A scientific man recently said, “You can not manufacture
diamonds.” To a certain extent this has been disputed, for
another famous scientist claims that he has produced genuine
diamonds, tho too minute to be of commercial value. In the
pastoral epistles of Paul minute descriptions are given by
the apostles concerning the true furnishing of the minister of
Christ.
The members of a congregation said of their new minister that
they had got hold of “a gem of a pastor.” No college had made
him a gem, but it was equally true that the excellent curriculum
through which he had passed in a theological institution had
polished him. He was not mere ministerial paste, but being a
rough diamond when he went in, those who trained him sent him
out cut and polished.
(873)
* * * * *
I discovered on a leafless sapling near my window two birds, an
adult phœbe and a young one apparently lately out of the nest.
The elder kept up a running talk, occasionally darting out after
a passing insect, which--I was surprized and amused to see--she
carried to the little tree, and, after the youngster had seen
it and opened its mouth to receive it, she swallowed herself!
upon which the youth uttered a wailing cry. Then would come
another long talk, and at every pause a complaining note from
the infant. Several times these performances were repeated. Then
the elder flew away, when at once the little one began to look
out for himself, actually flying out, and once or twice while
I looked succeeding in securing his prey.--OLIVE THORNE
MILLER, “The Bird Our Brother.”
(874)
* * * * *
To what shall I liken education? I would liken education to a
voyage: A great ship rides in dock near a flat shore covered
with small, low houses, and troops of little people go on board.
The ship swings away from the wharf and makes out for the open
sea. Captain, mates, and most of the crew know the course and
the haven; but the passengers never crossed before. It is a
long, long, voyage through storm and calm, through cold and
heat; a voyage of years; a voyage that tests faith. The years
pass and the little people grow and grow. During the voyage most
of the passengers go overboard into the open sea; but some make
the voyage to arrive at a coast with mountains and valleys,
cities and castles, a world of powers and of activities unseen
by the dwellers upon the low coast on the other side of the sea
of life.
Such is education. And the question is how to keep the
passengers on board until the ship makes harbor.--WILLIAM
ESTABROOK CHANCELLOR, “Proceedings of the National
Education Association,” 1909.
(875)
* * * * *
John Stuart Mill, in his autobiography, says concerning his education:
The children of educated parents frequently grow up unenergetic
because they lean on their parents, and the parents are
energetic for them. The education which my father gave me was in
itself much more fitted for training me to know than to do.
(876)
See PRODIGY, A; THINGS, NOT BOOKS.