Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-22

collections from my sense of intellectual obliga.
tons to the genius of Scotland. The first poets
who charmed me from playiu the half HOLIDAYS ~
school were Campbell and Scott,-the FIRST his,o.
mans who clothed for me with life the shadows nj
the past were Robertson and H1me,-the first NH.
osopher who, by the grace of his attractive style
I1red me 10 The analysis OF the human mind wa
1 Dugald Stewart-and the firstnoyel that bon N
with my own money and hid under nv inflow,
was Roderick Random of Smollett. (Annlause
80, when later, IN long vacation from nv studies
at cambridge learned the love for active adyen.
luIe, anu contracted the habit OF self. reliance nv
solitary excursions on foot, nv staff in INV ha nd
suu ny hnapsack on my shoulders, it was towards
Scoliand that instinctvely bent NV way asif The
NURSERY groundlrom which had been waited 10
;Isa nn1 Tue hrst germs of those fertile and fair
.usss winch, alter they have come to flower upon
!neir native SOIL return to seed aud are carried by
sue winds. we know not whittier, calling up end
less Universities of the same plant according TO the
o.illate anu The ground 10 which theyare borne by
cnance: (ApplauSe.l Gentlemen, This day re-
visited with Professor Aytoun the spot in which,
lnete LAD, obscure aud alone, i remember to have
$1,000 one starlight night in the streets of Edin-
oursh, gazing acioss what was then deep ravlne,
upon the picturesque outlines of the old town, all
tue associations which make Scotland so dear to
romance. and so sacred to learning, rushing over
me IN tumultuons pleasure; her stormy history, her
enchanting legends,-wild tales of witchcraft and
larry land,-of headlong cliva.ry and tragic love,
YET Win Tile fSl0wn
OF schools famous for patient erldi,ion and tran
gull science. i rem.mber how then wished that
could have found some tie in parentage or blood
10 connect me with the great people in whose cap.
ltai l stood a stranger. (Applause.) That lie
which birth denied me- my humble labors and
your generous kindness, have at last bestowed:
ana lie stranger in your streets stands to-day in
this crowded hall, proud to identify his own career
win The hopes and aspirations of the youth of
scotland. (Great applause.) Gentlemen, When
RI StO nm 0f nth. ,
SITES renders my duty on this occasion, and offer
some suggestions that may serve as hints in your
various studi S, feel literally ovrrshadowed Inv
the awe OF the great names. all your own, which
tlSe high around me in every department of human
progress. lis not only the illustrious dead be-
lore whom have 10 bow,-your wonted fires do
not live only III their ,sheS. The men of TO-DAY
are worthy OF the men Of yesterday. (Applause 5
"A thousand rays of intellectual light are gathered
ana lmSed together in the varied learning of your
distinguished Principal. tApplauSe.) The clnv-
airy ot your glorious annals finds its new Tyrtaeus
IN the vigorous and rushing verse of Professor "
toun Cloud cheeH.) Your medical schools, all
IN their brancles-pathoogy, medical iur spru-
uence' surgery, anatomy, Observation-Disclosures more
anu more 10 fresh honors under the presiding names
OF Slmpson-(luud APPLAUSE Alison (cheers)
-~ChristSon- (appiause) Observation-Disclosures
III rto,tl -(appiaGse)-and Gtegory-(aprlause.l-
The general cause of education itself Is identified
with the wide repute of Professor Plllans IAN
plauSeD Nature has added the name of Forbes 10
e e list OF those u no not only examined laws but
discovered lel secrets--(loud cheers)- while tn,
comprehensive science Of Sir William Hamilton
(apPiauSe)--Stil corrects and extends the sublime
chart that defines the immaterial universe of ideas
AND how eau forget the nome of one man, whose
character anu whose works must have produced
the most healhful influence over the youth OF
Scot and-combining. as they do, in the rares,
union, all that is tender and fanciful with ali maj
IS hardy and masculine-the exquisite poet the
vigorous critic, the eloquent dscourser the ioyous
comraue--the minstrel of the Isle of Pams-the
christopher North OF Maya? cloud aud prolong.
ed cheering.l How wish that the plnudits with
which you recev this inadequate reference 10 one
SO loved aud honored might be carried TO his ears
and assure him that like those statues of the p1eai
homan fathers in the well-known passage of Tao
nus I'll he be absent from the procession he is
still more remembered by the assembly," (Cbee1s>
And since see around me the many who, thouy II
not connected with your college, are yet ipere 81
Ell IN The learned fame of your capital, permit ME
on thls neutral ground TO suspend all differences oil
party anu do homuge 10 the great orator and au-
tnor, whose luminous genius, W hose scholastic nj
talnments, whose independence OF spitit, whose
integrity OF lille, So worthiy represent not only the
capllaI, OUT tue Character OF the people who ella M
couEtryman by descent in Macaulay. (Cheers
When think of those names, aud of many NOR.
winch might cite, If time would allow me 10
make the catalogue of your living title.deetls 10
lame, might we'll shrink from the task before me
Out as every man assists 10 n &c neral illumination
by placing single light at his own easement, so,
perhaps, my individual experience may contrib
ute lis humble ray 10 the atmosphere which yenius
ana Leaning have kIndled into spIendor. (Cheers)
Gentlemen, l shalt first offer some remarks nnoi
those fundamental requisites which, no matter what
oe our peculiar StudieS essential to excellence
IN all OF them. Nature Indicates TO the infant the
two m.ain elements of wis ON; nature herself
teaches The infant TO observe and 10 inquire. You
VIII have noticed how every new object catches
tie eye OF Il Noung child--hOw lutuItiveIy he be.
gins TO question you upon all that he surveys
what it IS! what it is tora how il came there? and
how 1t is made? who made il? Gradually, as he
becomes Older his observation is less vgilant, his
curiosity less eager. In fact, both faculties are
often troublesome and puzzelng to those about
him. He is told to attend to his Lessons and moi
ASK questions 10 which he cannot yet understand
the replies; This reckless vivacity is drilled inu
mechanical forms, so that often when we leave
school we observe less aud inquire less than when
we stood nj the ;nee oil our mother in the nursery
butour first object on entering upon youth, and sur
veylng the great world that spreads before
os 10 regain the earliest attributes of the child
What were tile instincts OF the infant are the mi.
mary duties Of the student. His ideas become ilcI
and various i'll proportion as he obServes-accurate
ana practical IN proportion as he inquiries. The
old story oil Newton observing the fall of the annie
and SO arriving, by inquiry, at the laws of gravity
Will occur TO YOU all. But this is the ordinary mo-
cess IN every department of intelligence. A mar
observes more aitenliSely than others had done
something III itself very simple. He reflects, tests
MS observation by inquiry, and becomes the dis
coverer, the inventor, enrIeheS science improves
manu- facture, addsfa new beauty to the arts, or
if engaged in professional active life, detects, as
physician, the secret cause of disease.-extracis
truth, as lawyer, from contradictory evidence
or grapples, as statesman, with the complicated
principles by which nations flourish or decay, In
short take with you into al. your studies this lead
ing proposition, that, whether in active life, or in
letters and research, man will always be emf.
nent according TO the vigilance with which he oh.
serves, aud the acuteneSs with which he inouir.s
But this is not enough,-something more is want
ed--t is that resolute e!lort of the will which W.
call perseverance. l am no believer in genius
without labor; butt do believe that labor, iudici
ously and continuously applied, becomes genius
itself. Success in removing obstacles, as IN con.
querlng armies, depends ON this law of mechanics
the greatest amount OF force at your comma nd
concentrated on given point II your constitu.
him il you continue it longer and concentrate Il
Linnr.. ,rha tha -S.,A...,.