The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-03-23
NOTHING WITHOUT LABOR"

This motto. which is a favorite with people
who do not work, contains an important
truth which cannot be too fully impressed
upon the young. AS matter of fact men
may without labor acquire possession OF
things, but they do not seem to get per-
feet title to anything without labor. The
heirs to great fortunes very often turn out
tobespendthrifts, lacking thetrainingw which
would enable them to take care OF their
property. In the realm of learning ones
attainments seem 10 be proportioned to the
labor expended upon their requirement.
The favored son, whose education is pro-
vided for in the most liberal way, seldom
distinguishes himself as much as some one
who has had hard struggle to obtain books
and to master their contents without the
aid of teacher. This observation might
be turned into an argum ent against schools
and educational methods but for the fact
that schools are intended for the many, not
for the few geniuses who might obtain
learning painfully without their aid. For
every boy who has educated himself and
attained distinction thousand, perhaps,
have tried and failed, but the schools train
thousands up to certain point, and 1t they
interfere with the development of natural
talents by making the pathway too easy,
only few suffer from the want of sufficient
stimulus to study. The young man who
has had great difficulty in acquiring ele-
mentary knowledge, having no teacher to
help him, has on this account received
mental training of the greatest value, and
if his native powers should be great, may
be expected to accomplish more than one
who, with equal natural gifts, has had his
training neglected. The labor of study not
only stores the memory, but trains the OBJ
serving faculties and Observation-Disclosures
When the labor of study is minimized by
the help of the teacher the memory may be
stored with facts and rules, but the reason
ing faculties are left unframed, and the
knowledge gained, for the time being, not
being assimilated or made part of ones
self, is soon dissipated or forgotten. The
advantages gained by the whole body Of
pupils from system of study and the aid
of teachers, while undeniable, are offset in
the case Of an individual of great natural
powers by the making of the task too easy
He does not get enough mental exercise
nor develop his own individuality. Il
would be better for such man to have
difficulties to'overcome, and then his labor
would bring to him high reward. Schoo
children should be helped-but only tt
help themselves, for unless they work ou
their own problembs and learn to observt
and think as we'll as to memorize thei
attainments will be of little more servict
to them than if they had bought their d.
plomas with ready cash. It is not strictly
true that there is nothing without labor
but it is true that the value of everything
from gold or silver to learning, is roughl!
measured by the value or amount of tn
labor required to. produce it. The trad
easily or quickly learned is of little value
and the lessons easily acquired are of littl
Importance beside those which requir
thought and study to work out. 'Nihi
sine lahore" is, therefore, q good motto TO
teachers and pupils to keep in memory
The circumstances by which youth ma,
be surrounded tend largely to shape hi
course in life, but it cannot be said tina
either poverty or riches develop his char
acter best. Elihu Burritt, the 'learne
blacksmith was poor youth, and Georg
Washington inherited large estate. We
both developed great abilities in Their way