The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-09-30
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. E. LARSON.

LESSONS FROM THE POST OFFICE.
Much may be learned from the obser-
walton of common things. Wordsworth
and Bryant loved nature and this love
opened their eyes to world of beauty.
Millet saw much in the common peas.
antry Of France and he has given to the
world art of q high order even though
most of his pictures portray ordinary
life. Christ gave to the world some of
the most beautiful lessons ever taught,
He spoke of common things, the birds
of the air, the flowers of the field, men
and women doing their every day dut-
les, giving to each spiritual interpre-
tation.
Many similar thoughts may be sug.
gested by observing the common things
of today. The main trouble is that we
are so busy that many of the beauties of
the common things escape our attention.
The busy commercial world is hustling
us ON giving us but little time for med
itation.
Every letter of the first class has two
postmarks One is os the postoffice
where the letter is mailed and is placed
on the front of the envelope. The other
il of the postoffice where the letter is
delivered and is placed on the back of
the envelope. AS rule the former
stands out the clearest
Usually the mark on the front of the
envelope is made with greater care.
This is perfectly proper as that mark is
of greater importance Some of these
postmarks can be easily distinguished
for years while those on the back fade
much sooner.
There are three things necessary to
make the mark First of all there must
be stamp; then this stamp must be
linked; lastly there must be a pressure
brought to bear on the stamp. If the
stamp is placed upon the envelope in
this condition there will be a lasting inn
preston.
The mind is like the envelope; ii is
ready to receiveimpressions. The teach
er should be equipped with the stamp of
knowledge. This stamp should not be
overcrowded with facts, but should con-
tain the great essentials and these should
stand ont in bold, clear type. The post
mark contains two things; the place and
the date. What are the great essentials
that should be included on the stamp of
knowledge?
But the stamp is not sufficient; it must
be linked. The stamp of knowledge can
make no impression unless it have on it
the ink of interest, If the pad is dried
up, marking letters will be a difficult, -
an impossible task. The person who has
no interest in school work and no power
to stimulate interest ought not to under.
take the work of impressing truths upon
children's S minds
Still these two things are not enough,
We may have the stamp; it may be ink
ed. Yet if there is no pressure brought
to bear upon it there will be no impress
sion. Concentration of mental energy
upon one particular thing, in other
words, attention is necessary. Often we
find teacher equipped with an abund'
ance of facts. The facts may even be
well arranged. There is an abundance
of interest, "a uperabundance, per
haps. But there is lacking that concen.
trated attention that is necessary tC
make the impressions permanent.
Sometimes it seems as though no i'm
preston is made at all. At other times
it is SO faint that it is easily erased
Summing it up we have this: Decide
what knowledge is essential. Master
this knowledge thoroughly and arrange
it properly. Make it interesting. Then
concentrate your effort npon this know
ledge and you cannot help making a
mark