EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
591 
could refer the student. But even now, there are some who 
affect to contemn book-knowledge. Such would rival the 
Caliph Osrr.ar, who burnt the Alexandrian library. In 
their arrogance of self-sufficiency they exclaim — Give us 
practical knowledge ! forgetting that practice without prin- 
ciples is empiricism ; or that, like a tool, it is useless unless an 
intelligent hand guides it. Such persons reverse the order of 
Nature, by expecting the fruit before the flower. 
It has been contended that it is an error to advance the 
system of education in our schools until a more extended 
system exists extern to them. But will not the one necessi- 
tate the other? And should not the schools take the initia- 
tive? If the standard of education be placed high at the 
Colleges, and the attainments before a diploma can be ob- 
tained made to correspond, students will find it to be indis- 
pensably necessary to be well instructed before entering upon 
their studies. Hence, we have not only no objection to a 
preliminary examination as to the fitness of the candidate 
for his profession, but are warm advocates for it. We have 
before said that the result of what has already taken place is, 
the scientific man is now preferred to the mere pretender in 
seasons of emergency, on account of his ability to diagnose 
disease, as well as to ascertain its cause, and thus to arrive at a 
knowledge of the remedy. The latter may boast of his ran- 
dom cures; but with the man of education and discernment 
there is no peradventure or haphazard; his actions are 
guided and determined by principles, and seldom is it that 
these fail him. 
On this account, we would that the works of acknowledged 
authors be made, as it were, the companions of the student, 
so that early and late he may confer with them, until their 
truths are firmly fixed in his mind, and become so esta- 
blished that the “ why and wherefore” may be easily assigned 
by him. 
Then again, it should be remembered that early life is 
like the spring-time. The ground has to be prepared and 
the seed sown before the harvest can be reaped. Years of 
thought and careful cultivation must be directed to that end 
alone; when, the mind becoming expanded, puts forth all 
