The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-11-20
Pnnular Taste for Lite1s turs.

1t is with something more than usual graft
fication that we announce the fact, that ar
rangements have been completed to give our
citizens a course of Lectures upon Litera-
ture and Science from men, each of eminent
ability in his particular studies. There is
no town upon the waters of the Ohio, approach
ing in size the city of Evansville, so destitute of
rational and instructive amusements as this
city; and none where they are more needed to
stir up the minds Of the inhabitants to the i'm
portance, worth and pleasures of intellectual
pursuits. This is a period in the growth of
our country when nearly the whole spirit
ofthe people is absorbed in heaping up materl-
al wealth; money is the god ofpresent idolatry;
but a different day is comng,-one Will
soon break upon US with bright aurora of in
tellectual and spiritual light in which the hon
ors and values OF life will appear in new as
pect Wealth will soon cease to confer respect
ability and influence without intellectual &C
ouisitions-off will be barren of honOrS
without fitness for it's duties-the graceS OF
fashion-the display Of external accomplish
ments-and the parade Of wealth, will
appear hollow mockeries to those who
rightly esteem the riches of a refined and Gull
tivated mind The present generation is fulfill
ing its mission by clearing away the forests,
ploughng the fields, erecting the warehouses
and dwellings, rearing the engines and inven
ting the laboring machines, and preparing
the way for successors whose labor will be
more of the head than the hands. In tie order
of Providence, man has struggled with material
nature till he has Sub'lued it to his power;--
Hereafter as he emancipateS himself from
the necessities of manual labor he will deal more
with the moral and spiritual agencies of life,
and his education will be, to conform the Or
der of his own being to the harmony of the
eternal laws.
Public lectures are modern mode Unpopular
education. Many condemn it as superficial
and of transient intluence;-but the objection
is as valid against great portion of the col
legiate and university education, which con-
sists in a great measure of lectures. On the
Continent of Europe, more than in this coun
try and England, they are the chief means ofim-
parting instruction;-and some of the 'tmost
splendidly educated men" as they are often
termed, have derived most of their learning
and accomplishments from the oral teachings
of the lecturer. Do not let us undervalue this
mode as means of INSTRUCTION to all classes.
We hope the experiment will receive most
generous support, and make our winter course
of Lectures a permanent Institution among
us. 70 the managers af the Library Associa-
ton we are indebted for the pleasure and benefit
which will arise from the course. These gen.
tlemen are doing much to raise the standard o
intellg ence and taste in our city. We hear
that Mr.. George Sumner Of Boston, Ike Mar
vel, Hon. Josiah Quincy, DR.. Daily, Edward
Bates of Missouri, and other gentlemen are en-
gagged already. We hope that Mr.. Benton
will give us his Lectures on the Union, as 1
part of the Series.