I therefore beg all young persons to determine to speak and write at least one language beside their own.
Tom Hood wrote: "Never go to France Unless you know the lingo If you do, like me, You'll repent by jingo." But it's even worse to be unable in your own country to greet and talk with guests from other countries.
I should like to see the dead languages, as well as Saxon and Sanscrit, made elective studies every where; also the higher mathematics, mystic metaphysics, and studies of the conscious and subconscious, the ego and non-ego, matters of such uncertain study.
When one stops to realize the tragic brevity of life on this earth, and to learn from statistics what proportion of each generation dies in infancy, in childhood, in early maturity, and how few reach the Biblical limit of life, it seems unnecessary to regard a brain-wearying "curriculum" as essential or even sensible.

Taine gives us in his work on English Literature a Saxon description of life: "A bird flying from the dark, a moment in the light, then swiftly passing out into the darkness beyond." And really why do we study as if we were to rival the ante-diluvians in age.

Then wake up to the facts.

I have been assured, by those who know, that but a small proportion of college graduates are successful or even heard of.

They appear at commencement, sure that they are to do great things, make big money, at least marry an heiress; they are turned out like buttons, only to find out how hard it is to get anything to do for good pay.