Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-04-26
Observations and Inquiry.

Sir Edward Bulwer Lyttos recently de-
livered an address before the 6ee Societies
of Edinburgh College, on tile occasion ol
his inauguration as Honorary President Of
these Associated Societies. In the course Of
his address he made some remarks on the
habits of observation and inquiry. which we
commend to the attention of all our young
men. They are as follows =
mature indicates to the infant the two
main clements Of wisdom; nature herself
teaches infants to observe and to inquire
You will have noticed how every new OBJ
iect catches the eye Of a voting child, how
intutively he begins to question you upon
all be sulveys,-what is it : what is it for ;
how it came there and how is il made !
who made it Gradually, as he becomes
older, his observation is less eager. In fact,
both faculties are often trout .esoIne and
puzzling to those about him. He is told to
attend to his lessons and not ask questions
to which he cannot yet understand the re-
plies. This reckless vivacity is drilled into
mechanical forms, so that often when we
leave school We observe less than when we
stesdaastIre ltnecsof ouf n.olIer in the nur-
sery. But our first object on entering upon
youth, and surveying the world that spreads
before us, should be to retain the earliest
attribute of the child. What were the IN
slincts of the infant are the primary duties
of the student. His ideas become rich and
various in proportion as be observes .-ac-
curate and practical in proportion as he ln-
qpires.
The old story of Newton observing the
fall of the apple, and 50 arriving by inqui-
ry at the laws of gravity. will occur to you
all. But it is the ordinary process in eve
ry department of intelligence. A man who
observes more attentIvely than others had
done, is something in itself very simple
He reflects, tests his observations by inqul-
ry, and becomes the discoyerer, the invent
or, enriches science, improves manu-
facture, adds new beauty to the arts, or,
if engaged in professional active life, detects
as physician. the secret cause of disease,
extracts truth, as lawyer, from contradc-
tory evidence-or grapples as statesman,
with the complicated principles by which
nations flourish or decay. In short, take
with you into all your studies this leading
proposition, that whether in active life, or
in letters and research, man will always
be eminent according to the vigilance with
which he observes, and the acuteness with
which he inquiries. But this is not enough
something more is wanted-it is that res
olute effort of The will which we call perse-
verance, am no believer in genius With
out labor, but do believe that labor judi
clously applied, becomes genius itself.
Success ip removing obstacles, as IN con-
quering armies, depends on this law of me-
chanics,-the greatest amount of force al
your command concentrated on given
point. If your constitutional force be less
than another mans you equal HIM if yon
continue in it longer and concentrate it
more. The old saying of the Spartan parent
to the son who complained that his sword
was too short is applicable TO everything in
!fe,-"If your weapon is too short, add
step to it, DR.. Arnold, the famous apgby
school master, said the difference between
one 10y and another was not so much in
talent as energy. II is with boys as with
men: and perseverance is energy made
habitual.'