Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-07-27
MISC ELL A N Y /.
HIN rs 90 Z RENTs.

George Potts, D D., delivered an address
to the students at the anniversary exercises
Of the Edge Hill School, Princeton, N. ]. !,
from which We clip the following:
The boy should be reverenced not so
much for what he is as for what be may and
Ought to be. The child Napoleon, the child
Washington, contained the elements Of what
. tie man, the statesman, the soldier after
wards revealed The mother of Paul, or
augustine, or Archibald Alexander would
shave been justified 10 regarding the infant
of her arm, could she have forecasted its
deep history, with reverence In the child
is not only wrapped up this history, but
. far greater in eternity. for be is an heir Of
immortality As child may be an angel,
I SO he may becoms ademon Such has been
the sad history Of many bold. hearted beau.
tiful boy. More than one such the orator
had seen.
Now for the inference from this view Of
boy hood, pregnant with such brilliant, fear.
ful issues Parents must appreciate more
the true dignity and, importanee Of their
children. Il ID biander 10 call that love
which pampers aud sensualizes tho baby or
bow. The physical aud moral training Of
home l. generally decisive Of tho future Of
the boy. Ifhome il what IL should be, half,
aud the worst half. Of tie labors of the school
may be dispensed with Neglect here On.
tails dishearteuing drudgery on the high.
principled teacher High. principled, we
saw. because many are deficient here, where
such qualities are vital to the destiny Of the
/ pupil in time and eternity.
we often tax tho instructor with the ne
cessity of doing work which we have culpa-
IDLY neglected, There are bad schools, no
idoubt, where morald;seases may be contrac.
! ted, aud there are good ones, too, to which
j boys are sent to spread contamination, who
are filter for house Of refuge than school.
1t is requiring too much of teachers to adj
init such. Would any difficulty like this
occur If parents acted on the maxim Of Ju-
venal, and remember in the proper time
their responsibilities in the matter2
The orator turning to the boys said: The
first Inquiry is, have We any boys nowadays!
Some deny it But, for his part, be thinks
there are boys, ana ought to be to the end
Of the chapter-full Of fun, not silly or mis-,
chieyous; full Of play, yet not idle full Of
mistakes aud thoughtless impulses, but not
mulish, conceited aud intractable For my
part, says be, had rather take of my hat
10 real specimen Of fns boy than many
full grown human for see in him the
making of the highest style Of mana chris
tisn gentleman. : Boys will be boys you
cannot look for old heads on young shout
ders,' must not be employed as naxims TO
apologize for vice.
The speaker has said little of smartness,
talent. learning, scholarship. He did not
forget them, but. to acknowledge the truth,
he thinks them overrated in systems Of ed
hsation. Smartness is virtue. and want
Of bright parts Nd fault; hardly misfor-
/ tune indeed sometimes, for it often leads to
success, if accompanied by diligence, which
is praiseWortby, because voluntary. Yet tai
knt is ap. to Be the idol, and systems Of ed
ueation are in measure accountable for il.
But in the ethics Of religion high prineiPled
goodness is the best greatness The orator
could almost hear the sounds Of the slrirs Of
4 life. on which the boys we're soon to enter.
Oh whose side, be asked, will you be
fouhdl Fighting for truth, honor, bebevo-
leuee, and justice, in the company Of wise
and good, or moral towards, who skulk
whenever blow il to Be struck or borne on
the right side; or, what is. worse, the com
panions Of fools. fighting 10 the ranks ofthe
enemies Of God and mani These questions
arc 70 be decided now. Money cannot make
the good Citizen aud patriot, the beneEactor
Of the poor and matron Of merit, the good
husband and father talent and learning
easnot DO il but industry, commoa sense,
and conscience, under lie impulse Of the
grace Of God, can