The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-17
A SATURDAY SERMON.
Hear instruction, and. be wise, and re
fuse it not. Proverbs VIII f: 80.

Hear instruction. and. be wise, and re-
fuse it not Proverbs VIII 30.
If this precept of Solomon were
more generally followed. there would
be many more fine Successes IN life. It
would take on added charms and in
terest for many who are struggling
along in the rut Of self-sufhciency.
Any number of persons are alto
gether too prone to think that they are
adequate unto themselves In all things.
They are particularly loath to accept
instruction from any one or from any
source. It is about the last thing in
the world they would seel. on any sub
! ject. AS soon as they reach the age
of maturity, and very frequently be-
fore they get that far along, they form
the ridiculous belief that they are just
about as wise in all things as it is pos
sible for humans to be. They have a
judgment and an opinion on every
thing under the sun. And theirs is the
only right and tenable one in their own
minds They plod along with their
work, and also with their play. ac-
eording to their own ideas. They Will
take advice from no one. They would
/ AOl AilAtih u SSCAAA5 AAtGN- A~--D-- -
anything No, indeed. they know it
all. The results Of such an attitude are
known to every discerning person. The
people of the Hiram-Know-All type
never accomplish anything very Won
derful in their lines Of work, and they
fail to get all Of the possible enjoy
ment out of their play.
Poor, deluded. unfortunate Great
ures! There are some of them who
go 50 far as to think that It is an ex-
hibition of ignorance to accept or ask
for instruction on any subject. Why, a
man was actually once heard to re-
mark that he considered it an ac-
acknowledgement of ignorance for a per-
son to consult a dictionary frequently.
The righteousness Of such a conten-
ton viii appeal to every one with the
/ possible exception Of the man who
made it. 1t is merely mentioned for the
sake of showing what peculiar and I'M
enlightened notions are held by those
who are inflicted with the conceit of
their self-adequacy
Instead Of stunning instruction,
every man. woman and child should
seek it and be glad to get it from
i any anu every CO4AEC- 4AE4S II
nothing that presents a greater
ard more wholesome truth than
the old adage to the effect that
one is never too old to learn. No mat
tier how we'll aducated a man may be,
or how wide has been his experience,
there are others on earth, or who are
living in the books which they have
left behind, that are capable of giving
him some sound information and fur
Their instruction of value. even in his
own specialties. In fact, the better
ieducated and the more experienced a
man is, the more does h. realize the
extent of his own deficiencies. and the
more eager is he to better equip him
self in all things.
Those who refuse instruction, who
think the search for it is belittling--
they are the truly ignorant. They
should be held up to derision, and
would be, if their condition were MOI
SO pitiable. Failure in work. unhappt
ness in life, and countless other IN.
desirable attributes Of existence are
the only portions that are in store fol
Them