The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-05
Education Through
Little line Each
Day in Reading

Do you lorg for an education7 Are
you lamentlng the fact that you had
70 stop school at an early age on ac-
count Of poor health, or the lack Of
funds TO finish? 1t Is said that fifteen
minutes spent in reading something
useful every day will make you edu-
Gated These questions and this con-
clusion occur to Miss M. n. Pease. OF
Richmond. who writes for the
Raleigh, y. C.. Progressive Farmer. as
follows:
A great many but not all our famous
men had a college education. Take
Benja min Franklin. for instance:
poor boy in a family OF ten children.
His parents were humble. ambitious
and industrious. At ten years OF age
his school life fas completed and he
was taken into his fathers shop to
run errands. and help at candle
making. But he had taste for read
ing and had access to only few
books. but those he devoured Bum
vans Pilgrims Progress was the first
book he loved and he read and re-
read it O number Of times. He also
/ cad anything and everything he could
get his hands on.
It would take too long TO tell the
story Of Franklin's eagernees to learn.
hut we ali know that he made himself
what he was ~ his own perseverance
the discover. of electricity, governor
of Pennsylvania and ambassador to
France. where he spoke French
fsuentiy Being self-taught, he shcul /
be glorious example for those who
have desire but little means for
education.
You may not be discoverer. gov
ernor-or ANITA ssader, but there may
be other things as important You
who read this may be farmer. and
what is mors important than firm
ing2 Doesn't the whole nation de-
pend upon the farmers for what they
eat and wear7 Because you live on
the farm do not think that you
shouldn't he educated. because of all
people who do need II II Is the farmer
Some farmers couldn't be paid {" sub
scribe to fermf paper They '-now
more than the man who wrote the
paper" so they say. Maybe they do;
the one who edits the paper doesn't
claim to know all that's In 1t, but cells
what he knows and invites others TO
tell what they know and have an ex-
change Of ideas.
You may not have thought OF II
before. hut farming is profession
and everyone who has profession
should study and read as much about
ii as possible, for If they do not, how
can they be successfuir
There are other things farmers
should know besides farming. They
should read moral uplifting books
and magazines, and take the daily
nev'spe pers to keep mp with the lines,
Farm life would not be so lonesome
If there were more things to read. If
YOU have only few books read them.
II there Is \ library in your church or
the school where the children Of your
family attend, by al means make use
Of II. If there are no libraries near.
borrow from your >neighbors II they
Will, lend. and be sure to take care of
whatever they do lend so they Will
lend again.
You will probably say you haven't
time for reading. I have very little
time myself. but I take advantage of
every spare moment. ] always have
a book or magazine on hand to read
l lay them on a shelf In the kitchen
ana every minute have to spare ,ead
a few lines. I also read while
churn, and always try to have supper
early so we all can read few hours
and get to bed in reasonable time.
I am a great lover OF poetry and
learn a great deal by having a poetry
book before me while ironine. I learn
ed by heart, while ironing my favcritc
poem. the beautiful and inspiring
Gray'e "Elegy." also memorfze
while cleaning up. II we all would
make every moment useful we would
be superior TO what we now are