UNIVERSITY COURIER.
9
The greatest philosophers the world has ever known possessed this faculty in no small degree. Every one, to be a scholar, must train his powers of investigation. To thoroughly understand a subject he must, in his own mind, trace all the whys and wherefores. He must have a reason for the faith that is in him. Our college training is intended to bring about this result; but, alas! how many there are who will not exert themselves enough to lay the foundation well upon which they are to build in after years.
Now a few words to those who intend to become teachers. Yours is one of the highest offices, for nothing on earth is more precious than the mind, soul, and character of a child. It is your privilege to aid in developing these to their fullest capacity. In all things, strive to create a thirst for knowledge for its own sake, and one of the best aids is this spirit of investigation. Stimulate their curiosity in right directions. Take them to nature She has many wonders, and nothing could interest them more than these. They will understand your explanations, if you use simple language. Not all have this gift of talking to children, but it can be cultivated.
I hope you appreciate your great responsibility in laying the foundations for future greatness, and in all things teach those under your care to think for themselves. L.
ATTENTION.
Some one says that the power of attention is the distinguishing feature between the wise and the great, and the vulgar and trifling herd of men. It may seem strange, then, that the wise and the great are so few, and the vulgar so many. But attention is a selfish power. It humbles the senses. It requires the mind to become lost in self—to yield all its powers to the accomplishment of our prime object. It rules a despot; but it frees the soul from anarchy. The student cannot divide his time between society and study—as well try to serve God and Mamon. Retirement offers him peculiar advantages. It gives him opportunity to store away information needful for some fixed course in life. It induces independent thought and gives genius room to develop. Removed from the clash—the jar—the general discord of commingling elements, his mind gains that freedom of action, that complete absorption in thought, which the outer world denies. Truly, he, who would be great, must first, as Thompson so beautifully expresses, "steal himself from the degenerate crowd, tread low-thoughted vice beneath his feet, sooth the throbbing passions into peace, and woo lone quiet in her silent walks." A privilege but few can enjoy. Few do who can. Publius Scipio said that he was never less idle than when he had most leisure, and never less alone than alone. Enviable existence when the powers of the soul find profitable occupation, and that self-fruition which society with all her allurments cannot give. Pitiable, indeed, is the one whom severe fortune condemns to drudgery. "Hackneyed in business, weared at that oar which thousands, once chained fast to, quit no more"—who for want of leisure, can never know life's superior enjoyments, but must be content with their miserable pittance which limited privileges grant in his intercourse with the social world. Genius loves to invent in secret. Alone with nature scientists make their discoveries. From seclusion are brought
forth finest productions of art and literature. Dr. Johnson says: "There is no man eminent for extent of capacity, or greatness of exploit, who has not left behind him some memorials of lonely wisdom and silent dignity."
SOCIETY.
Society is the natural state of man. Solitude is distasteful. He wants some enjoyment and he cannot always find it solitude. But society as it exists to-day gives anything but pleasure to intelligent men and women; that is, society in general. In our smaller cities instead of seeing a united community endeavoring to assist and encourage each other, we see naught but petty jealousies breaking out. Each vainly attempting to outdo the other in dress and display. They are constantly boasting of their deeds and virtues and decrying those of their neighbors. If gatherings are made, instead of mutual help and instruction, they endeavor to make a larger display than some one else. All noble and elevating attributes of a pure society are subordinated to this disagreeable rivalry. Husbands and fathers are made unhappy; wives and mothers, unhappy. Children growing up in its fetid atmosphere carry the conduct of the father and mother far beyond the point they had ever dared to think of approaching. Society made up of this character of people is injurious, ruinous to the lives of those who are tangled in its web. It is some satisfaction to know that we can turn from this sort of society to that which merits the esteem of even the most degenerate. Among the higher classes of men where intelligence and talent are the rule rather than the exception, we happily find men and women who are capable of carrying on an instructive and entertaining conversation. We find them devoting this time to discussions for the advancement of their fellow men. Here do we find the "feast of reason and flow of soul." Here a man may give his ideas without being called a boor. Unfortunately for those who would enjoy the presence of such, this society is restricted, not because it is exclusive but because it is not always convenient to meet with them. It is not permitted to us to move in the circle with such men as Bryant, Longfellow, Emerson, Irving, Hawthorne, and a host of others, whose society was elevating in itself. But thanks to them, if we cannot converse with them face to face, we may at least converse with them in the wealth of literature which they have left behind them. This is the society of intelligence, manhood and womanhood.
But we are of necessity forced into contact with the society that floats about us, let it be in as small degree as possible. What a shabby-gentility of society it is. How ludicrous it is compared with society just mentioned. 'Tis but a paste-board triumph and cavalcade. This lower class of society tries to ape the external appearance of more intelligent society. With gapping mouths and vacant eyes they are incapable of entering into the thorough intellectual spirit of their would-be model. How vapid and unsatisfactory is society. It yields not one redeeming trait but presents but one unbroken field of tinsel show. The gabble and prattle of society as it is seen among us, resembles the tinkling of cimbles, and the sounding of brass. What a wealth of rank, shallow and empty twaddle that emanates from the brains of those who rejoice in a questionable reputation of being the favorites in society.