The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1858-12-02
Lectures.

Lectures.
Why is it, that place of the size OF Lam
bertville that boasts of the Intelligence and de-
sire of knowledge that exists among its inhabi-
tants cannot have during every winter season, a
course of lectures TO interest and nstsuct them
in some of the various departments of knowledge
That It is source of interest, pleasure knowl-
edge and qualification, none will perhaps deny.
How we are pleased to sit down and listen for
an hour or two to the story of some learned OBJ
serving traveller who has travelled in foreign
lands and taken notes." as he describes the
country, its scenery, its agricultural mineral and
commercial resources, its mountains, rivers and
plains, its cities, towns and villages, its inhabi
tants their customs their religion, and their
habits. The speaker, if he was man who had
the power not only of telling his story, but Of
telling it well and pleasing, would interest us
more than dozen books on the same subject.
His vivid descriptions and thrilling narratives
would have an Impression on us that would never
be effaced. As we have not the time and mo-
ney to enable us to travel and see the sights of
the world for ourselves, let us do the next best
thing in our power Let us employ those who
have travelled and visited foreign countries and
have made them and their customs their study
let us engage such to interest and instruct us
to give us the result of their observations and
experience. BY this means vast amount Of
knowledge in regard to other nations may be
picked up at small expense, compared with the
amount of pleasure that we have received there
from. And we are benefited not only in the
pleasure of listening, and the satisfaction of pos
sessing the knowledge, but there is an usefulness
and utility about.it that We may little dream Of
by it we have the means Of comparing their
laws and customs, their political institutions and
commercial relations and enterprises with our
own. There is scarcely any country but what
some good may be learned from it, in some way
or shape and which it would be advisable to copy
and profit by. Every system of government,
laws, and customs, ought not to be universally
condemned, because they are in the main bad
but they should be sifted and if there is any good
in them, we should retain the good for our bene-
fit and example. 1t seems to us that there is no
source of knowledge and instruction that would
interest a community like ours, so much as the
source we have described.
Nor is it less true in regard to lectures on any
other subject that would interest US. Take, for
instance, the Grafton of the Hon. Edward Eve
rett, on the life and character of Washington.
After hearing it, we would think that we under
stood the life and character Of him whose name
all Columbia delights to honor far better than if
we had read dozen books on the subject. The
brilliant orator would rivet our attention and
cause our minds to grasp the subject SO compre-
hensively that we would necessarily retain i'm
pressions that would be fixed in it while life and
reason lasted
History, the arts and sciences, literature, and
in fact, any kind of useful knowledge, in the
hands of skilful lecturer would be very inter-
esting, and would furnish a source of gratifca-
ton that the citizens have not heretofore proper
ly appreciated. Why can we not all unite to pave
the way for something of the kind 1t is not |
yet too late to have few good lectures this
winter which would pave the way for better
treat another winter. We throw out these sug-
gestions for the citizens of the town to take &C.
ton on at once, and hope to it have some good
effect in causing them to doeo.
There are no doubt many good lecturers to be
had Let us have DR.. Baird to give US some
more of his observations as traveller, or if we
want to have some genuine amusement, some
thing good for the dyspepsia, and that would
make us laugh and grow fat, give us Park
Benjamin with his satire on the times and the
fashions, or any other lecturers on any particu-
lar subject they have chosen to illustrate.
How much better it is, even as source of
amusement than the circus, negro minstrelsy, &c,
which are generally quite well sustained in this
place. The lectures would be something tangi-
BILE, and would interest and instruct us, long be-
yond the aeeting hour that we might happen to
listen to them.