Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-29


the State University. The address deserves
all that is said of il, and is des ,rving of pub
icatiOn at full length in our columns. Want
of space, however will prevent the gratifica-
ton of our wishes, at this time, in this respect
as well as in the address delivered by President
DAILY, both of which would repay a careful
investigation. For the present we are forced
to be satisfied with the comments of the Ga
zette, and the extracts selected by that journal
We have read with good deal of interest
Gov. Wright's Address at the Inauguration OF
Mr.. Daily as President of the Indiana Univer-
sity, i'll August last. We have marked a
number of passages which are worthy of be-
ing repeated in every home in the State
worthy of being borne in mind and acted up
on by every indiviual in the commonwealth.
We find space for two extracts
HOME EDUCATION.
We have many Colleges in Indiana many
High Schools and Academies and numerous
other Institutions which afford public and pr-
vate means Of instruction and vet, it does
seem to me that the great prevalent error
among our people, consists in this, they affix
to the idea of education something that can
only be fourd away from home. The general
rule that prevails among parents is, to enquire
for some Boarding School, High School, Aca-
DENY or College, in which they may place
ther sons or daughters in order that they re-
Il ceive that kind OF Instruction necessary %
qualify them to enter upon the discharge of
the duties and responsibilities of active life
Many parents seem to think that home is
proper place to eat, drink, talk and sleep; but
that is all.
The Almighty has left MS, in his words
three positive institutions-the Family, the
Church, and Civil Government. These have
existed in some form, in every age of the
world. Other Institutions have arisen, and
they are are before us and among us they
come and 90, to be seen no more But the
whole fabric of society may be changed gov
enments may be rent asunder new dynas-
tic may take the place of the old volanc
tempest may sweep over the whole face of
civilization yet, as soon as the necessary
time would elapie for the settling down of So
ciety in some form, shape, and order, these
three institutions ordained of Heaven would
appear-the Family, the Church, and Civil
Government.
The first of these is the Family; and it is
IN this institution that we must look for the
beginning of an education that shall be worthy
of the age and the nation in which we live
/ There is much implied by the phrase Home
education" 1t is not the proper cultivation
of the intellect-it is the proper training of the
heart, the affections, and: :the social qualities.
| do not believe that any man, let his intel
lectual attainments be what they may, is fit
to go forth into society, if he has not had
thrown around him the genial and purifying
influence of parents, sisters, brothers, and the
influence of the Family government.
We cannot maintain and perpetrate our
/ glorious form of government in its purity and
| excellence by depending alone upon the Col
leges and Universities of the land. Wemust
look to the education that controls and shapes
the fdmiiy circle. There can be no love of
country, where there is no love of home.
True patriotism derives lis mighty strength
from fountains that gush out around the hearth
stone; and those who forget to cherish
the household interests, will soon learn to
look with indifference upon the interests of
their country.
t L know man of great wealth, an active
member of the bar for twenty-five years, who
resides near the capital of Indiana How
the father of nine sons, two of whom are
ministers of different religious denominations
OF these, one has travelled in foreign lands,
and has interested and delighted many Amer
lean audiences by imparting to them knowl-
edge that he had acquired abroad Two are
among the most industrious and successful
farmers of our State. One is a most gentle
manly Conductor upon one of our Railroads :;
another under twenty years of age, has pen
etratcd the wilderness Northwest of Lake Su-
perior, as far as Pembina, and has returned
with mind well filled with practical knowl-
edge. Another is in active business in pro-
duce store, on the shores of Lake Michigan ::
and the two youngest are now scholars in a
district school. | heard one of these nine sons
say, at the age of twenty-five, that he was
never in Court House to hear a trial or to
be sworn as a witness
/ This father. to whom have referred has a
little domestic government at Home. 1t is his
practice, in his family, to hold frequent consul
! tations in which each member takes part in
the discussion and determination of all ques-
tions affecting their duties, interests and re-
sponsibilites, in the affairs of life. He taught
: his sons to think, to teork, TO iaJor. He has
: been able to invest practical labor with an in
terest that cheers the hearts of all around him
and that thus gives to his home the grace,
r peace, refinement ard attraction, that God de-
, signed n Home should possess. The results
! of this system of home education are seen in
good constitutions, physical strength, good
I morals, industrious habits and in the practical
t application of useful knowledge, acquired by
: collegiate studies.
PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
We want and we must have an improved
system of practical education system that
shall be adapted TO the times, TO the nature OF
our government and the condition of the
country We want an American system
of education.
Look around upon the the immense fields
that invite the labors Of scholars who are
well educated in the sciences of Chemistry,
Mechanics, Geology, Botony, &c, and behold
a how few are qualified for the work of scientific
A investigations in these fields We have hun
s dreds of graduates who can translate Latin
and Greek, and explain the meaning of some
a obscure texts in Hewbrew but who, as arch
a itects or engineers, can tell you nothing of the
1 proper plans to span rivers with Railroad
r bridges, or of the true means by which you
0 may render your wet land productive. Not
p long since, distinguished Engineer in the
v service of the United States wished to employ
S an assistant /; and hearing of six graduates al
t one of the first colleges of the land, he visited
V them, and regretted 10 find that not one o
' them was qualified To discharge the duties o
Il an assistant Engineer in his service.
c How little we know of the chemical prop
c critics of the air we BREATH of the water we
S drink, or the soil on which we are dependent
e for the food that supports life. How ignorant
G we are of the various qualities of the differ
4 ent ores and minerals that lie in profusion al
1t around us ! What do the students in on
Ii Colleges learn of the botanical characteristics
of our grains grasses, fiuits trees, and flowers
e And, on their return to their homes what in
r formation can they communicate to thei
e neighbors, in relation to the physiological pc
n euliarities of those animals which are in mos
v demand for the farm or for the market?
e We demand in these times Institution
# where our sons can be educated to be Farmers
-e Architects ArtiZans, Engineers, Mechanics
IF Geologists, Botansts-in word, useful mer