PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 193 



ematician and philosopher to which he attained, he was, 

 when a boy at school, considered quite a dull scholar, on 

 account of his apparent incapacity for learning and recit- 

 ing lessons by rote, as was then, and still is, much practiced 

 in schools. Yet he was, even at that early age, so much 

 interested in the study of philosophical principles, that he 

 had the name and reputation of a genius among his play- 

 mates, on account of his success in investigating the action 

 and improving the forms of their toys and playthings, such 

 as their tops, kites, and little cannon. 



If I were writing a moral discourse in the form of a ser- 

 mon instead of a scientific treatise, I might very properly 

 close this chapter with two practical reflections. 



First, that a boy, because he thinks himself smart in 

 learning and reciting lessons at school, should not, on that 

 account, become conceited and vain, and imagine that he is 

 certainly going to become a great man when he grows up. 

 Intellectual success and distinction in future life depends 

 upon something very diiferent from mere readiness in com- 

 mitting to memory, and fluency in repeating, mere words. 



And, secondly, if any boy who is patient, faithful, and 

 thoughtful in his endeavors to understand what he is 

 taught, but finds that he is not so quick and ready in 

 learning and reciting the lessons as others in his class, he 

 has no occasion to be discouraged about himself. He may 

 have within him all the essentials of eminent success in the 

 acquisition of knowledge, which will develop themselves in 

 due time. 



I 



