Educational Aim in South Africa. 193 



lectuality of the highest order, have here, as a rule, an essentially 

 practical bent given to them, and comparatively few are encouraged 

 to find in their pursuit intellectual pleasure in leisure time. There is 

 one field of Science, however, where the conditions of this country 

 offer special facilities and attractions to the ordinary man — I mean 

 Astronomy. Our clear skies and pure atmosphere are surely similar 

 to those of the Eastern countries, where this Science had its birth. 

 It may be said in objection that we lack here the leisured class, 

 sho have time to devote to such studies ; but let me say, that it is a 

 complete mistake to imagine that great results are achieved only by 

 those who have plenty of time. In the sphere of Astronomy one 

 of the most distinguished members of this Society won his name by 

 the devotion of leisure hours snatched from the drudgery of the 

 teaching profession, and the recognition of his work by the Royal 

 Astronomical Society, one morning startled his friends, who had 

 regarded him as mereK amusing himself with the harmless fad of 

 star-gazing. 



I would appeal especially, however, for what lies within the 

 reach of all, the cultivation of a taste for reading what is best. The 

 next stage, original production, must for some, at any rate, follow 

 later. Surely, one of the requisites for the production of the best 

 in literature as well as in art — a period of struggle and sacrifice — 

 we have had here in full measure. Why is it that some of the most 

 vigorous and original writings of the present day come from America? 

 Her independent civilization is not much older than ours, although 

 her numbers are greater, and her constituent races, though in different 

 proportion, are the same as our own. So much talk about languages, 

 and so little done to cultivate taste in or love for literature — " the 

 acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said " 

 in a language ! So little produced, and yet some of that little so 

 excellent that one feels that the possibility is with us. (May I here 

 express the regret, which I am sure many share, that the pen of one 

 who some years ago touched with her writings the heart-strings of 

 her countrymen, should latterly have been still except in the less 

 worthy field of political controversy ?) There is one thmg absolutely 

 certain, however, about the culture that I am pleading for, — there is 

 no "money in it " ; its reward is something bevond diamonds and 

 rubies ; its pleasures grow with the using, and no man can take them 

 from you. 



The chief aim, then, in this intellectual aspect of eduration, is 

 to endeavour to awaken not only a love for reading, but a taste in 

 literature. Let the true test of a book's worth be unceasinglv incul- 

 cated — if it is not worth reading more than once, it is not worth 

 reading at all. And let our vouth be saved from finding their sole 

 pleasure in later life in the flimsy sensationalism of the cheap periodi- 

 cals, or the " feverish babble " of a Marie CorelH. Will you let 

 them " go and gossip with your housemaid or your stable-boy, when 

 they may talk with kings and queens " ? 



