The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-07-08


the sacrcd altar: for when he lies down
IN the grave, hundreds will yet walk the
Earth whose lives will take shape from
his example and his counsels.
We do not profess to have attained to
all these professional virtues and excellen-
cies, but one who had, would be our idea
of true Teacher.
But no teacher or corps of teachers,
however abIa or enthusiastic, can, unaided
by the people, long keep any school from
sinking into ineffic:ency and insi gnifcance.
Unless the poop.e cherish it, guard its
reputation, give it their support its exist
ence will be but feeble and brief. This
is true of those Seninaries which have
from the beginning been amply endowed.
But ours is as vet Incomplete. We star
ted with no apparatus, no cabinet no h
brary, and none of those Fictitious advan-
tages, which at the outset give many a
seminary name and an eclat, far beyond
its intrinsic deserts. But we do not con-
slider our circumstances any disparage-
ment, or that they afford any ground up
on which to predict a failure, if it can be
sustained by proper, hearty home inlu-
ence. We would give more for our
chance with the people on our side acith-
ont funds than with funds, and gitAot
the people.
This demonstration of to day so pub
licly made augurs well; and it originated
in the sex that never acknowledge defeat,
and against whom it would be most I'M
gallant and iinpoitic to contend; for they
can accomplish more with needle poin-
ted with smile, than man can with q
bayonet pointed with a frown. Besides
their patronage in an enterprise like this,
is always double and indubitable. They
come to us with smile and ask for q
dime, but we find it is a figure of
speech where q part is put for the whole,
it means an Eagle. And if any one has
doubts of female consistency, let him refuse
and he will soon abandon his error.
But to do the eek justice, the,world
owes to their favor and perseverance, the
completion and success of some of its no..
best and boldest enterprises, when men
had abandoned them as untimely or i'm
practicable.
Columbus, the first name on the scroll
Of American history, showed both his
gallantry and his genius, in applying to
Isabella when Ferdinand turned away
from his appeals. Morse, whose electric
wires are interl acing each other over both
continents, and are to-day trailing across
the bed of the Atlantic, owes his success,
SO far as government patronage is concern
cd, entirely to the daughter Of a distin-
guished Congressman, whose influence
brought it to an immediate vote, and
secured an appropriation on tho last night
of the session, when the disheartened in
ventor was about to appeal to British pat
ronage; and it was but just that that
young lady should have the honor of
transmitting the first thought ever sont
along its fiery track.
There is no lady in any Intelligent, in
dustrious community, who cannot do
something to swell the current Of genial
enterprise, and write her name among
the generous and the useful. The object
Immediately contemplated in this Festl-
vel is just and praiseworthy. Science
needs her proper investments. She is
always eloquent and sublime in her teach
ings; but theoretical only and powerless
without the means of demonstration.
Philosophy needs her lever and bal
ances, Chemistry her retorts and cruel
blcs, Astronomy her quadrant and tele-
scope, Geology her hammer and tests
Physiology her charts and busts, and ev-
cry other science its appropriate appar-
atus. Thus invested, their bold mastery
of the elements of nature. and their cen
tributions to human power and comfort
are even now inestimable, and vet but
dimly foreshadow future achievements
They make all the difference between the
enterprising merchant in his huge ocean
steamer, and the benighted Indian in his
frail canoe; between the savage, confined
in body and thought to his island home,
and the intelligent journalist, sending his
rich gleanings from the broad earth
streaming on the electric wire from con-
tinent to continent, and even through the
cavernous depths of the ocean.
| 1t is learning, so ibeEaly fostered in
our schools and colleges, by public patron
age and private munifcence, and by such
contributions as are made here to-day,
that has so developed the intellect of our