health which is continued to old
age, while we meet with many exam
pies of disorder of one nature or an
other, nearly all brought on through
ignorance of the laws of health, or of
wilful disobedience of them.
Here is case of heart disease con-
sequent of rheumatic fever that fol-
lowed reckless exposure. Look little
further we find a person whose eyes
were spoiled by over study. Thus we
see that by failing to live up to ma
lures laws, life becomes failure and
burden, when it should have been g
success and pleasure.
Not only is our life immensely hin
dered by the disobedience of these laws
of health, but it is actually cut short
Any disorder or disease from which W.
seemingly recover does not leave us al
before, for no disturbance of the nor
NAL course of the functions can pas
away and leave them exactly as before
In every case permanent damage il
done. 1t may not be apparent to tn
eye, but it is jotted down by natur
and will tell against us by shortenin!
our days. So state some of the lead
ing writers on physiology.
Any knowledge which helps direc
self-preservation BY preventing tn
loss of health, is of primary importance
So is the value of any knowledg
which aids indirect self-preservatior
by facilitating the gaining of goo,
livelihood. This is admitted by al
but is looked upon by the majority a
the chief end of education. Whethe
or not one succeeds in getting goo
livelihood depends in great degree o.
his knowledge of one or more of wha
we call sciences. What we call learn
ing business, really implies learnin
the science involved in it, tn
we probably will not use the wor
science. Therefore grounding i
science is of great Importance, bot
because it prepares for all this and be
cause rational knowledge is muc
ahead of empirical knowledge.
1t is essential for one to understan
the hoaO and the aohy of the things an
processes with which he is concerne
as maker or distributor, and often b