Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-21
Wolume L
Athen@ums, Reading Rooms. &c.

Athen@ums Reading Rooms, &c.
We are pleased to learn that the efforts of
the Oak City Guards to establish an Athe-
neum and Reading Room in this CITY. has
met with such success as to ensure its OMEN
ing the ensuing Fall, when we hope to hear
able and interesting Lectures, such as other
Cities are favored with throughout the coun-
try.
Appropos to this announcement we NAV
notice the reception of a copy of a Lecture
on the history and uses of Athenaums.
by DIR. Francis Lieber, of the South Carolina
University, delivered before the Columbia
A~theneum' in March last, from which we
make the following extract. We tender our
thanks to our young friend for furnishing us
with q copy of the Lecture:
An Atheneum is one of the institutions
resorted to for the diffusion of KNOWLEDGE and
cultivation of taste, and to descant on this in
general, would itnotbe "praising the strength
of Hercules 2"
The benefits of Athenaums are. like tboso
of all institutions, and almost all laws. Of a
direct, of an indirect, and of a preventive
} character, and who can say whether, as in
a thousand other cases, as in that of foreign
minister's, of punitory systems, of foricul-
ture, the indirect or the pre- ventive use does
. not outweigh the direct? That Is the
blessing of all good deeds that great as their
, oirect uses may be, their Indirect, preventive
II and even reflective benefits are greater sin
and endless. ~
The Athen@um offers means for farther
, ana continued acquisition of knowledge chief.
y 10 those who are engaged in practical mr.
! suits and to those who euioy OHM, le;spro
= without that dignuGs which the anc;ontS
from whom we derive the dictum Which
re mas become so trite. If it does this service
II - the natter, It's uses are great, for nothing
III ls more enfeebling than vacuitv or thot wh;nS
approaches it. If it does the service 80 4Sn
/ former, Its uses are equally great. KnorI
edSe awakens, mcites, and imparts alacritv
o. increases ingenuity and quickens the blessed
te, attrlpute OF humanity, called attention
hnoWiedge qulckens the mind of the NOR.
chant and the mechanic as much nc III af
he the student, which is as important a use -
II inc TACT that with cultivated taste, it renders
men mdnsaett, 1T tames them, to make use of
lat an expressive term of Cicero.
knowledge, with reference 70 ;ts ou;cLo,
j. lug capacity, is similar to civil liberty Wbv
is IL that the treest nations have been. with
ne, perhaps the single exception of the Romans
~ Which can easily be accounted for. foremost
In and the ingenious arts Jt
Tor cannot well be, because there is a direct con-
nectlon between civil liberty and commerce
When nations rise to civil liberty, when the
Jul people acquire a large share and influence
his IN government, the first measure they resort
OCT 70, at least In modern times. is almost inva-
rlably protection" that is obstruction 81
5ra- trade, because the people, now having \ share
GU IN government, naturally wish to see thei:
-; interests taken care of, and all the ponuIa,
yet Iallaclous arguments, derived from com.
nd parlson with visible things, such as money
and pockets, tend to favor protection. IN.
snackled trade is always the second and
ouI niSner stage OF experience and analysing re.
vel. nectlon. 1t must then be, because civil lib.
III erty mas the general effect of fostering man.
20 ~ self-rellance and of quickenipg the brain.
the Of men,, and because these two o~nalt;as are
the also important elements of lively, sagacious
:, enterprlslng commerce. A similar effect i
1ne produced by political freedom. and by kuowl
en- edge and taste on the artizan. The freec
cities IN the middle ages produced those mas
ter Hechanlcs, whose works we admire f.
I'M THIS day, and the fruitful effects of knowI
red Tuse ana taste spared among the ~votaries O
the useful arts by the most enlightened gov
TO ernments in Europe, have been unansyera
Oily shown by accurate statistical tables
N Whiie IN our own country, it has been prove,
- IN several portions, for instance in Conneet;
cut, that, all other things being equal III,
hus best.schooled districts are also the most nro
IL uuctive In an economical sense, even though
'ne the district should be chiefly engaged in
the branch OF industry no more elevated tba,
ro- cotton spinning If, then, your institution
contributes Its modicum to the diffusion an,
be lncltement of knowledge, It contributes like
and wise It's share to the promotion of commerce
ana the qulckening of the arts and the ms
'n %chanIcaf branches. 1t is certainly unpecc,
cial sary to mention before American citizens m
lin essental influence, which knowledge. fast
ana all real civilization must forever exercis,
$ OF m popular government like OURS, on thatst,
ten bilty' that security of property and freedom
winch lies beyound the law and above IN
law, and is greater than can be derived fror
rror lne law and that if you promote their diff
Is 81 you promote proportlonately the caus
use