The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-04-12
To Get An Education at Home.

A Nebraska boy writes us that he
| is unable to attend school and would
like us to suggest books that he can
study at home for the purpose of de-
veloping a vocabulary, spelling and
learning the rules of grammar.
TO begin with, grammar does not
teach us how to speak correctly or how
to write correctly. 1t is simply some
rules by which we determine whether
we are speaking or writing incorrect
| ly AS matter of fact, we speak the
language we hear at home and write
the language of papers and books we
read.
| There are three books within the
reach of every boy, which he ought
| literally to devour, whether for the
purpose of acquiring correct style,
or obtaining information. The first
of these is the English bible, which
laid the foundation for our modern
English language The second is Bun
vans Pilgrims Progress, and the third
Shakespeare. We refer now to the
plays of Shakespeare, not to his SON.
nets. Every boy, no matter what his
future life is to be, should be thor
oughly acquainted with these three
books, and the boy who masters them
| is pretty well-educated man, better
educated than many of the boys who
go through college without mastering
them.
| There is no better way to learn
spelling than the old-fashioned spell
| ing school, of which there should be
one in every neighborhood. Every
neighborhood suffers a loss that does
not have it. These three books, sup
plemented by a course in the spelling
school, will lay the foundation for a
good style. Then if he will follow it
up by reading the very best books, es-
pecially those that are time-tried such
as Scott and Dickens, and our own
best American authors, such as the
speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Charles
Sumner, Wendell Phillips and writer's
Of the New England school, and mas
| ter them he cannot help having a
good style. 1t may not be their style,
but it will be the style adapted to him
and the expression of his own per-
sOnality
We have too many books now that
are filled with trash, books that are
great sellers for a time, but have no
lasting influence. 1t is good thing
not to read book until it has been
out at least two years; and if it con-
tinues to be read after five or ten
years, you can safely buy it.
There is an old saying, Beware of
the man of one book" that is, the
man who picks out the best books and
so masters them that they become as
iron in his blood. He should avoid
reading trashy newspapers. The paper
that is offered at very low price is
one to avoid. The fact that it is not
able to command d decent price is suf-
ficient evidence upon which to con-
denim it. If it were worth anything,
it would not be offered for less than
the cost of putting it on the press.
Cultivate by all means the art of
conversation. You will never meet
person who cannot teach you some
thing. Every man, whether he ever
goes to college or not, should learn to
know both man and men. He should
know humanity; and then he should
so understand all classes of men that
he is able to get their viewpoint. If
man does all this, he will be all the
better for going to college; but he
may be better equipped man than
many who do go. Go to college if you
can; but the fact that you cannot
need not hinder you from being
man among men.-Wallaces' Farmer.