The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-08-05

HllhO vi WCdItll anu leIlilty3 COHCedlGu
under the name of Lime. Then he knoWs
the ualue of Lyceums and Specimens.
Now DO not suppose the discovery of COM
mon lime will be brought about in this way,
because it is too generally known; but
have merely chosen it as plain case for il
lustration. There are, no doubt, many
minerals Of great value that remain unno-
ticed, from the very ignorance that | suppo-
sed in the instance have chosen. Infinite
advantage would result from the discovery
Of mari in this vicinity; and l am not certain
it does not exist. The same observations
will apply with equal force to timber, plants,
and every other branch of mineral science.
Nor need the discourses and examples be
confined to these topics alone. They may
be varied to suit the taste and capacity of
the audience, or the particular studies and
pursuits of the speaker. The mode and
time of cutting and seasoning timber for
particular uses-the time of planting and
manner of treating fruit trees-the mode of
grating fruit trees and method ofpreserving
fruit, and inshorta thousand other subjects,
are properly within the scope of these So
'cial meetings.
Nothing is more common than to hear
men complain of the inconvenience arising
from "the want Of learning to hear
them end by saying, "as know the want
myself, my children shall never suffer from
the same cause" This is well. But do
these persons use all the means in their pow
er to remedy this "want" as they journey
through life? l fear they do not. have
often seen such setting idle, or worse than
idle, formany long winter evenings; during
which, by proper application, they might
acquire the very knowledge they are pant
ing after. And do they fulfil the promise
made with respect to their children? Here
fear the negative reply is loud. know
many complainerS and many promiSerS
who scarcely ever sit down at home with
their families, but leave all to nature and
school-taught theory. Tosuch men let me
say, if you expect your children to grow
up removed from the evils Of ignorance, it
is your duty, and ought to be your pleasure,
to spend your time with them-to explain
that which may appear dark-to open that
which is closed-to make their studies as
practical and pleasant as possible--to make
them partake of the nature of amusement
as much as convenient, and yet more, to
show by example, what cannot be taught
by precept.
If father sits down at the close Of the
day, or for a leisure hour, with his chill
dren, for their improvement and his own,
what is it but a "Social society" of the most
interesting characteri Does it not tend TO
increase the tie of affection, to improve the
mind of father, mother, son and daughter?
But does it not do morel Does it not tend
to imbue the mind of the young with NOR
ality, restrain the old from dissipation, pro-
mote peace in the family, and strengthen
tiC DOuu VI uOLlCstlC udiNlOHy' DOOS hOt
the attainment of ends like these make the
heart of the mother glad, and support the
father in the decline of life! All will admit
the propriety of the latter instance. If
then social instruction in family is good,
why is not similar instructions in a neigh
bourhood good! Such instruction or amuse-
ment must be attended with equally bene-
fetal results in the latter as in the former
case, because it is not every man that is ca
pable of instructing his family. Therefore
occasional meetings will throw those not
blessed with competent instructors at home,
in the way of better abroad
Before dismissing the subject, beg leave
to remark, that every village and district in
the state, contains the elements for social
society, which when formed, will of course
act in sphere pr0portloned to the compe-
tent parts. And here let me add, that the
common error is to look too high. In
choosing topics of discussion and elucida-
ton care should be taken to avoid technical
difficulties and ideal hypothesis. The inn
apination should be restrained from rrnninr