Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-11
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Christian Association, and others, forming
large auditory, who completely filed the room
The gist of the lecturers remarks was to
prove that the Poet is really the practical man
and not the mere dreamer that the world iu
general entities him to be. The Poet, he re-
marked, was not properly understood, being
generally In advance of his own times. As q
proof Of this, he instanced Shakespeare, whose
wondrous depths have not yet been sounded.
In fact, the Poet preceies his own generation.
1t is the condition of mankind that they should
p. ogress. or else either die out or sink back 10
their primitive insigni6cance now, the pioneer
of this progress is the Poet, planting the stand
ard OF civilization, and indicating the goss'ose
real to which his people may aspire. MS pro-
phetic spirit declares the future, MS creams
thus become the practical, as the eagle must
soar above the mountain If he would settle
upon il. IL was this imaginative faculty that
prompted the Genoese voyager across the
waters.
IL would be curious to trace out the things
that have been foretoid in the writings of the
noets. which, in their period were unsupported
in the womb of time. The poetic nature re-
yealed to them thousands Of truths that the or
binary race Of mortals only saw, as it were,
through a glass, darkly. To them, he would
attribute the many inventions of ancient times;
and in modern times, we know that We owe to
them the art of printing, the discovery of gun
powder. and steam, and others. which were due
more directly to the abstract Imagination OF
the poet. H-"
As a proof that the abstract must precede
the real, the lecturer instanced the discovery
of the telegraph by Professor Morse, twenty
years ago he visited him when nobody sus-
pected his silent purpose of tying electricity
to the car of time This was effected by his
profound researches in the field of specula-
ton, yet he was looked upon by the many as q
dreamer. an enthusiast with morbid imagi
nation Of mind, whose soundRess at the hes,
might be distrusted. Yet at the time he was
meditating those problems in science, by which
the lightning was to become the wings Of the
carrier dove. How few believed in the prac-
teal genius Of Fulton, yet were Fulton and
Morse less practical before? The abstract in
reality is the mother of the real. 1t was true
likewise of Shakespeare, Homer Milton, and a
hundred others besides.
The lecturer then in very humorous man
ner described the man who is called by the
world q practical man. From his boyhood,
his chief lesson is th,ift, virtue. certainly,
but not to the exclusion of other virtues Life,
with him, is a game of wit, in which he en-
cages with the world, and whether he gains or
loses In each particular trial without number,
he has sharpened his wit, he soon wears an
old lead upon going shoulders. In short, he
was never young If he were compelled to
become a brute, he would glide insensibly into
the bosom of the . fox family aud that, too,
without needing naturalization papers. EX-
cept in matters of business, his mind is a mere
blank; Ne never sports, he never plays; he is
always at his tasks he is fellow to make
his way in the world he never changes bill
if he can help it, and the plucked goose finds
how difficult it is to play with the fox. 1t re-
quires neither great wisdom nor great wit. nor
great enterprise to acquire wealth; indeed,
IL Tt.
only things requisite are the three IRIS"
rssding, TIttng and rith1astic, to make money.
Many do not succeed, not from incapacity of
wit, but from permitting themselves to have
tastes. The only enjoyment that the practical
man has, is to think how he will cut mp when
he comes to die.
The Poets are peculiar objects of dislike to
your practical man, he breads their influence
upon young men, and upon his own children
in particular; fearful lest his favorite son,
Jaekey, should turn out genius. His head is
cool but his heart is cold. His position in So
ciety is high, for money possesses much power,
IF not virtue. Whilst in business he feels no
deficiencies, but let him retire from trade. and
his life is one OF dreadful isolation; he has
crushed those sensibiities that would have
soothed his declining years. AS the only re-
source he flies to religion, but what sort Of reli
gion can be his, who has neglected its duties
during his whole life. A death bed repent
ance, the lecturer said, he did not think much
of but even If divine wrath was assuaged. it
was not possible that such soul was suited
for future state. 1t would most likely have
TO undergo probation involving a forfeiture
and diminution of free agency. The lecturer
characterized the responsibility Of this class
as embodied in their keeping a gig. He
spoke of the benefits that the poets had
conferred in preserving the vernacular of the
Saxon tongue, and contended that it was but
Just to authors that there should be an inter
national copyright.
DEATH IN THE WORKHoUsE Its with regret
that we announce the death of Ovid F. John
son, a man of acknowledged talent, but whose
inability or indisposition to keep away from
alcoholic drink has been the cause of his death.
Mr.. johnson has occupied some very important
positions in the State of Pennsylvania, which
he filled with ability. He came to this city a
few months since, to take charge of the ial
department of the Democratic Review, but
which proved failure The evening Mir. j.
was taken to the guard house, he was So weak
as to be unable to walk, and was carried in
furniture wagon. This morning, when the
WOrkhOuse gardener came to market, he an
nounced the death of Mr.. j., causing no sur
prise, but exciting the sorrow of all who knew
him. o
CRIMINAL COURr.-This morning, in the Gar
diner case the Court were occupied in hearing
the arguments of Mr.. Bradley one of the de-
PENDANTS counsel, for receiving certain docu-
mentary evidence which had been already
overruled. This consisted of copy of the
mining title, in which GARDENERS claim is
founded, taken as the defendant states, ante
rior to the visit of the U. ). Commissions, who,
in reaching the Office, where the original was
said to be deposited, could not find any such
document. Mr.. Bradley had not concluded at
the time We left the Court
The WEATHER.-Last night, we were visited
by slight frost, which, however was only
reasonable, considering the early period of the
year; the morning was likewise cool, the
thermometer outside the :. Star office, at half
past 10 O'Clock in the shade being at freezing
point By II m. however the mercury had
risen eight degrees higher, being at 40 in the
shade. lt has been magnificent day, AMI
although cool on the shady side of the street,
was warm in the sunshine. The streets pre-
scented a busy scene Of animation forecast
of business on the approaching spring trade.
PUBLIC ScHooLs.-The following appoint
ments and changes among the teachers III the
Public Schools have been made by the Board
Of Trustees:
Miss NJ. p. Mi ldlston, transferred from
Primary No. 2 Attn district, to take charge Of
Primary No. 3, LIST district to be opened Ia
basement Of Lutheran Church, llth street.
Miss NJ. A. V. Lee, elected principal OF
Primary No 2, 4th district, vice Miss Middle
ton, transferred. Miss Anna Adams, elected
principal OF Primary No. 3, 4th district, vice
Miss Milburn, transferred to District School.
Miss VI A. :. Davis, elected in charge OF