The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-27

chapel TO hear the annual address delivered BY
George 8. 6titt. ESQ.,, Of New York city. Tho ee3M
ws well filed with students, alumni, trustees, indies
Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR. wykoff. Of Albany,
after which Mr.. Stitt proceeded 10 deliver well
written and timely address on 1.-THE Practical
Man" The following remarks contain the sub
stance Of
Nh. srrrT's ADDRESS.
Memory brings back wildly the scenes Of former
years, when we were about to leave these halls Then
We induiged In rainbow dreams, which have been
dissipated by subsequent events of life. When this
10 done, the student anxioualy inquiries whether he
Ia lifted for the practical business OF life there
tore propose for your consideration "the practical
man a. the man OF the age" The practical man Is
cot superficial. All the circumstances Of the time
demand thoroughness- Bungling pretenders will
not meet with permanent success in the struggles of
competition In this busy world. This Is q day when
the mechanic and srtizan and will do great
good. The civil engineer is the man Of this age,
who tfayerses our prairies. is spanning opr
rivers and unfolding the great sources CT wealth In
our land.
The following are some ofthe1narks Of the prac
FIRST His mentaland moral powers must be
trained, ard that 80 to develope all their
strength. Natural bias is not suffcient-these
powers must be trained, developed in symmetrical
beauty BY practice, the mind becomes disciplined.
labor Is necessary TO all improvement. Lean not
too much upon mental help; depend upon yourself;
be self MADE select, and pursue those studies which
WIN deyelope, strengthen and mature the whole
Second. He must have an intimate acquaintance
With anciew4 and modern literature and science.
He o are the fields where he may reap bountifal
barvests-dribk sweet draughts from the purest
springs of intellectual pleasure. The practical man
must posscss good and properly selected stock Of
materials knowledge, sentiments and habits
Third sound common sense and cautious
Judgment; follow not vagaries, new and infatuated
lights; calmly examine every new. question; let
every subject be carefully examined in the light OF
c0mnnAn sense.
will combine and strengthen all the powers of the
mind, which will enable the individual to be useful
and conspicuous. Let the win be taught BY all hu
man and divine teaching, to guide every step and
ed0ft In the great aim and mission Of life.
Fifth. Cultivate strength Of character. Be indie
pendent in your thoughts and opinions. Bow not
down to Others Be no mans man; but feel aud
i've as answerable to God and bound by law.
Sixth. Have grand and proper aim, which shall
alone enable yon to benefit others. We must aim to
do something useful to the world, according to the
Christian system. Seek life Of usefulness and you
viii happy on earth, and be honored in heaven.
Such is an imperfect sketch Of the man demanded
by the oge. 1s our college furnished with the
means ofproviding such men for the agea Letus 60
forward. brotkers alumni, with the good work 80
well begun, and before another year is passed let
Rutgers College be fully endowed, and then she will
rise like q temple seated upon hill; she will at
tract many to her shade and make her blessing in
The audience were dismissed with the beneiiction
by Rev. Dr. Knox.
The alumni dinner was discussed In full assembly,
after which the members Of the two literary societies
adjourned to their respective halls, where excellent
addresses were delivered.
The procession OF the societies then formed and
proceeded to the church, accompanied by the usual
music, the band being engaged at the Free AGA
deny.
The address was delivered at so late an hour that
It Is impossible to give you report by this even
ing's mail.
New BRUNSWICK, July %, 1854.
brought my account of Commencement proceed
inxs down to the speech Of DR.. vethake yesterday
afternoon, full synopsis Of which enclose. The
topic handled is one Of great interest and should
this orstion be published. We predict for it an ex-
teosive sale and perusal. n handles the subject
without gloves and the high position and extensive
experience of the author entitle his opinions to
great respect.
The exercises ct the church were opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. Dewitt, after which the Pres
dent introduced Henry vethake, Ii. D., Provost Of
the University Of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, who
delivered the annual address In opening, the
speaker spoke Of his being disposed readily to accept
This acceptaon, because of his FOL connection Of
three years as Professor 10 this institution, and
the many pleasant memories he still retained Of
that season. He adverted TO the acquaintance he
bad among the old inhabitants of the place. as Mr..
Isaac Lawrence, Rev. DR.. Livingston, DR.. Beach,
Mr.. Bishop Croes, Chief Justice Kirkpatrick. DR..
Chas Smith, Jacob Hardenburg, the two SEIZURE
mans, Stats Van Deusen and Mr. Garnett. He
came also TO offer some views on the subject Of edu
cation which the result Of much experience and
rejection. He was not about to infict upon them any
OF the thousand common places on this subject,
derived from German and other European sources.
The extraordinary multiplication Of books is one
ofthe CHARACTERISTICS Of the present age. The more
no read the less we think; and had VIC lived fifty
years later we might have been relieved from this
troublesome process altogether. Much useless trash
mas been written upon the art and science Of teach
ing. The Germans have enlarged, IL they have not
created the science Of pedagogc,. or Anglo-peda-
gogy; and they issue "a many as two or three hum
dred volumes annually on this subject in the father.
land: 90 that the accomplished pedagogue must de-
your volume daily In German alone to say nothing
Of what is furnished him in our own and other Ian
guages- These books are extensively read and
prixed BY sort Of pedants who sustain the same
men. famous for great cures do to the sick friends
npou whom they aflict their attentions. I should
u both oases prefer the regular physician. Many
q these books are said 70 e%SOdy the experience
given to education during the last thirty years is
no< . consequence Of the multiplication OF peda.
gogic works, and the frequency Of tachers'
c0aventions, bat il Ia rather the cause Of
action, and the public mind, directed TO education,
mag have been stimulated by reading books
and articles written by men supposed to be &c
quainted with the subject yet I think they have
doos more harm than good. They have done this
BY confounding Improvement with change In the
pIAas Of instruction in the text books used. espe
cialy By introducing those with new definitions and
their Children may learn, but never understand by
making them superficial. What Is studied should
be thoroughly gained; many children are spoiled
for life by this process, and rendered incapable OF
severe cxertion In aver life. These must not be
confounded with the aut Cesar, 0Gt nih1 men, who
WIN DO nothing unless they can be the 6rst These
deservs no sympathy.
The nonbes Of studiee pursued in schools has