Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1878 — Relative Importance of Studies. [ARTICLE]

Relative Importance of Studies.

Evidently the most useful knowledge, for without it all other knowledge would be worthless, is that which teaches us to escape the perils by which on every side we are constantly beset. Here Nature has done much, and our every-day experience compels us to be constantly learning the lessons of selfpreservation. Yet how imperfect our knowledge in this department is, may be judged from the fact that very few of ns eanibesaid-.to b& in. perfect health. And—it-is—indeed surprising, that many people seem rather tb'glOFV in their ignorance. A man who will blush to admit his ignorance on some point of heathen mythology will yet confess that he does not know the functions of the liver or lungs. Next in order of importance is that knowledge which enables ns to earn a livelihood. Here, too, science is of supreme importance; for, do we but shovel dirt, the labors of the chemist, physicist, mathematician, mechanic, anil perhaps astronomer, were required in collecting the material, and constructing the instrument, with whieh we work. Hardly is there any occupation of civilized life, that is not directly dependent upon science. Of third importance, because only by the two foregoing does it become of value, is the knowledge of the proper way in which to real’ the young, if the sciences of psychology and physiology were better, we do not say perfectly, understood, how much better physically, intellectually and morally, would be the condition of future generations! Of fourth importance is the knowledge of one’s duties as a citizen; anti to acquire this, a knowledge of the elements of sociology is“necessary. This can well be obtained by tho study of organized history; not the history that treats of battles and defeats, that this is prolific in names and dates, but Tliat which treats of manners, customs, morals.

Of fifth and least importance, comes the knowledge by which we obtain the relaxations and pleasures which fill our leisure time and render life more enjoyable. Under this head comes an acquaintance with language, literature, art,' music and the like. But here, too, science is at least co-equal; for more and more is a thorough, knowledge of acoustics becoming necessary to the skilled musician, and the-best artist is he who most closely translates Nature, The great poet is of nefcessity a good psychologist; then, too, what poetry can appeal more strongly to the imagination than that long streak of traprock, those parallel scratches on yotfdcr ledge, that handful of silicious earth, or piece of chalk? — N. Y. School Journal.