Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-12-31
Popular Education.

CAPTAIN Enthusiastically because sup
pose you are sorter scace Of subject matter
just about this time, it being decided that lit
tic Van is 'knockod into cooked hat
partly for the purpose OF correcting erroneous
impressions as TO some of my opinions and
fcelings-not little, if you will, with a
view of gratifying my own achim-and part
ly because but few persons were present
when it was read, send you for publication
the following Lecture on Popular Education,
delivered before the Staunton Lyceum on
the 18th OF August last. Ifyou deem it wor-
thy OF place in your paper, and if it serves
either to interest or instruct 0ny of Your
readers, shall feel amply compensated.
Yours truly,
9th Nov. 1910.
NJ. President-Once more, by your app
polntment, has devoved upon me the arduous
yet instructive, and therefore pleasant duty
of reading Lecture before the Staunton Ly-
ceum-a duty which undertake to discharge
the more cheerfully, because, at your sugges-
ton, propose to treat of subject, the consd-
Grafton Of which may, l hope, prove alike in
teresting and profitable, especially to those
whose lots have been cast iii the humber
walks OF life--a subject, which, while it Of
fers wide field for the exercise Of plain and
practical remark, affords but little room for
the display Of tigurative and ornamental Ian
guagc.
II any therefore have come here this cve-
ming with the desire Of listening TO n fancitul
discourse, addressed to the Imagination rather
than the judgment, adorned with the flowers
OF eioquence and graces of composition rather
than the less glaring attributes Of simplicity,
truth and utility, they must needs 60 away
disappointed. For, even if were capable Of
adopting such style and clothing 1T IN such
beauties (Which | am not vain enough to
think, iass were not an occasion for the exer-
else of taste and fancy, for the leaving the
more necessary apartments of the inner tenn
pie neglected and unfinished, ard the hang
ing out oirich festoons upon the onterwalls to
please the eye and Imagination. To the rea-
son, then, TO the common sense Of this audi
cncc, let me address myself, while / attempt,
IN my poor way, to point ont the advantages,
the imperative necessity of a general diitu-
sion OF useful knowledge while l cndeavor
TO Impress the rich man, tn C enlightened, and
the statesman, with fuller sense OF the
high obligations under which they rest to
further the cause Of Popular Educa,ion-and
while undertake 10 show the poor and I'M
ietered man that both his interest and his
happiness persuade him to devote his leisure
hours 10 such intellectual pursuits as are cal
cuiated to TT him fora faithful discharge Of
his social and political duties.
ut this day, In this enlightened age. when
the march OF intellect is progressively or
ward ; when Literature is beaulifyino the mar
lnres ct the mind with more lovely and vari-
Gus flowers than ever bIossomed on the clas-
SIC ground OF Greece or Italy; when science
erecting her temples and gathering togeth-
eF her votarles IN every cerner Of the land.
i pour!ng her rays upon the palace, the howell.
and even the dark places of the wilderness
when the best energies of the philanthropist,
the statesman and the divine, are devoted to
the diffusion of knowledge and the enforce
lnent oil Its importance when wealth ard
power AID happiness are the end ard aim of
al men, and the one universal sentiment of
the Great and Good is "that knowledge is the
safest and shortest road to their attainnent;''
Ii may seem like work, not only of SUPERB
rogation, but OF vain presumption in me to
dwell upon the advantages resulting from a
more general diffusion Of information a.
mongst all classes Of society. As well per-
haps 1t may be said or. thought, might | un-
dertakc to pronounce an eulogy upon Wash
lngton, to celebrate the praises Of the Chris
tan martyrs, or TO magnify the wisdom and
power of Him who is God over all, as to en-
Ter into an argument to prore to this audi
ence that Popular Education is necessary to
the well-being of a community, and promo
tive of Its interests, IFS honor its civil liberty
and social happiness.
But let it be remembered that there are ma
ny truths, palpable to our minds, which we
fail 10 regard as such, simply because the at
teniion is never directed to their existence
many duties known to be obligatory, yet ne
elected through want Of reflection, admoni-
ton and enforcement. Aye, tie very palpa-
biity Of the importance of thing oft times
superinduces forgetfuincss of its value and
even existence. Universally of sentiment
III reference to any particular subject pre-
cfudes, or ut least interfereS with the discus
sion of its merits, and not unfrequently ends
in lukewarmness, forgettulness and neglect.
We have seen the sun rise and set, the Heav-
ems stretch their star spangled canopy around
us, and the Earth spread her green mantle of
freshness and beauty beneath our feet, till we
have become unmindful alike Of their source,
their use and their existence. We have en-
ioyed the blessings oflife till we regard their
continuance as "a matter of course and
neither offer up thanks to the Givcr, nor place
Il proper estimate on the gifts. We hno,o
that we are indebted to our Creator for all
these things and that they are necessary to
our comfort and happiness. but we FORGET it
rs the rich man, wallowlng from day TO day
in his wealth, and squandering it or pamper-
ed and luxurious dependents, in costly furni-
ture and exotic plants, in prncely equpages
and epicurean dishes, torgefS that thousands
are furnishing around him, to whom the
crumbs from his table or tho oh-casts from
his wardrobe would be but too greauul pro-
lection against the cravings of hunger and
the inclemencies of the weather. Is this be-
cause he is ignorant that suffering and desti-