The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-04-12
EIOGllent Address.

llFeIeu Dy nlm DcloTe the AtHeHHan Society Vi
that Institution. 1t is truly eloquent and ex-
cellent production. We take from it the follow
ing extract, which, though not so beautiful as
some other portions ofthe address, could be more
easily separated from the main body oft.
ssLisht is light, whether it emanate from the
glimmering taper, the flashing volcano, the pale
moon, or the burning sun. So truth is truth,
wherever met; and like the genius Of Omni-
presence, it pervades all climes, and nhabits all
worlds. 1t walks abroad at MONDAY, and is
shrouded in the blackness of darkness-dwells
in the depths and entbrones itself in the heights
stands immovabe in the centre, and rides upon
the outer circle the universities concealed
in the embryo and chrysalis, and is developed in
the opening flower and winged insect-leaves
its impress upon the rocks nethermost stratum,
and writes its glories upon heavens loftiest arch
whispers in the ear Of conscience, and utters
forth its voice from out the deep archives of holy
inspiration. The nquirng mind can therefore
gather something from everything around it
for there are
"Sermons in stones--books in the running
brooks.'
Nothing is tongueless. The flower, the gen.
the twinkling star, every new chemical com
pound, every philosophical analysis, afford illus
trations of their own, and teach lessons peculiar
to themselves. The seeker after wisdom, too,
pause at each successive step, and inquire what
new truth is developed here, when and how can
it be employed, he should initiate the ship-build-
err who goes to the forest, takes the whole pro-
vince, squares the sturdy oak, shapes the crooked
limb; cuts the masts here, the yard-arms there,
and the bowsprit yonder; in his own mind, frames
part to part, and even while dressing his tlmbers,
understands their place in the vessel as well as
when piece is joined to piece, and the whole is
launched upon the waters.
Buta thousand times the question is reiterated
"Why study this or that-why labor through the
intrlcacies of mathematics, thread the labyrinths
of physical science, or thumb the musty tones Of
classic antiquity Why? Why, to extract their
quintessence, to Gull their characteristic beau
ties, and to render them subsurvient to our own
great purposes in life. Stultus, too, must be
that orator who would deride the study Of those
mighty laws that unite atom TO atom, world to
world, grid the universe together, and lash the
whole to the great central throne. Faint, in
deed, are his asprings, if he would not trace the
poetic flights of Horace, the higher ranges of
Virgil, and the yet loftier soarings of the blind
bard Of Scio's rocky isle. And what can we say
ofhim, if he have no desire to look over the
apotheems of Isocrates, TO read, TO analyZe, to
feast his soul on such orations as those against
Cataine, and those of the Beast, as Eschines,
surnamed the great Athenan7 What shall we
think if, being divine, he live and teach and
die, without learning so much as the alphabet Of
1sraels Embellishments vernacular? Why
we think that he never knew what it was to light
his lamp at the sun.
But, it is still asked, why pour over those
branches that seem to have but distant bearing
upon the pursuits of an active profession7 Be-
cause of their disciplinary, sharpening tendency;
for they serve as grindstone wherein to whet
the sword Of intellect. Study them for the same
reason that the Athlete exercised whole year
at the public Olympiad: he ran, he leaped, he
wrestled, that he might acquire a nerve and
sinew too mighty for the antagonist. The stu
dent bends over an abstuse proposition, counts
not the flying hours, nor thinks Of ease, strains
the mind to its utmost tension, and holds it thus
till the very body quivers from the inward strug-
gle. When the demonstration is completed, he
may never appropriate it entire; yet the mental
energy, the power of Concentration thus acquir-
ed, he may use thousand times. See that
statesman, who, in addition to regular perusal
Of municipal laws and public documents, spends
an hour daily, in studying Euclid, Calculus, or
some kindred branch, requiring vigor, and alb
straction of mind. If yours be course less
rigid, beware how you come into collision with
around him chain so finished, that he can neith-
or break ii nor find flaw. And should you be
so unfortunate as to call down upon yourselfa
full volley from his heaviest artillery, driven
from your citadel, routed from your entrench-
ments, frightened from your ambushes, fleeing
before your mightier foe, riven, mangled, pant
ing, and confounded, you will no longer inquire,
why study these distractions, for evidence too
palpable, would rush upon you and rush over
you.
Let it be remembered, too, that the sons Of
error have various methods of evasion, and he
that would ferret them out, must know some
thing oftheir hiding places.
The material;st will stink away, amid the
laws Of affinity-the skeptic skulk behind sup
posed Scriptural nconsistencies-the logical pert
whine about nice charlottesville the verbal
quibbler, burrows amid Greek and Hebrew
ROOTS leaving the pursuer to sigh for his victim,
like the foiled bloodhound snuffing for the hare
while she is snugly ensconced in the impervious
thicket. How can any one tear away their ilmy
Pigments, expose their fallacies, and hush their
clamors, when unacquainted with those sciences
in whose darker recesses they seek retirement.
The antagonist offalsehood, must meet his enc
my armed with thousand different weapons,
and in order TO meet him successfully, he
must be armed with an equal number, and
these must be drawn from as many different ar
mories. He must face the knight-errant encased
in brass-contend with the heet-footed cavalier
bear the onset of the serried phalanx-shun
the whizzing javelin-avoid the swords intend
ed thrust, guard his own heart and shield that of
truth; and how can he doit, unless from his skill
in controversial tactics, he be able to grasp the
falchion, hurl the spear, or range the deep
mouthed cannon.
So long, then, as there is single branch un-
studied, which is calculated to impart vigor to
the students mind, shed brighter lustre around
the temple of truth, or flash through the shadowy
halls of error, let him feel that his attachments
are incomplete, let him be actuated by this prin-
ciple, and long will it be ere he will use the stale
phrase, "My education is complete" He will
resemble distinguished scholar-Rush, think
who was once mingling in a circle of young
friends, when one ofthem, clad in the fustian of