MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 1290, 19 August 1876, Page 19

MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.

A lady writes : " Owing to sickness aiul many changes in my family when young, 1 was deprived of such advantages of education as ray mind craved, and now, having leisure, my greatest desire is to make up, if possible, for lost. time. I wish to take up a course of study, and, if desirable, can have the aid of teachers. My knowledge of everything is ao superficial, I know not how or where to begin. I would like to study French and enough of history to enjoy and appreciate a tour in Europe at no distant day. At this moment I cannot tell whether or not I am writing good English, or, rather, correct grammar. I wish to be able to detect errors and so avoid them." It is novor too late to learn. This lady cannot do better than study the text-books hnr children «ro studying until aha has made her own what iH in thorn. French she mil s l study under a teacher in order to got the pronunciation ; but wliy study French when there is ao much in our own language that can profitably employ her time? In history Bbn should have some good manual in small compass and take up one period of English or French history ab a time, ready Blowly, and following into other volumes the various refertncco made. If she takes Fronde's History of Henry VIII., for instance, she will find an atlas indispensable to give her the localities of places named, and a biographical dictionary requisite, to enable her 1o find out abvub the characters xnontii.ned si) the wii:L. Vv'jiou ,'ilio has nt-il thin v.'ii!; ';.u-u, sho may i.;iko up tho com-^pojuihitj prfiiod of i';\.ncli history and atudy that in the same way. Then

the same period in German history. One prominent reiyn in England, France, or Germany well understood will give her a starting-point whence she may go backward or forward as her inclination or choice dictates. All this will take time and patience, of course. Everything worth achieving takes time and patience. Deep foundations are laid in darkness and toil, and are long in rising to meet the face of day ; but once laid, story above story may be piled upon them till the structuro reaches the clouds. The life of Mrs. Somervillc is commended to this lady by way of stimulus and encouragement. — Ncto York Tribune.