Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-05-09
For the Palladium.

ssiwcsasa I-ectsress nnd other Duusbug..
The csednlity Of the people Of Richmond
and Of tho West generally, is Provcrbiai. And
Il ssises. not from stupidity. but n Prurcnt de-
sire fes knowledge, be You'd the means Of graft
6cstioD; and hence. in the universal ingurgita-
sisu, We swallow more chat than grain.
have been induced to the above remarks. by
the course which, I unde rstand, has been pnr-
.sSed towards q very recent Lecturer on Anato-
my. Phre"oIogy, &c. in this place. I aiIude to
Mr.. Wisn~.. And shall refer to him as a pub
lie lecturer only, for nj u man, know nothing
u him. except that his external appearance is
favorable.
] understand that u series Of high sounding
resolutions were passed. landing and comme nd :
ing the lecturer. which. to one Of his mental or
gsnissiion. were doubtless very palutahIe. Aud
~ those resolutions, I am informed, arc to be
published. feel II my duty to send With them
~ expression Of public sentiment upon this lee
sssss. and al others Of = similar character.
Aud although, for tho reason above assigned,
" sss willing to hear. see, and gulp any and
every thing that pertains to information, il does
pet follow. that j" the process Of digestion. we
set u all down for nutri'ncnt. On the contrary
We have our standards, landmarks and guides.
which when applied, seldom leave Of the mass.
more than se"sibIc pc PIe willing to credii.
Now IL 10 quito evident, that the present lee
t1rcr has been employed to pcddle books through
the country, and particularly to bring glad til
di"gs to the b-nighted West. And in order TO
"cioahe himself with mn opinion Of wisdom, grav-
ny, sWd profound conceit," very probably de-
voted six months time to st",y ing Phrenology.
Lear In az
Maniki", announce the names Of such muscles
~ were marked, with an Occ ssionai knowing
look when be gave u. n Gre-kism. And all this
is evident fro'" the CHANGING, superb manner
Of his lectures, aud the horrible ruvages he fire.
qnc"tIy makes "Pol the Kings English.
As to the employment Of selling books con-
tanning useful information. I think it very com
me"tabIe, and Hope Mr. " isncr will meet with
success. But do"'t think nature took him up
." sight 10 max. u lecturer Of him. lis Fig
ares, Msnikim, Skulls, and Skeletons. may an
swes 10 recommr nd the lecturer, but unfortu-
nAiely they can't apologize for his lectures
And an compelled to think that the resolutions
offered, were designed, more Il tribute Of re-
sPecs TO his -"dIy and ,ai qualities than to
bis intellectual displays.
Those public lecturers who arc in tho habit Of
peregsisaii"g through the West are in the whole,
rather an injury. than u benefit to soci~iy.--
From the fact. that. being very superficial in
their "itainne"ts. they attempt to minister to
the desires Of tho people for knowledge, and
with only sufficient ingenuity to unlock the
doors, they are compelled to leave the chambc RS
Of science unexcnin-d, from their inability to
handle the ponderOws treasures. And the con-
sequence is. that many who, from first impulse.
wos'd have been willing to make some sacrifices
to acquire information on any subject, either
Turn away dismayed. content the ,nse Ives with q
'ma'tes, OF conclude that the subject is beyond
heir capacities. because Mr.. Somebody else
lid mt expinin il.
And hope therefore that our citizens, IL they t.
are eve" disposed to hear and patronize such lee
'sres. will not endorse them by string OF r.so-
'uiions. which, while they give US some credit
'"' 'ibcra'i'y. will not speak very favorably Of
our discrimination. JUNIUS.