Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-21
Too Much Learning Makes Mad

This old proverb about TOO HuSil
,aarntngs--I have heard zff my hie-Ou'
i have been acquainted with Few peopie
A., my life who ran crazy from 100 Huei'
study. -, To-, his
I did know a young man VINO los. nis
mimi about the time ne graouA'eu w..
musician declaI~- 20 be the result VI W W
much study-but the most or students aIe
,-,c.,r,s of under-study rather IMAM over
study as I see IT, -.
= -stpstfc case occurred near assar
College a few DAYS ago, that MADE me re-
feet upon the folly OF pressing chlIu
yn hook slearning-to the detriment Oh US
physical and mental health
The young lady's father, an Episcopal
minister wished TO educate mis- young
adv daughter at Vassar- Douotless' ne
procured a schOIarship-and decided 10
sN-acate his church, and take smaH pas
,orate near Vassar, 10 give the daughter
an education and be with her.
orar studyss subsequently, broke down
che gfrI-s health. and she was compelled
~ aesist. she brooded over the matter
until she drowned herself in q TIT or des-
s pondency-over her failure ana ner Ia
Tiers losses
Il looks as IL the poor girl went mac
on account OF too much learning III she
had always remained away from Nassar-
she might have been fairly educated anu
succeeded in Hfe-but my deep sympa---
Is extended 10 the seif-sacriricing parent
and the unhappy girls friends
EDUCATION is a fine thing-and deserves
All we NAV say in its behaIf-but a sane
mind Is better than education In books.
every day i'm the year. a sane mind IN
a sound body Is the greatest gift oestow-
I'd by the Creator on a human creature,
without the sane mind all other acquire
merits are vanity and vexation OF spirit
The poor girls ambition leo her 10
overstrafn her physical being and $1,000
involved her mind: and then the wreck
occurred
Nobody appreciates the .vaTue OF book
learning TO children more than myself
and a child Is much handicapped w.Io Is
not reared into an educated man or worn
an. but II oftentimes happens that edu-
Gated parents have delicate or feeole-
minded chfldren-who must be relieved 81
stress and strain when they are CROWNS
into manhood and womanhoOd- ais
corning parent win most likely appre-
clate sucE a handicap and do the best
for the child which the situation allows.
knew a finely educated man who
had a daughter 10 euucate- nc "eS
as ambitious 10 educate her wei as
the Episcopal preacher. who moved 70
vasssr But ste early portrayed Zee
"Reminiscences. and for a good many
years OF her life the state OF her
mind was a constant care and ankle
" TO him He made repeated efforts
to have her educated in good schools
and colleges-and gave her all adj
vantages she was capable of taking
or mis- means permittej-but he very
wisely RETAINED from pressure or
compuIsion and she has passed along
through life with reasonable acquire
ments.
He was criticised because he did not
force her into constant study, but
am satisfied from what l know of the
case that he did the very best that
the painful situation allowed. for the
mind OF the young lady. 1t was much
better That her health was protected In
that exIgency. She did retain her
mental faculties and went along with
young ladies and gentlemen and finally
married and had a family. Her fatI,-
ers judgment was indicated, for she
might have spent much OF her life in
an insane asylum without relief o.