The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26

or eight years old were much more ready and
much more skilful in original drdwingS than
/ those of twice the age. Baron Culver illustrates
that principle Every one will find it correct
by experience.
/ But the cube A square upon the slate is
the first step The next step is five additional
squares, together in the form of cross The
next is to change the slate and pencil for paste
board and the knife or scissors. Six squares
on one piece of paper, in the form of cross,
can be fold615ipto a cube which is and can
be nothin but figure enclosed in SIX
squares Increasing one cube to eight, they
can be formed into another cube OF twice the
dimensions and eight times the bulk, or con-
tents making plain to a child of five years the
fundamental principle of cubic measure, on
which business men more frequently and more
unfortunately stumble than any other one de-
ficiency of knowledge. Two items of knowledge
required by the DEMOCRACY OF SCIENCE to
be universally difused are "the pebbie" and
81 the cube"
WILLIAMSBURG, Mass, Avgtet 10, 1852.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
Commencement week ut Amherst College
has Just passed The bill of fare preceding the
commencement itself was richer than usual
this year, and a larger numke Of the alumni
than usual was drawn together.
The first thing in order was Eulogy on
Prof B. B. Edwards, late Of AndOver, grad
uate of Amherst, by Prof f. A. Park, of An
dover.
This was rich feast of precious things The
character of the deceased was given in the
warm accents of a friend and the chaste and
/ beautiful language, the clear and musical voice
/ of the speaker, with his earnest eve and elo-
/ auent delivery all combined to render it The
address Of the week. In speaking Of Prof, +. s
character as Theologian and Divine, his re-
marks had a particular force, in view of his
late controversy with DR.. Hodge of Princeton.
Prof Park, by this address, has not only fully
hOnored the character Of an eminent scholar
and thinker, but has gained for himself name
higher than he has ever had before, and taken
his position among the first men of the church.
The address before the alumni was by Hon.
A. H. Bullock, of Worcester somewhat distin-
guished as Wing stump orator-a man of
some talent, but of more outside show and
sparkle. His subject was, "our higher institu-
tons Of learning as conservative and ad lust
ing power Conservatism was laid down as
the only rule of life. Sympathy for Kossuth
and universal liberty was ridiculed, social
equality stigmatized reforms and reformers
all secuted, the higher law clergy held up as
preachers of insurrectiOn, and Daniel Webster
exalted to Heaven, as the only whole man that
ever lived His wittcism, innuendos, and sly hits,
would pass well in a political caucus, but are
not the coin required at our higher insttu-
tons of learning"
The address to the Literary Societies was
by Rev. R. s. StOrrs, Of Brooklyn, one of the
editorial corps of the Independent. His sub
ject was the Educated Mans Mission" 1t
was Il massive powerful, iron-lnked thing
stately and majestic, yet full and flowing. The
subject, it will be seen, was very closely allied
with the preceding address of the morning.
and by curious coincidence, the whole train
of thought was complete refutation and an
initiation of all the frippery and foam of the
morning blow His style was classic, severe
" so, requiring close attention on the part of
the nearer. Some of the clergy seemed but lit
tie interested, and left during the delivery but
those who remained and listened throug hout
received food for thought that will last them
six months. Mr. Storrs is a strong man, a
hard thinker, and a close reasoner his mind is
a receptacle of star dust pearls, arrows, and
fire balls, and he pours the treasure out before
HIS duultuCt.
The address before the Society of Inquiry by
Prof H. B Smith, of New York city, formerly Of
Amherst, was said by those who heard it to
surpass any of his former efforts, being char
acterized by those broad and catholic views,
and that noble evangelism, which Prof Smith
has so ably vindicated at previous times
The exercises of the graduating class passed
off much as usual. Dry dispositions hashed-
up orations, and prosy dissertations on prosier
themes, the huttering of fans, the dropping of
perspiration, treading on corns and long skirt
ed dresses and stufiing at the dinner table,
com pleted the order of the day. The young
graduates hold their heads a little higher than
ever; newly admitted freshmen breathe easy ;
the alumni scatter here and there and the
faded Professors run back on to the mountains,
or rush to the seaside, for few weeks freedom
from care and thus ends commencement week
at Amherst.
The Free Democracy of Massachusetts, will
report themselves well, next October Reason
why the people read good newspapers
Most truly yours H. MARTYR.