The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-07-20
writings, one specimen Of which maintains
- popularity t0.the present time, showing
what triffcs az the brafr, c,S{N so,net;,ras

what tribes Of the brain VIII sometimes
seize upon public feeling, and secure last
ing impressions thereon, without possessing
any other merits thar those of naturanes:
and felicitous expression. The piece tc
which refer is the juvenile exclamation
| "You'd scarce expect one of myage
To speak in public on the stage"
AS to periodicals, pretending to take the
lead in improving public taste in polite lit
eratue, there were few in Boston, and in
decd in the Union. Tie "Mon.hly Au-
thology" had some pretensions to claim re-
spect from the cotemporary literati. 1t
was conducted by few scholars dcsirous
offaising the standard Of literary taste
among these was that precocious genius
and popular pulpit orator, Rev. Jos. 8.
Buckminister. This paper was the precur-
sorof the "North American Review" which
owes It's deserved celebrity to a succeeding
dynasty of literary gentlemen, of whom the
elegant Everett was the principal. There
was also the "Polyanthus," whose fowcrs
for time, continued to bud and blossom
under the culture Of our brother, JOS. T..
Buckingham, who still lives to honor the
profession.
There was still another periodical in Bos
ton, the "Omnium Gatherum," gotten up
by journeyman printer, the design Of
which was to arrest fugitive productions of
other rens, without aiming at the dignity
of leading the public mind by much origin
al writing.
1t would be erroneous TO say, that at
the period Of which treat, there were no
eminent scholars and men of genius, who
contributed to the press. There were
few who, as writers, have secured last
ing fame with posterty-such as the &C
corhplished Fisher Ames, the orator and
statesman, and John T. Kirkland, the pro-
found thcologian and finished scholar, who
afterwards presided over Harvard Universi-
ty, and whose life Of Ames, written con
dmore. to transmit to posterity the memo
ry of bis late friend and ootemporary, is
TO be found in every well selected library.
Amcs' speech in Congress, in '9s, on the
British Treaty, will be read and admired,
when the harrangucs of some legislative
halls will be forgotten and neglected as
superficial stuff.
Here l must close my "reminiscences Of
the pres Of New England and cognate sub
jects-except to remark that tho sturdy
virtues, the intelligence, the enlightened
enterprise, and the learning, cultivated
with so much assiduity by the progenitors
of most of US, on tho mother soil, and
aided in their growth by their free press,
havo been inherited in large degree by
the oifshoots of the original stock which
have taken roots in new States formed in
the west. Let us, then, foster and nur-
ture those institutions which tend TO up
hold civil society in its purity--which are
the strong pillars of Frecdom-which de-
ties, and which raise raise humanity to to its ttsfHi a:
tive dignity. The common school, the in
dependent and enlightened press, the pull
pill endowed with pure religion, the sub
sidiarv seminaries to higher cultivation,
ou, excellent University, with its thorough
scientific aud literary teachiugs-these are
the fountains, whence are 10 flow all those
blessings, which can confer on ourselves
and pcsterity real, substantial enjoyment
and prosperity. And may the State gov
ernment continue to cherish, by all proper
aid, all such educational institutions as de-
pend upon it--may the muses. ever love to
hover over the groves of our flourishing
scat of learning, and may it be the alma
mater Of many youth v ho shall do honor
to the State and impart blos iugs to socie-
ty.
Que moro reference TO ancient Ameri-
can literature in the first decale of this
century. 1t was then taunLingly and ln-
yidiously asked by an eminent cousin of
ours on the other side Of the Atlantic,
"Who reads an American BookP How
ever applicable such question then was,
it is no longer 50, ms our literature, II 1t
has not earned the standard of distinc.
tive national character, it certainly, in the
estimation Of tho republic of letters, stands
proudly in comparison with that of other
nations Indeed, homage has been paid
to American genius by the most eminent
scholars anl writers Uf the Old W. rid |;
and Irving, and Prescott, and Bancroft,
and Hilliarl, in historical research as well
as in elegance of composition, are read and
| admired hy the transatlantic reading pub.
! lie, and quoted as authorities, too, hy
transatlantic authors. In the science OF
jurisprudence, our Storys works upon that
subject are textbooks in England; and in
natural science, Agassiz is read and refer
red to all over Europe by the most learned
philosophers. In foreign literary coteriess,
the former question is reversed, and it is
now asked, "Who does not Rad American
BooksW
shall not detain you long by extended
remarks on the history of Printing in this
State and this would be superauous since
tho most of you arc as well acquainted
with the subject as am. As has always
been the case, in the settlement OF new
country, Americans have always been Sc
dulous to plant the civil and religious insti-
tutions, with which they arc familiar, at
the scat where they have chosen to make
a permanent settlement; and these institu-
tions, at eligible points, have been follow
ed by the printing press. This was the
case in Michigan, and thus, early III Its set
Element at each county seat of any lmpor-
tance, newspaper was established 1t
is believed that this State has now com
petent supply of these valuable vehicles Of
intelligence, and, it may be, too many, at
certain points, to prove pocunarily profiIa
a IN irci