The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-10-01
EDUCATION-AIM AND OBJECT

II SChOOl tlIiC duu yOu are cu-
rolling. For whatp Are you en-
rolling that you may be polished to
shine before the footlights of the
world? Is it your desire to get in a
position that you may have less
than formerly to do? Don mis-
take yourself my friend, for you are
not to get the idea in your head that
training means to do less, but to do
more. 1t does not matter whether
you wear patent leather pumps or
brogans, whether your hat be
Knox or Bullrush, the thing that is
to mark your consequence among
men,i what can you do? For what
are you best fitted?
The aim is to gain certain a
mount of knowledge. 1t means
work; it means indefatigable energy.
incessant toll. determination that
knows no tagging, and stopping
not, till you mount the platform of
success. Like a traveller you must
observe the ground over which you
tread. so that in turn, you may des-
cribe the way to others. There is
no royal way, no smooth road; for
sometimes the path is rugged and
passage-way inslnuous; but all the
labyrinths of knowledge will be-
come plain walks to your mental
vision if you but continue to jour
icy on.
The object is to instill into your
mind thirst for knowledge, that
nothing will conquer or Quench.
I once met a noted bishop on the
train and he told me that be had
made it rule every year since his
graduation 10 master 40 books. The
eminent physician does not stop at
simple graduation. but practices a
while and then attends lectures, con-
tinues to take postgraduate courses
and with strict attention to his pro-
fession marks himself as an eminent
in his profession, and benefactor to
society. There is no such thing
as finishing school. neither is there
tinishing process, for the horizon
of education widens and stretches
into illlmitable space. When you
mas ter certain course or graduae
in particular school, you find that
you have really acquired thirst
for lifetime study. A few years ago
the learned DR.. Marsh Of Connecti-
cut was observed one Saturday af-
ternoon preparing his lesson for the
next mornings Sunday school class.
He had, lying on the liable, Il differ
ent authors that be had been consul
ting on that particular chapter; and
remarked: Il wish l had more books
for research on the lesson" If you
fail IN your study, to cultivate pas
sion for knowledge, your education
is failure.
Its am is to produce habits of in
dustry.
If your father or mine should
send us to school In order that we
might nave an easy time in the
world, or that we might discover
how to wear an E and w collar,
aud keep the creases smooth in our
trousers, he had far better take his
gold and grind 1t into powder and
scatter the dust on the water we
drink rather than we should be pol
ished to shine as ornaments for 80
ciety. Education is TO fit man for
service in the world He is to be
felt force in the community in which
he resides. manly man and a civic
citizen.
The aim is to take the selishness
out of our lives.
1t takes away sordid ambition,
and that disposition that would give
rancor for rancor, and railing for
railing. 1t takes away the scorpion
disposition that would tend to make
us feed and prey upon others. There
is nothing surer than this, that you
cannot get there, by trying to down
the other fellow. And it won't
work bit more in the penitentiary
than any other plaza. The educated
man has no time for the petty faults
Cor grievous for that matter) of
other folks. for he is too busy doing
things or his mind is too full of
noble, lofty thoughts to take pass
ing notice of the foibles and mis-
giving of others.