The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-13
The Study Of Biography
BY Elizabeth s. Peck, Ph.D., Pro-
fessor Of History, Berea
Academy
Two Kinds Of Play

dren and rich adults have always
busted themselves with play, but now
we have learned that young and old
rich and poor, fat and thin, laborer
and loafer, farmer and banker, all
must kick up their heels, stretch their
muscles out Of laziness, and forget
their cares in the abandon of physi-
cal play. Some take TO swimming,
others to baseball, while still others
crank up the family fiivver for care
free spin through the countryside.
In any case, the aim is the same, re-
freshing, recreating play.
But the mind is not satisfied with
only physical play. 1t Graves mental
play also, to relieve the dull ache
which torments mind as well as mus
Gle after the days work. One Of the
chief aims Of education is TO interest
boys and girls in cultural subjects
through which they may find mind
play when later they are bound to
factory, counter, and furrow. The
immense popularity Of the movie and
the newspaper shows how eager is
the world for this mental recreation.
How People Find Mind-Play
There are a great many people
who do not feel satisfied to limit
their mind or cultural-recreation to
the witticisms Of Jiggs, the daily
record Of bold robberies and grue-
some murders, the latest gymnastics
Of Douglas Fairbanks, and some new
flirtations Of movie belle. Back Of
this clamoring crowd there rests a
host of quiet, thoughtful souls finding
their relief under the shadow Of great
thoughts and noble men. Alike in
simple, quiet farmhouse, in crowded
city fiat, and in luxurious home Of
wealth, there are men and women
who have learned to refresh their
minds in leisure hours by reading
poetry, by following the latest inven-
lions, by travelling in thought to for
eign lands, or by studying the master
pieces Of art as they sit by their
own firesides.
A form Of cultural play which is a
favorite with many people, both young
and old, is the study Of the lives Of
great men. It Is worth while to con-
slider the merits Of biography as a
form Of mental recreation and stimu-
lus.
Getting Acquainted With Great Men
One Of the advantages Of biography
is that it lifts the mind Of the reader.
whether he be inexperienced youth
or tired toiler, by easy and natural
stages from the commonplace here
and now to the distant heights Of the
heroic. There Is so much In common
between the greatest Of man and the
most ordinary Of us that It is easy
for us everyday folk to make friends
with Martin Luther throwing his ink
we'll at the devil, Napoleon fleeing
home from Russia by carriage, and
Lincoln telling yarns to his callers.
Before long we lose our own little
selves in the heroic personality of
our hero. We dare with Luther to
face the Emperor at Worms. We
sweep over the map Of Europe from
Constantinople to London as we study
side by side with Napoleon. We
stand with Lincoln at Gettysburg as
he dedicates that blood soaked field
to the nations dead
Living With Great Men y
Then what satisfaction to walk
and talk and act with the great men
of earth! He who rides VIGOROUSLY
through Italy with Hannibal Is no
longer a mere schoolboy. He who
sails out upon the Atlantic with Co
lumbus Is no longer a weary clerk.
He who in company with Governor
Bradford guides the destinies Of the
Pilgrims through those critical years
Of Plymouth's foundation is no longer
sleepy farmer. He who with
Lloyd George faces the task Of pre-
pairing for war in the very midst OF
war is no longer factory hand. He
who struggles with that master-poet,
Poe, Is no longer a lazy aristocrat
tied down TO luxury. To walk and
talk with the great men Of earth
makes one their companion for the
moment al least. Ten thousands Of
readers who never in all their lives
saw a real poet, live king nor even
president, and who would be strik-
en- utterly dumb II they should be
ushered into the presence Of such an
one. are already on friendly terms
with the greatest Of poets. the noblest
Of kings and the most statesmanlike
presidents, all through books.
Biography and Ones Own Character |