Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-13

fine thought and Astounding in felicitous illus
trations, and was listened to with close atten-
ton by large and intelligent audience.
CELEBRATION OF THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.
The Grafton was by Rev. r. S. Storrs, Jr.,
Of Brooklyn, N Y.
The Orator, after a graceful introduction,
stated that he had selected his subject in view
Of the two dangers which especially beset
young men on emerging from the schools in
to actual life,--the danger first Of over-csti-
mating the influence they can exert on their
times, and second the reflex danger, conso-
quent upon the discovery Of their ovcr-esti-
mate, of falling back into self-seeling and
lothargy Ho had chosen, therefore, for his
theme View Of that Law of gradual Growth
and Cumuation, which we find in History.
The world marches slowly, but it does march
and towards the Millennium, and the efforts Of
true men must assist in its progress.
This law Of gradual progress was traced in
the various departments of History-in Social
advancement. rising in successive stages from
the original barbarism, through Pastoral and
Agricultural life, the results Of which are
Wealth and the Institutions Of Society, from
the necessities Of which arise the trades of the
artisans and the professions Of physician,
lawyer, teacher. philosopher and priest; all
these rest on Earth-tillage as base. 1t is
the hard-hand of the farmer. which has
brought to the nations the true compact Of
Society. The law was traced in the gradual
development of Government. from the patri-
archal through the Feudal. Military. Mon
archial and limited Monarchy to Democracy.
We enjoy the fruit Of the earlier systems, and
the experience Of other Republics. We come
to our liberty, born to it, because others have
died for it, No statesman has planned, no
warrior fought, no martyr died without ming
ling his influence in that large measure Of
sustained order which is TO us benignant
Summer, familiar as dawn. So Of the Ma-
chinory Of Life. and the contriyaBces Of copl-
fort. We have come by gradual stages to the
tramp Of the engine and the fash of the wire.
The clang Of the Cotton Mill tells Of deter
minded, ever-adyancing civilization, unfolding
for ages. How much genius is absorbed
in it Who shall measure the silent study.
the minute calculation of forces, the persis-
tent trials. the improvements Of rare moments
Of elevated thought and invention. which have
contributed TO it Whole cycles of discov-
ry are condensed into every fabric we wear
The only invention now needed is a machine
which shall Miak.
The same law obtains in the Speculative
progress Of he igorld. The present state of
Literature is the fruit of slow advances
through Poetry, Eloqucnce Philosophy, Sci
ence and History and the progress of tho
Fine Arts keeps pace with that Of Literature.
Even Historic and Authentic Christianity is
not exempt from this law. Christianity is
indeed vital and simple as at first but it
comes 20 us In majesty through the past--in
contrast with ethics and systems that have
crumbled and vanished, -interwrought with
philanthropic and holy memories, and with
the domain of its influence made more wide
and high.
Thus we enter to that which the labor of
millions has accumulated. The wrcstle of
races. the trayail-throes of continents the
course of dynasties. have wrought it for us.
We cannot attempt 70 give our readers even
a very faint idea of the nnumerable particu-
lars. instances of the results of research, in
ventions, developments of character, pro-
duets, forces, achieyments, with which the
orator illustrated his subject as he went
along. It was a strong full current of infor-
nation and illustration which carried all his
hearers along with him and held them inter-
ested and attentive % the close.
The conclusion was that we each of us
have our place in the series Of efforts, as we
have in the succession Of benefts,-that the
normal attainment is not the realization Of
any past epoch, that the man Of the age must
be Christian C0smopojite, equally removed
from the false conservatism which rejects
every thing new, and the foolish sciolism
which decries the old, and takes whatsoever
is new because it is new, not because it is
good, equally removed ON Romansm and
Rutlandism. Between these there is a plat
form on which We may dwell.
And final success is certain. As age re-
peats itself on age, and ever is onnoblod.
there shall be shaken ont the principles Of
evil and gathered in higher forms the princi-
pies OF virtue. We have personal duty
to act as becomes citizens Of the age, intent
unwcariod, cousocrate, knowing no rule but
equity, and making oar lives the seeds Of the
millenial glones to conc.
CELEBRATION OF THE ASSOCIATED ALUMNI.
The Society of the Associated Alumni held
their biennial celebration on Tuesday after
noon. Judge Robert $. Hale, of Elizabeth
town, n Y. presided upon the stage. The
opening prayer was made by Rev. c. c. Par
ker of Waterbury followed. after music, by
an Grafton by Rev. L Cutler Of Worcester
Mass Mr.. Cutters subject was the relations
Of genius and common sense. Common sense
the speaker defined to be the spontaneous a
greemcnt and sympathy OF the lndiVldual win
the mind Of the age while genius is that dy-
manic force--the necessary complement of
common sense--which adds to the general
stock of power by aco rieirs. The one rep
resonts the general level of the age the other
indicates the elevation of one age from anoth-
er. The successive gradations of genius mark
the steps Of the race in its progress, while
common sense follows genius, only, and al
ways, an age behind it. The one illustrates
the principle of perpetual progress which
governs the world, the other the necessary
limitations of that progress. Common sense
thus acts as the brake on the wheel of genius,
and the best ages are those in which the two
are equally balanced The speaker did not
seem to class the present age among the best
ages Young America now sets down all OPP
position to its progress "Old Fogyism,
and true conservatism is a mark of disgrace
But what, asked the orator, has this age DONE
outside of the mechanic arts so much greater
or better than former ages; He knew Of no.
thing achieved by it in the shape of intellec-
tual and moral improvement, which throws
the past into a very deep shadow, and thought