shed who have once learned the art of redeeming
time. Study the causes of the success of Benjamin
Franklin, of Lincoln, of McKinley, of Sir Michael
Faraday, of Agassiz, of Edison. Learn the might of minutes. 25
"Every day is a little life, and our whole life is a
day repeated. Those that dare lose a day are dangerously
prodigal; those that dare misspend it, desperate." Emerson
says, "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
Sound and wholesome recreation is important in our
scheme; but in this age of athletic frenzy the danger of 5
neglect on that line is not excessive. The real fact is that
athletic sports are educating the muscles too often at the
expense of the brain.
It is the mind work that differentiates you from the herd.
Mental culture calls for study--carefully planned, regular, 10
persistent. One or two hours a day, aiming at some distinct
object, mastering what you learn, adding little by
little, like a miser to his store, will in a few years make of
you a broad, educated man, no matter what your schooling.
To abuse time, have no system. Chance everything. 15
Do your work indifferently. Growl if too much is asked.
Hunt for an easy job. Change often. Dodge obstacles.
Always come a little short of the standard. Fritter away
in silly things the few golden moments left for self-culture.
Then you will not crowd anybody very hard in the contest 20
for leadership.
Time abused is bad luck.
1. What great men do you know of who divided up
their day in the way suggested here? Make out a
timetable for yourself and see how you can improve
it and how long you can stick to its use.
2. In what did the "success" of each of the men
mentioned in the fourth paragraph consist? Make one
of the studies suggested and report your findings
to the class.
3. What out-of-door exercises educate both brain
and muscles? What is the special value of games
played by a team? What great people of ancient
times trained the body as well as the mind?
4. Which paragraphs define bad luck? What is it?
HIDDEN TREASURE
BY CHARLES READE
Charles Reade (1814-1884) was born at Ipsden,
England, and educated at Oxford. He wrote plays and
novels, the latter usu
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