THE BATTALION.
15
and monotonous as that through which he has just led his
mental forces in triumph. Ample food is furnished for the
nourishment of every part of the mind. The understanding
and reason is strengthened by the purest examples of logical
sequences to which there are no alternatives. The imagina
tion becomes elastic in its growth by airy figures in true
geometrical proportion, with thousands of curves and lines
arranged with an exactness that would do honor to an
architect. Thus fortified against all influences that incapaci
tate a man for acquiring knowledge by study or observation,
a man certainly is prepared to enter upon the study of any
business with great advantage. But the indolent man replies
that some of our greatest men have never studied math
ematics. So can we say some of the greatest orators have
never studied oratory ; some of the greatest architects and
engineers have neve’ - studied architecture and engineering;
some of the gaeatest generals have never read a book on the
military art; even Enoch and Elijah got to heaven without
dying. If we were all Newtons, Burkes, Websters and
Bonapartes, naturally all we would have to do would be to
receive the homage of the world and lie in indolence. But
we are not, and will have to accept our condition and act
accordingly. Where some men have been born with trained
minds, the majority find it necessary to labor hard to attain
the same degree of mental discipline, and until a boy is thor
oughly convinced that he is destined by his mental calibre to
assume the mantle of the departed Webster, it is necessary
for him to subject himself to some stern mental training,
such as the study of abhorred mathematics. But it must not
be inferred that it is to monopolize the mind. It is only an
assistant; other branches can be carried on at the same
time- It is not an end to be accomplished ; it is only the
means by which to acquire knowledge. After it has shar-
paned the intellect it can be dispensed with, and the time
can be exclusively devoted to our special occupations or the
study of literature. Beyond the mere fact of being a trainer
of the mind, it is intimately connected with the study of