Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-12-02
The LyceNm.

"AiSu ioioWCu Tic COoOsuSAoh ~ VIC ACS.'
ture evinced with wha, delight the even.
ings entertainment was received. We
have only time before going to press to
give hasty glance at few Of the leading
features Of the lecture.
The subject was introduced by COM
parison of the two principal avenues to
kpowledge-the study Of books and the
study of Nature andwhile due Importance
was attached to each, God having chosen
both to communicate intelligence to man.
it was maintained that too little attention
was devoted to the latter. While books
only communicate the opinion of others
often erroneous, the lessons Of Nature if
rightly studied discipline the mind, gener.
ate ideas and teach US to draw our own
conclusions from premises as unerring as
the laws Of the universe. That correct
understanding Of the subject most worthy
Of mans attention, the relation he sustains
to Deity. and Gods will concerning him
fcan only be properly appreciated by study.
ing the volume Of Divine inspiration, and
the volume Of Nature everywhere open to
our admiring gaze. Either will lead us
toward the same conclusion, each being
in harmony with the other, and each aid
ing to elucidate apparent obscurities found
in the other. The wonderful and startling
incidents that are found all along the page
Of history have given currency to the ex.
preston that "truth is stanger than fc.
ton" In Natural history there will be
found events and incidents equally strange
and wonderful, and the studen. who ex-
tends his researches into this department
will find that all that is romantic is not
excluded thersfrom.
| Attention was called to the natural his.
tory Of insects, in size the smallest, vet in
numbers the greatest Of Gods creatures
on earth. The wonderful revelations of
the microscopein developing the beauty,
grace and complex organization of these
minute yet perfectly formed creatures was
portrayed, exempifyng manifestation of
power and skill, scarcely surpassed in all
the varied productions Of the Great Crea-
tor.
1t was demonstrated by great number
Of illustrations, that in mechanical skill,
and in the magnitude Of their achievements
these tiny insects. vast proportion Of
them invisible to the naked eye, had sur
passed the proudest achievements Of the
"lords of creation The tiny coral, by
his unwearied efforts, had heaved up from
the oceans depths vast Islands. The
most delicate Brussels lace that adorned
the ladies apparel the magnificent carpets
that ornament our parlors, are surpassed
in fneness Of texture, beauty of finish,
and delicacy Of appearance by the pro,
auctions that have from time immemorial
adorned the habita,ions of various species
Of the insect creation.
It was shown that in many Of the most
important inventions that have placed the
names Of the discoveIers upon the roll Of
fame as benefactors of the human race,
more perfect models and machinery more
simple, and yet better adapted to the same
end already existed am these primeval
inventors, whose his tory is under consid.
Grafton. That in architecture, models ex.
listed which for convenience of arrange.
ment and solidity of structure were, un.
surpassed by the proudest achievements
of modern art.
That in the science Of government, judg.
ing from the apparent happiness and con-
tentment Of the governed, the order and
regularity that exist in soc ETY., and the
system by which all things are regulated,
there can scarce be an example found
among the various insect organi cations,
that will not compare with the most .ap.
proved systems among men.
The habits and social life Of many in.
sect tribes were alluded to, illustrating the
manifestation of passion and feeling, indi.
vidual peculiarities, &C., bearing remark.
able analogy to like exhibitions among
those Of his creatures whom God has en-
dowed with the attributes Of humanity.
The allusion to the system Of Negro
slavery, IS practiced by certain species
of ants, showing that the Negro trade is
openly practiced, without any regard to
constitutional prohibition, Missouri COM
promise or bred Scott decision, was re-
ceived with rapturous applause. Refer.
ence was made to the remarkable meta.
morphosis which occurs in the history of
many insects, ~ beautifully illustrating
the great change which the closing scene
of life's drama will effect in the condition
and appearance Of those whom God has
endowed with principle Of Immortality.
As the groveling and inattractive chrysalis
bursts the bands that bind him to the
earth, emerges clothed in the gorgeous
apparel Of the butterfly, buoysntly and joy.
ously scars upward to > purer, more ethe
real and unexplored element, so man,
when divested Of the shackles Of immor.
tally which make him impure and sinful,
will mount up, as on eagle 8 wings. furnish.
ed with more glorious body, fashioned
after the Divine will. to bask in those
realms Of eternal felicity, where all is pure,
beautiful and attractive.
limo will not permit more extended
notice Of this Lecture. We have only been
able to gla nc. at some of the leading fea.