THE BOROUGH. LETTER XXIV. SCHOOLS. Tu quoque ne metuas, quamvis schola verbere multo Quòd sceptrum vibrat ferulæ, quòd multa supellex AUSONIUS in Protreptico ad Nepotem. 75 OUR concluding subject is Education; and some attempt is made to describe its various seminaries, from that of the poor widow who pronounces the alphabet for infants, to seats whence the light of learning is shed abroad on the world. If, in this Letter, I describe the lives of literary men as embittered by much evil; if they be often disappointed, and sometimes unfitted for the world they improve; let it be considered that they are described as men who possess that great pleasure, the exercise of their own talents, and the delight which flows from their own exertions: they have joy in their pursuits, and glory in their acquirements of knowledge. Their victory over difficulties affords the most rational cause of triumph, and the attainment of new ideas leads to incalculable riches, such as gratify the glorious avarice of aspiring and comprehensive minds. Here, then, I place the reward of learning. — Our Universities produce men of the first scholastic attainments, who are heirs to large possessions, or descendants from noble families. Now, to those so favoured, talents and acquirements are, unquestionably, means of arriving at the most elevated and important situations; but these must be the lot of a few: in general, the diligence, acuteness, and perseverance of a youth at the University, have no other reward than some College honours and emoluments, which they desire to exchange, many of them, for very moderate incomes in the obscurity of some distant village: so that, in stating the reward of an ardent and powerful mind to consist principally (I might have said, entirely) in its own views, efforts, and excursions, I place it upon a sure foundation, though not one so elevated as the more ambitious aspire to. It is surely some encouragement to a studious man to reflect that, if he be disappointed, he cannot be without gratification; and that, if he gets but a very humble portion of what the world can give, he has a continual fruition of unwearying enjoyment, of which it has not power to deprive him. Schools of every Kind to be found in the Borough The School for Infants-The School Preparatory: the Sagacity of the Mistress in foreseeing Character-Day-Schools of the lower Kind - A Master with Talents adapted to such Pupils: one of superior Qualifications Boarding-Schools: that for young Ladies: one going first to the Governess, one finally returning Home School for Youth: Master and Teacher; various Dispositions and Capacities - The MiserBoy The Boy-Bully - Sons of Farmers: how amused -What Study will effect, examined - A College Life: one sent from his College to a Benefice; one retained there in Dignity The Advantages in either Case not considerable - Where, then, the Good of a literary Life?— Answered Conclusion. |