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“Economize Time, my Son; for Time well spent beareth goodly fruit; while he that squanders Time is like the barren fig-tree, fit only to be hewn down."

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CHAPTER I.

USELESS LEARNING-PRECEPTS-THEIR SUGGESTIVE

INFLUENCE-LANDMARKS OF WISDOM.

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HE history of men's follies," says Fontenelle, "makes no small part of our learning, and, unhappily for us, much of our knowledge terminates here."

The chief object of education is to

prepare us for some useful and important

vocation of active life. Aside from this, learning is not worthy of its name; for that which is not available is worthless; even science itself is useless unless subservient to human progress, and under the direction of human reason. What man of good sense cares a straw for the senseless prattle about the claims of one of the heathen gods over another, whether Jupiter was born upon Mount Ida; whether Venus was lovely, or Minerva wise; whether Psyche was the daughter of a king, or of Sol and Constancy? Whether the Medea" of Sophocles or Ovid's

"Metamorphoses best illustrates the doctrine of space and infinity? Of what use is a labyrinth of philosophical absurdities, miscalled science, to win man's end and aim in the great BATTLE OF LIFE? Will they make him happy; or teach him his duty to his God, himself, or his neighbour? Will they teach him to curb his desires or regulate his conduct? Will they give him a clear idea of the works of nature, and the wonders that are every day passing before his sight? Can they be productive of good? or will they ensure him the philosopher's two great blessings of life-a sound body and a pure mind; a state of FELICITY IN ITS HIGHEST ATTAINMENT !

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If we wish to benefit ourselves or the community in which we live, let us study things that are essential to life; let us acquire that knowledge upon which the grand pillars of society rest for its peace and happiness. Knowledge of this kind is always in demand, is always available, and it is by means of it that so many self-taught men attain the highest intellectual greatness, and win the esteem and admiration of the world.

It is good to excel in music; it is well to excel as a linguist. To excel in any art or science is praiseworthy; but let the foundation be the morality and wisdom taught by a Socrates and a Seneca-the guides of the illustrious men of subsequent ages, who bequeathed to us the valuable lessons-that from practising the wisdom of bygone times they overcame obstacles in life that otherwise would have been insurmountable; that from a lowly condition they rose to influence and affluence; and that by furthering science and art, they promoted civilization, and thus became great by working out the general welfare of mankind.

From communion with the arts flow the graces, the affections, the charities of life; and as beneficent nature ever blesses the individual who contributes to the advancement and welfare of his species, so from the same source is derived our purest, most exquisite, and most enduring happiness!

PRECEPTS taught these men that to live well was to live for others. By precepts the understanding is nourished and to the observance of our augmented. Precepts lead us duties, and the virtues of PRUDENCE and JUSTICE are inspired by them. Those men stored up precepts and examples to regulate their own lives. In a word, precepts and examples taught them the great secret of Life

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