The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
SELF-EDUCATION

Possibly most OF those who are enthu-
siastio IN She cause OF education" es-
pec.ally IN the South. are not aware OF
the very serious harm done by the no
ton which Is being very generally I'm
planted. that education and culture can
only he obtained at the school.
common idea IS. that one must go
90 school 90 know anything"
Under this false notion many so TO
school who cannot afford either the time
or money; many 90 who have not tho
[ force necessary 20 make such a course
aluable 70 them; and. above all many
arc discouraged from attempting SELF
culture because they have been led -
/ believe only IN school culture. and do
not realize the superiority OF the learn
ing derived from one s own unaided encr-
gy and perseverance,.
Tho greater part % the education OF
every individual Is that which he obtains
hy his own efforts and direction. Tho
I principal question is. at what point shall
one begin hts seIf-educauon? II may be
said that this point has been reached
whom the intellectual force has begun TO
show signs q activity. and "A reading
habit has been formed. and. Il may be
added. that. Ia mind OF any great
intellectual force. this occurs very early
in life. The bright scholars in the little
country schooihouses are possibly better
prepared for q scholars career than the
Ao@1r men Of n college class
ST about sixteen the habit-forming
power is AZ its best Then IS the time
90 learn trades and occupations. Then
one can most easily form all the manual.
technical and business habits Intellec-
tual force IS not then at its best. 1t can
Uen wait and let the habits become set
tied
1t will take the ordinary child until
sixteen 70 learn the three RS properly.
IIe should then go TO work. The great
firms and corporations want young men
10 begin on their work AT sixteen or
eighteen. and grow UP with the busi-
| ness. 10 IS the IDEAL method
The sketch or the newiy-elected presi-
dent Of the Pennsylvania Railroad aptly
illustrates this point:
James McCrea was born IN Phuadel-
phia on May l. 1913. so that he Is not yet
ffty-nine years old. Mr.. NIcCsrea had
his preliminary education IN the private
{ school OF tho Rev. John W. FAIRIES. and
then went TO the Pennsylvania Polytech-
Mo College. When seventeen he began
MS hfe-work in railroad service He
started az n rodman for the Connelisville
and Southern PENNSYLVANIA Railroad.
Like many other railroad managers
who began IN that capacity. Mr.. McCrea
/ set himself to build a career. He had
/ strength Of body and mind, also Industry
| and perseverance. so no got ahead. -
/ Times-Dlspatch. Jan g. 1907
I'm the case OF the mind that can never
| show much intellectual force. the best
I that can be done is 70 feed Il some
thing agreeable during the time Il is
learning the three RS: and try to form
. soma sempIance OF a desire 70 read
! some reading hahit-if possible Then. n
/ the matter IS not overdone. and a dis
/ gust OF reading engendered. this fndi-
/ vidual may. one 10y one find out the
| books suited 20 his needs and. after a
| little show signs Of progress: and. final
/ ly como 10 considerable intellectual ac-
| complishments
Where one IS picking up hts own edu-
cation. he IS certainly conserving his IN
teliectual force. IT, FOR want OF direction.
/ he starts IN a false direction. he does
not pursue such course II Il affords no
pleasure or apparent profit. and when
no starts right It IS very easy 10 keep
on tho right track. with modern means
or reading and learning Il is much safer
% allow each individual to follow his
own direction than FOR him TO follow
tho direction OF those who are inclined 20
direct all into ono groove In fact. school
toachors ARE really very blind guides out
of tNc rccular scholastic lines
no the youth without inherited property.
who must work and struggle FOR his own
support. and that Of others. it e. OF
Supreme Importance that ne should know
that the training OF his intellectual force
may be carried on without neglcctlng his
natural duties. To the youth whose IN
tcnccfual force IS weak or slow IN an
pcarance. 30 SIS most pleasant KNOWLEDGE
that however little he may 10 to cut
ticate the fickering flame. he IS doing
Eis best without attempting a dlstasteful
course in the schools In fact. the Cos
pel OF solf-cducation is far superior 20
an the allurcmcnts or tho educational
propaeanda.
There are three points for one who is
moor hut ainlitiouss