New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17
MIR, EVERETT ON EDUCATION,
SPEECH DELIVERED ON THURSDAY BEFORE THE
ALUMNI OF HARVARD COLLEGE.
From The Boston Daily Advertiser.

From The Boston Daily Adrerttser
MFR. EVERETT commenced by saying that he took
for granted that the Association would expect him to
address them on some subject connected with educa-
ton; the common ground on which they met. Famil'
lar as the subject is there is Illustration of the i'm
porance of education suggested by the place and the
occasion, which had not perhaps yet received the at
tention it deserved. When the General Court OF the
Colony of Massachusetts, and John Harvard laid the
foundation Of seminary of learning almost the whole
of the North American Continent was in the barbarous
state in which it was discovered at the end
of the fifteenth century, and in which 1t had
remained without sympathy or connection with
the Old World for SO many ages. The al
important work of bringing the continent from that
condition into the domain OF civilization had oeen
performed, as the final cause by educated mhu.
The first settlers of New England were educated at
the universities Of the mother country ana the carry
emgrants from all countries brought with them some
portion of the intellectual culture OF the Ola World
In every Subsequent PERIOD OF our history, lne par
amount importance Of education had accordingly
been recognized. Such provision had been made TOR
il in every part Of the couutry as circumstances ad-
mitted. The endowment of educanon by the assign
ment Of one thirty sixth part OF the puohc uoniah
was probably more liberal public provision for edi-
cation, than had ever been made by any Governmeh,.
Rut strong az was the traditonary and popular fce
mo o the country in favor of education must be ad
mited that it was rather elementary education for the
nasses which enoyed this popularity than education
of higher type, obtained 10 Colleges ana Unversi-
ties Ii was not unusual to hear academlcal education
disparaped and the examples OF distinguished self
taught men ominously and triumphantly cited, TO
show that il not required as preparation iof the
important trusts OF lie. . -, ,..,
men " for the purpose of showing that nothing could
be inferred from their example, against the importance
Of acsdt mical education to which the distinguished
men of that class were uniformly irendiy mr. Eveie"
proceeded to the inquiry whether the prevailing I'M,
pressons against at least OF the studies pursued
at our collegiate institutions were founded In reason OF
popular prejudice. 49, -
he asked permission to cay few words If he might
venture to do SO in this uarian age, for the noble
nutility of high mental and artistic culture Wiho9t
disparagiDg utility properly understood ana
Mr. Everett her introduced number Of illustrations
TO show the superior beauty and dignity OF those men,
tai exercises and accomplishments, which are acquired
and cultivated without selfish object; instancing IN
the qualification afforded by taste tor natural ana
moral science literature, art, music andpoetry.
But admitting that it is not the design OF places OF
education to train the mind to these higher Impractical
tastes minister to their giathcaton but 10 pursue
those studies and form those mental habits when tend
that the usual branches of academic learning might
be safely submitted to this test, understanding only
when we speak Of the service OF life, not the life OF
cabbage d dfay-hOrse, but OF rational man IN CIV
ilized society.
For this purpose it would not be necessary to sur
vey the whole circle of tudes pursued at our collegiate
ayowedly and obviously uhlisran in their desigo and
tendency. lie would coDfne himself to those which,
If any, Iabored under the reproach of being anti
quated scholastic, and abstract; the study of
language, and especially the dead languages Of the
mathematics and Of metaphysics.
The rest of the address devoted by the speaker
10 indicating by various arguments and ldstralons
the Importance Of these three branches of study.
He fist spoke of language, and especially OF the
dead languages so calico, said Mr.. E apparently oy
ahtiphrGSis, because some of them have survived
ninety generations Of our race and IN all human proc
ability will survive many moreD, as beog OCCASION
ally the subject OF nvidiOus contrast between woTdS
and things. Language, on the contrary was OF tue ut
most import as the representative oil Thought is
through the double system o. signs the language OF
the eye and the language of the ear, that the nvoe
essence which we call the mind is able to express
ITSELF act kindred minds in other countries, aud
afiertimes.
Mr. Everett, in this connection, spoke Of the electric
telegraph, which, wonderful as il is is but another
speces language like speech the pen, or the press
acentriyance fOr conveying words from one place 70
snother; the wonder Of wonders was language itself,
ny which we are enabled not only to place ourselves
beng but with the general assembly OF ages and by
the goleeD chain OF etymoogy trace the affinity and
decent OF nations back, through the ebyruh Of the
past, almost 10 the cradle Of the race
Mr.. Everett then exhibited q specimen Of the teIs-
graphic cable (preseDted 20 him by Mr. Peaboiyl,
now n progress of preparation to connect the cont.
neits Of Europe and AmeIica ard, after CONNIE ntng
upon The wonderful effects Anticipated from H. man-
tair.d that little volume which he held 10 his hand
and which contained the entire Had aud Odyssey
had performed equal wonders In transmitting the ear.
er egelds Of heroic Greece, through thirty centuries
of light and darkness, 10 tie present day.
He next passed 20 the consideration 81 the inathe-
macs, which, as being Moore difficult in themselves,
or as requiring peculiar aptitedes possessed by very
few peobs or az not required for the business of life
neglected. "A COLLAGE