Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-09
College commandments.

On looking over the reports of the numer-
Gus college eommencements which are occur
ring about this time, we felt great regret that
We could not attend any Of them, especially
Hanover and Bloomington. We know of
nothing more delightful than these reunions,
nothing more true or permanent than College
friendships; and nothing more worthy of the
most liberal patronage than our higher semi
naries of learning. If the State stops at the
Common Schools she does little or nothing.
She should extend the most unlimited en-
couragement, if she undertakes the manage
ment of education at all, to Colleges and
Universities. On this point we cannot do
better than TO avail ourselves Of the eloquent
language Of another
"The Alumni of University are not the
only men who are profted by the education
which it imparts. Much of the benefit is
enjoyed by those, upon whom it has not been
directly conferred. CAMPBELL has shown in
one of his finest pieces of criticism, how
largely the poet, without being a man of cru
dition, may be indebted to the learning and
philosophy Of his age, and that many of the
most precious gems scattered through the
pages of Shakespeare, might have been lost TO
the world but for the revival of classical study
in England. Common schools are not the
only instruments Of popular education.-
Books, newspapers, educated men in the diff
- eff
How great was the influence of the ancient
drama on popular taste, sentiment and opin-
ion? How vast that of the modern pulpit?
The presence in any community of a thor
oughly educated citizen, mingling in the bust
ness Of active life, and bringing TO its pursuits
the knowledge and wisdom derived from re-
cluse studies, is equal in value to public
school. Wherever he goes he carries with
him floating atmosphere of knowledge
The pages Of Boswell still attest how fruit
full conversation may be made of delight and
instruction Who amongst us would not
have exchanged the reading of many volumes
for that half hours accidental conversation
with BURKE urder the arch of gateway,
during shower of rain, which DIR. JOHNSON
tells us was sufficient to convince any one,
that he had met with the greatest man in
England? Who Of his cotemporaries exer-
cised more influence upon the opinions Of
their age by writing than CoLERDGE did by
conversation? When, therefore, Univer
sity sends a man Of learning into society; i
confers public, and not merely persona
blessing. knowledge is incapable of selfisl
appropriation Like its great material symbol
the very law Of its existence is to shine NJ
delusion could be more mischievous than ON,
which overlooking the natural alliance an(
reciprocal dependence of the University anc
the common shool, should place their inter
ests in antagOnism. Whatever efficiency an,
value the common school possesses, it owe
to the University from which it receives
supply Of teachers. The prosperity of tn
University, and the thoroughness of Its in
struction, will be found an unerring index O
the dignity and importance attached to tn
mission of the teacher. Indeed no system O
popular education could perpetuate itsel
without a parallel course of liberal and ex
tended culture. Tho very idea of popula
education IS to communicate to the masses a
much as they can receive Of the knowlcdg
of the few. Knowledge is diffused in ex
panding circles, whose lines become fainte
as they recede from the point of original i'm
pulse, and unless that impulse is perpetual
renewed, viii finally become indistinct. If
may bepermitted to change the figure, to tn
University is assigned, in the economy
education, the double functions of the tw
great organs of the human body; it must nc
only propel the warm and sustaining stream
knowledge to the most distant extremities
the social system. but must recruit its langui
force and feed its wasted channels with a pei
petual supply Of fresh life.y