Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-16

I''"'N ~ Sto'o ,lilC toP5 uiIu view al
that he has passed over with pleasure, and
see the vast field before him, yet unex.
plored and inviting his enterprise. Arth
: metic and Algebra, might be united to-
T gether; for the one is only working by
letters what the other does by figures
Many theorems in Geometry are super
hous, except 10 show the beauty of thei,
RI demonstrations. Almost every branch Of
Mathematics could be shortened in thi:
way.
Rhe0ric. Biair's is the one generally
studied in this country. Itl,as been writ
ten nearly century, and has none of the
improvements, that have been made in
that long space of time. Nearly half the
work is taken up in explaining what
Taste is, thing, which every person
knows.
| Metaphysics. The study of Mental
Philosophy is of no use; for il consists, IN
one man putting up a theory, by pulling
all others down. Some contend that all
the universe is mind, others, all motter;-
some, that it contains both matter and
mind; others, that it contains neither, but
that every thing consist of images. This
lis Hume's doctrine.
Logic. This is of no use;-its syllo.
[ gisms arc not applicable to reasoning, and
it ought to be thrown out Of our schools.
Political Economy. This science should
be thoroughly studied; lit is Of practical
lie, to every person, from the highest to
the lowest in society. The books that
are generally studied on this subject, are
not applicable; being either by English
or French authors. Each supports the
views of his own country, and we are left
to apply them to our republic. Such
works are not the proper ones to put in
to the hands Of Americans. We should
have something national too ;-if we wish
to impress in the minds Of the rising gen
eratlen true patriotism.
'lt may be asked what we would have
| TO I'LL up the greatest chasm we have
made! Let the constitution of the Uni
ted States be well studied, together with
the foundation of Lap; LET Geogra ply
and History, particularly our own, be
more extensively stadied;-le the mod
ern languagus take precedent of the an
elent. On these subjects, we can spend
years to advantage. In concluding, he
had made some incidental remarks OIL all
the above heads. As speech, contain
ing true sentiments, and well worthy the
consideration of the impartial public,
think, no ono who heard it, will doubt.
III is under this view, that this very imper.
feet abstract has been made; hoping at
| the same time to he excused, if any idea
is advanced. that is not the speakers; for
the above was taken entirely from memo.
ry, and that too, several days after the
speech was delivered. .
I'm abstract O Can address deliuered by Profess
sor G. E. STOWE, of The Lane Seminary,
before the College of Professional Teach
ers, on the discipline Of The Intellectual
pozuer.'
A skilful performer on an organ seems
to draw forth the sounds in harmony, and
order, with perfect ease, running his fin
gers over the keys with such facility, that
savage standing by him, would imagine
that the operation was very simple; but
when he attempts to produce the same eff
iect, he starts, astonished at the discor-
dancy of the sounds. When "A person.
entirely ignorant of all mechanical arts,
watches workman, he is led to suppose,
from the precision, and ease, with which
he directs his tools, that he himself would
lind but little difficulty, in using them to
effect every purpose, for which they were
designed; but if he makes the attempt
he inevitably fails, and only succeeds at
length after repeated disappointments.-
The same Is true of all intellectual expe-
riment. The arguments of a great reas-
oner, seem to flow so naturally, and east
~, that an inexperienced person would
be persuaded, by their plainness, and sim
Plicity, that he could easily initiate them
himself, but his first attempt would be as
certainly followed by failures as in the ca
SEES have just mentioned; and he would
soon find, that excellence is only to be ac-
quired by experience. There is one diff
ference however, between the intellectu
al, and mechanical experimenter. While
the errors of the first, are entirely conceal
cd from him, the effects of his mechanism
cannot but be evident, to the physical SEN
ses of the other. A man must possess
some philosophy of mind 10 be able to
Judge correctly, of his own intellectual
efforts.
One would attempt to influence the
minds of other men, should be well ac-
Iquainted with the character of his own
faculties, since these are the instruments,
with which he has to bring about his OBJ
lject. He must then be able to concen-
trate his whole force on a single point,