The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-11
A Sensible spoech ON Educatiou.

The annual meeting of the Dundee Industrial
Schools recently took place, and was addressed bv
the Rev. Norman MLeod, a Presbyterian clergy
man. Ct Glasgow, who made An admirable speech
ON the subject OF the kind Of songs and the class
of books best fitted for the working man. Any.
thing more sensible than its principle MI re human
and honest than its intention, more fresh and
characteristic than the genial bullying of its ex
presaion we never read. Mr.. HLeod observed;
eff we are to have singing, let have good hearty
Scotch songs l was lately in child's school, and
took up book of songs, and Scots wha ha e. a
the title of one of the songs 1 delight at the
to my sstsnishment, found that the song was some
inimitabe twsddle, some horrible stuff about march
ing to infant school. fGreat laughter turned to
another entitled Ys banks and braes O. bonny Doom
and YVES again disappointed finding that fine song
banised, and another substituted in which there
twaddle Laughter. If we are to have singing let
haye good hearty Scotch songs, such those may
myself have % SUNG. and nd may even yet y :ins Great
[cheersl l-somethng that will stir mans SOUL and
not horrid twaddle, such as these songs. Cheers
they don't succeed. We give to working men despe-
rate dry books that we would not read ourselyes-
[Applausc.I 1t is almost hypocrisy that man
| should at his own fresde, read one of Dickens'
books or Que of Scotts novels but the moment they
come to the working man, they must not encourage
him to read those books Who does not rejoice at his
bors of life, to turn up his noble Shakespeare and Mil
ton, to read those noble men Of oldl Why not
forward, then, and say to our working men, Read
"If we begin 20 put these aside, and pick out the
orouthtiest drest books won't have them read.
We true ourselves let us be true to our fellow.
men. And when you are honest in giving them good
wholesome library, such you have read yourselves
you come with moro bodness and say with re-
gard to other books, These are not wholesome read
ing! they miserable, wretched novels full of pal
try sentiment. Don't read these; and the will
believe you. Be q little more LIBERAL little more
wide in the books you give them. Applause As
regards your children. l wish / could feel now, in
reading the best book that written the same
intense enjoyment and pleasure as did when read
Bluebesrf and Beauty and the Beast laughter
and applause Jack and the Bean Stalk and Jack
the Giant Killer. IRenewed laughter and applause
The other day began to read them again-[laugh-
terI-and was delighted with them. will tell you
why read them again. I wanted to give them dra-
what enjoyed when l was young. tApplause. J.
What you frightened for in giving these books
your children? don't believe there 10 q wo.
man here who remembers any book they read in
which these books were reao Very well; do you find
they have done you harm? Do you look back with a
grave face upon any injury they have done you? l
know they come into my soul like sunbeams. have
the deepest thankfulness that have these books
Then give them to your ragged boys 40 we'll. APP
plause. Give them your good books; but if you win
have them interested, you must have q broader and
manly view about the books they ought to read"
lApplauss.
The speaker concluded by recommending those
who are good readers to read aloud for the benefit
of those who are not. Many man, he observed.
would rejoice to hear q book read, who would get
little good the book were left to him to read for
himself.
There Is something not little amusing, and sig
nificant too in the mingled laughter and applause
with which Mr.. M'Leods remarks were received
London paper.