On your way to school in company with thoughtlessboys

Be not tempted to play, or else it will break your

Vow.

The memory is sharp and grasps things easily in tender years,

The practical use of knowledge in manhood causes. satisfaction.

-NARMADASHANKAR.*

FOUR OBJECTS OF A STUDENT'S LIFE.

Although on the world's wide wide stage, a man's wholelife is a life of training and education, still the period during which he is at school or college is the one specially set apart for such a purpose. This period, being the earliest, when his mind is plastic and quick to learn, chiefly influences the whole life. Impressions made during this time, habits and manners then formed, last long and are not easily eradicable. It is therefore very necessary that every student in school and college should be careful at this stage of life, and have before his eyes distinct objects, towards which he should bend his whole energy. He should rise from his bed with such objects, try to work them out in his daily life and to realize their importance.

These are four in number:

1. the development of the physical body,

2. the improvement of the moral nature,

3. the increase of the intellectual capacities,

4. and the attainment of a spiritual and devotional'

life.

With these four clearly in his head, he should begin his daily work.

A Gujarati poet.

As for the first, he should always take some exercise, and be temperate in food and drink. For unless he is strong in body he cannot do much in body is the chief instrument of our sical world.

life. This work in the phy

practise

As for the second, he should try to among his class-fellows, friends and relatives, at school and at home, the well-known virtues of truthfulness, honesty, absence of hatred, jealousy and anger, love, compassion, gentleness in speech, energy in rightful actions, kindness and forgiveness in thought, and obedience to teachers and parents.

For the third, he should try to understand his lessons thoroughly, and go deeply into them. He should practise reading between the lines. He should not be led away by the too common desire to read many pages and finish many books. For the understanding should be developed, rather than the brain stuffed with many facts.

For the fourth, he should always keep in his mind the Supreme Lord, Îshvara, who is the Supreme Being in the Universe. He should daily worship Him, even though for five minutes only, and try to do those things which will please him. He should increase his love towards Him. He should read daily his praise and take delight in doing so. It matters not whether He is worshipped in the name of Râma, Krishna, Mahâdeva, God or Allâh: for he is one and the same, though variously named.*

-BALWANTSAHAY.

Let the student, therefore, bear in mind, that sitting on a chair, leaning over a desk, poring over a book, cannot possibly be the way, to make his body grow.

• From The Central Hindu College Magazine.

The blood can be made to flow, and the muscles to play freely, only by exercise; and if that exercise is not taken, nature will not be mocked. Every young student ought to make a sacred resolution to move about in the -open air at least 2 hours everyday.

-PROF. BLACKIE.

Many students do not at present feel any necessity of exercise. But it is not at their option whether they will take exercise or not; they must take exercise or they are lost to all their hopes and all their prospects. There are others who plead that they are pressed for time and therefore they cannot take exercise. These must be made aware that they miscalculate on one important point. If they will try the plan of taking regular vigorous exercise everyday for a single term, they will find that they can perform the same duties and the same amount of study much easier than without the exercise. The difference will be astonishing to themselves. The time spent in thus invigorating the system will be made up, many times over, in the ease and comfort with which their mind takes hold of study.*

HABITS WHICH ARE VERY DESIRABLE
TO THE STUDENT.

1. Have a plan laid beforehand for everyday.
2. Acquire the habit of untiring industry.
3. Cultivate perseverance (a steadfastness in pur-
suing the same study, and carrying out the same

plans from week to week).

4. Cultivate the habit of punctuality.

5. Be an early riser.

From The Elements of Hygiene, by Dr.Dhanakoti Râju.

In order to rise early, I would earnestly recommend an early hour for retiring. There are many other reasons for this. Neither your eyes nor your health are so likely to be destroyed. Nature seems to have so fitted things, that we ought to rest in the early part of the night. Dr. Dwight used to tell his students "that one hour of sleep before midnight is worth more than two hours after that time." Let it be a rule with you, and scrupulously adhered to, that your light shall be extinguished by ten o'clock in the evening. You may then rise at five, and have seven hours to rest which is about what nature requires.

6. Be in the habit of learning something from every man with whom you meet.

7. Form fixed principles on which you think and

8.

act.

Be simple and neat in your personal habits. 9. Acquire the habit of doing everything well. "How is it that you do so much?" said one in astonishment at the efforts and success of a great man. Why, I do but one thing at a time and try to finish it once for all."

66

10. Make constant efforts to be master of your

temper.

Be contented in your situation.

11. Cultivate soundness of judgment.

12. Proper treatment of parents, friends, and companions.

All experienced people will tell you that the habit of using tobacco, in any shape, will soon render you emaciated and consumptive, your nerves shattered, your spirits low and moody, your throat dry, and demanding

stimulating drinks, your person filthy, and your habits those of a swine.*

Boys who wish to have a healthy vigorous manhood and a healthy old age, must be Brahmachârins during their student-life. And this does not mean only that they must not marry, but also that they must be pure in thought and act. Men often lament, in bitter physical suffering, the vices of their boyhood, but it is then too late to remedy them. For your own sake, and for India's sake, my young brothers, be pure, be pure. - ANNIE BESant.

Youth must work in order to enjoy,-that nothing creditable can be accomplished without application and diligence, that the student must not be daunted by difficulties, but conquer them by patience and perseverance, and that, above all, he must seek elevation of character, without which capacity is worthless, and worldly success is naught.

"PREFACE TO SELF-HELP."

My meaning was, and is, to plant that in your mind with which I labour to possess my own soul; that is a meek and thankful heart. And to that end I have showed you, that riches without them (meekness and thankfulness) do not make any man happy. But let me tell you that riches with them remove many fears and cares. And therefore my advice is, that you endeavour to be honestly rich, or contentedly poor; but be sure that your riches be justly got or you spoil all. For it is well said, "he that loses his conscience has nothing left that

• From The Student's Manual by Rev. John Todd.