Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-10
Handicap
IN Education
Can Be Overcome
Copyright. 1915. star Company.
ny ELLA WHEELER wILCIN.

Copyright. 1916, star Company
Perhaps there is no more pathetic sit
uation in life than that Of the man or
woman of adult years who, through sud
den rise Of fortune, or through marriage.
finds a neglected education barrier to
happiness
An attractive exterior and kind heart
often blind a man to womans defi-
ciencies in education until she is placed
in daily contrast to his more cultured
relatives and associates, Then his pride
and the sensitive feelings Of the wife are
constantly wounded.
\ man of wealth Cboth of purse and
hcarO recently asked me how he could
overcome his lack Of education, improve
his language and enlarge his fund of in
formation without the humiliation of
placing himself under teachers.
He had acquired fortune and influence
In the business world. and had become
tho husband of a cultivated young
woman. He was conscious of being at
a disadvantage when in the presence of
her relatives and friends.
To this man and to every man and
woman similarly situated 1 would offer
this advice:
Procure the works of Washington Irv-
ing, Ralph Emerson, Thackeray and Ma
thaniel Hawthorne. Begin perhaps with
Emerson.
obtain a blank book and make a rule
OF writing a page, or a chapter, from
Emerson's essays each day. No matter
how unprepared your mind may be tor
this work. keep at It until interest is
awakened. Copy the words with pre-
cision and exactness. Consult dictionary
when any word which is not familiar
is encountered. Try to master the mean
ing OF every phrase but even II 1t escapes
you copy the words and pass on to- things
YOU do understand.
However dull this task may seem, you
are surely and certainly forming the
habit of correct phrasing. Added TO this
YOU are familiarizing yourself with good
literature and with the thoughts of great
minds
DO not try TO do too much at first
Work slowly and patiently But work
every day a little
Never copy more than one essay in
a day and be satisfied II you only copy
one printed page You will be surprised
to find how much you will accomplish in
a few months by this persistent prac-
dee
When YOU begin upon the novels do not
attempt to write down the entire book
Read all the chapters carefully. but copy
only those pages which seem most at
tractiye 10 YOU, or such thoughts as ap-
peal to you.
After YOU have advanced enough to
feel your Improvement, take up Shake
speare, Milton and Goethe, and follow
the same methods.
After one year of persistent work for
even an hour daily along these lines your
efforts will satisfy you that you are on
the right road to mental culture
Your mind will be as Transformed as
a garnet which careful hands nave
changed into bouaoir. by removing ruo-
ldsh and replacing it with wisely selected
furniture.
To read the leading magazines keeps
one In touch with current events ana
with the new discoveries and Inventions
of the day. Select perhaps two montnly
magazines and make a rule to read them
through each month. Avoid slipshoo
habits of reading. Never undertake 10
sneak OF an article you have read unless
Won are able to give clear idea OF IT,
Learn the great gift of being silent until
Won are sure of having something Oh
interest to say.
practice the art OF drawing other peo-
nile out and leading them to talk Listen
we'll and mediate upon what you near.
We Won are listening to the educated anu
cultured YOU viii be able to learn some
hing of the matter of expression even
70 Won obtain no real information.
Educated and cultured people do not
oIwavs impart information. Not infre-
quantity they are mere parrots repeat
inq what they have heard or read IN
stssd Of what they have thought ana
learned by experience,
No not imagine education means in
fslliblity of judgment or keen sense Oh
Justice. But it usually does mean cor
rect expression.
Notice the errors made by others IN
speech and in manners only TO sVolu
them. Notice their accomplishments TO
emulate them.
TRY to learn something new every day
Carry a little notebook, and II you near
n word which is not familiar keep 1t in
mind until you can jot It down. II you
read the word do the same and before
YOU sleep. and its meaning The next
morning think it over until It is added
to your vocabulary
IL YOU have leisure and means look
nm some school of correspondence and
lake a course OF study. Almost every
,ity has a school OF this kind and they
are excellent substitutes for colleges
rhetoric, mathematics, literature, are all
things which can be taught by CORE
spondcnce.
~ There is not the slightest necessity
for any human being today remaining
ignorant Incidence, lack of ambition
and lack Of application are the causes OF
Ignorance. not circumstances
whoever will, may acquire education
ct,Ifura