It have given undue emphasis to drill. has been thought that better results, or quicker results, would be obtained by omitting one or the other of these factors. Some have magnified the element of exercise; they have likened education to gymnastics; mental training has been believed to consist in the rapidity with which certain acts are performed; they would have every teacher a drill-master. But they forget the element of acquisition, that the mind must have materials with which to work. Perhaps the blacksmith could harden the muscles of his arm and make it strong by merely pounding the anvil, instead of working to fashion the hot steel. But it is not so with mental effort. The exercise which strengthens the mind has a purpose. Aimless repetition makes the mind dull and mechanical. Mental training is not like turning a crank; it is rather like the athlete's spring, like the racer's dash. Lessing uttered only a half-truth, or a truth which has often been misapplied, when he said that if he held truth like a bird in his hand he would let it fly away that he might catch it again, since it is the pursuit of truth, he says, which is valuable, rather than the truth itself. But truth is desired because of its value in itself or in its applications. Modern industry has been developed by utilizing the truths which science has sought out. Scholarship is the reward which comes to him who has found and appropriated many truths. The mind grows strong in the process if the search for truth is intelligent and thoroughly in earnest. The truth must be worthy of the pursuit; it must call forth the mind's best energies. Hence the value of interest in study; listless or aimless study yields no strength. Select studies in which you feel a spontaneous interest, if you can ; if not, create an interest. College days ought to yield us an enduring enthusiasm in some department of study. It often happens, indeed, that the early enthusiasm thus gained leads to valuable results in after life, or determines one's future calling. Have you a lesson or a class exercise to prepare? Set before yourselves the highest standard; be content with no slovenly work. Bring all the energies of your mind to the preparation. Train your faculties to respond to your demands. upon them as the pitcher trains his muscles. Do not allow yourselves to spend two hours upon what should be done in forty minutes. Permit no interruption, no wandering thoughts. Learn to concentrate all your powers and compel them to act every time with their utmost vigor. This is the secret of growth. 4 |