Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, December 01, 1877, Page 237, Image 4
1 237 Bk Tkuk to Self. Vol. yi Ilia 4k. who study only moral and spirilul con duct and laws, and so can comprehend on. ly the God of spirit. The result in cither case is bigotry and incroduality. The bigoty and incroduality which come a the fruit of unsymmi'trioally educated in tcllccts, is aptly illustrated in the story of Father Sheiner, a German Jesuit, and his superior. This Father was not allowed by his superior to publish the results of his studies nnC observations of the spots onthesun. "I have," said the lattar, "read Aristotle's writings from end to end many times, and I can assure you that 1 have no where found in them anything similar to what you mention. Go away, son; trair quilizc yourelf; be assured that what you take for spots on the sun are only the faults of your glasses or your eyes." When the world is rid of all Mich lop sided intellects as that of this Mipurior, and men make their cultuic broad enough to comprehend more fully both physical and spiritual truth, then there will be low er conflicts found to e.tst between science and religion. To recapitulate, art may enlarge, im prove and give symmetry to intellect, and hence it should not only make men wiser, but better uud nobler. UltlltL. BE TltUK TO SELF. People differ from one another in indi vidual ability. To this fact we are in debted for that great diversity of huuiuii employments which we pee on every hand. If all men were fashioned after a common pattern so far as having the same ability and turn of mind, enterprise would cease, and a fatal stagnation uike possession of society. And yet some people seem to have the idea that a person can become what he will if he only work for it. If this idea were true, it would virtually dis prove the proposition with which we coin inenced, but it is false in theory, and in practice its good results would be more than offset by undesirable onos. Its refu. tation will be found in viewing the var ious shades of character around us. The application of this law of diversity in mental ability is interesting and instruc tive, especially in the case of those who are about to start in life. Among students therefore, we rind a good chance to ob serve this prinriple. Here, we see one who is endowed with great natural gifts which are made good use of. lie is very successful in his stud ies. He takes a prominent part in the en terprises of his fellow students, and in the work of the literary society. His deport ment itself gains for him respect and at tention, and we feel assured of a bright career for him in after life. Another one may be an i ml i Herein scholar, and yet in other respects figure as prominently as the fust. Then again, we see one who is successful in stud, hut retiring in man ner. He does not seem to court attention, and oftentimes does not attract much. Sometimes this type is found in an ex treme form, ami then we find one who is indifferent as a scholor, and unattractive as well as retiring. Thus we might go on and extend the list, but let the types we have already giv en serve as examples. If, in fact, we were to attempt a classification of the shades of character that present themselves to our notice, so many variations would appear, that we would be forced to the conclusion that seldom do 11113' lwo persons closely re semble each other in their respective abil ities. The first clasB are not numerous, and they excite admiration, it not also en vy. Their companions feel an almost in fctinctive wish to be line them, although aware that hindrances lie in the way. Impressed, however, with the belief that self-eulture will remove these, they press forward with high hopes. Some realize their hopes, while others are-forced to ad mit that the full measure of their a bililies will not allow them to attain it, and so are compelled, unwillingly per haps at first, to content themselves with less exalted ideals-