Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-10-22
pRAclicxr NM

the most reliable in al matters appstainhS % Sod
government and the pfospWity q S6h II =
true. that sometimes here and there may 10 found
tAeorist, who does something in The way Of benefit
to bis fellow-man and leaves name which Postesi-
ty immortalixcs. When We find these rare exam |
pics SO far q the truth Of history goes there 3 a.
30 the evidence Of an influence cxcrted over them
by practical mind
There aro many who entirely misconeeive the
purposes and advantages Of an education. They
seem to think that 70 10 educated y to be great
That tS 20 forth from the Alsa Mater With tho tc-
timonials of scholarship il oil sufficient; and that
now tho world must look upon them in the light Of
prodigios Of learning. This, however, n miss.ke
Education can't make " give to man mind The
Creator alone possesses creative power. 81 He Wills
and Il Is done {" lie commands and il stands FAST"
Out of chaos he brings forth order and beauty; and
out of the darkness Of non-entity He originates light
that studs the vault above with its gems Of diamond
brightness. Man is but the creature Of the Crca-
tor! - .a-s. ..r.
The object Of education is to develop and discipline
the wonderful faculties Of the mind. and give Il
shape and beauty and to adapt it to the practical
and useful purposes Of life. Hence the completion
Of a college course, ia but the beginning OF what
should properly be called an education: man
may be educated. and yet It avail him nothing lie
may spend his days in dreamy though: and never
achieve aught Of good, unless It be that BY h's
mastery inactivity ne uoeS no naIn, WINCH VIC
call a negative virtue.
What We want is to see q mind properly cultiva-
ted applying its capacity and gifts to some practical
purpose Of life, and theoretically exercising all IT'D
powers for the promotion and welfare of society
An example the opposite Of this Is to be found In
the case Of the worthy "carned blacksmith" Elihu
Burrtt No one questions his worthiness or attain
ments. and yet what practical good has he ever
achieved! He has BEN constantly theorixing upon
this that and the other subject unless are very
much mistaken, will not leave any other Evidence
to posterity, than that Of showing the great and
wonderful capacity Of the human mind for the &C
QUESTION of knowledge.
"Cui Bono?" What good IS the great present
question Of this unitarian age Has man knowl.
high amongst his fellows! They ask for his achieve
ments No matter what, or where, may Be the
sphere Of his operations il he leaves evidence be
hind of usefulness or practical good. his memory
will not be cherished, and his name, in few years
will be buried in obivions grave. The fact Is our
institutions Of learning seeing the importance OF the
great principle We seeking to enforce and man-
tan arc becoming daily more practical in thei, sys
tenn of education, and arc cngraAing thereon all the
means that can be made available in the behalf Of
this one great object Of lie.
The days Of romance and folly have. with the
American people, passed away. At the Bar. IN the
Pulpit or no matter wherc the demand Is for CON-
mon sense, and that practical knowledge. which d
the result Of wellgovcrncd and properly directed
mind. Mere pretentons will not satisfy the honest
inquirer and glittering show will not dazzle their
vision. The drawing-room fop may sport HIS pat.
ents and dangie his massive gold chain, and spout
imperfect Latin or French. but he can't SHINE Our
| girls now understand these mysteries OF an sun
known tongue" themselves and no longer stare and
| gaze at the selEconccitcd fool who may imagine
that all the in the world has abandoned nearly
all mankind, and found home in his empty brain.
The Gauge OF this wise and practical state Of
things existing in society, may be accounted for up
on the ground that such has been the astonishing
and rapid progress Of mind in dcvisins "hbcral
things" for the benefit Of man. regardless al poap
and parade that we Involuntary look tn the effect
and by it measure the cause and its extent
The most important benefits accruing to society
in the arts and sciences have been made not BY the
| formally educated, but BY, to . very great extent
sclfnade men, irrespective Of the particular pursuit
to which they were trained in early life. The great
est improvements in agriculture have been made b,
persons bred in Cities Somc Of our hest laws hav'
been made by practical men. The same causes will
perhaps account for the circumstances so frequent
ly observed, that whenever man Of superior prac
teal mind arises, the last thing benefited by tn
exercises of his powers Of invention will be the pur
suit to which he was 'rcgularly educated" Ram
age the optician, who rendered such important Set
vice to science, by the improvement Of rejecting Tel
escapes, in which he obtained equal power in hal
the size used by Hcrschcll, made no improvement L
tanning leather, his original occupation.
The most efficient men in the Senate al the
States have bcen and still are, its practical mcn.-
The names Of Clay, Benton, Allen, Douglas an
many Others afford complete cxemplication Of GU
views. All these were, and are, sclfmadc men. l
fact in political life, all visionists have lived an
toiled in vain. They have theorisel and split yer
fine hairs in matters involving metaphysical dis,in,
TONS and left elaborate articles paper containin
mysterious spcculations and wonderful conception,
at least considered So If for no other reason for I'll
fact that they are invested with SO much my
point Again, We repeat that without practic.
common sense, knowledge may he good and bea,
tiful, but it will not shine, and neither will
do its possessor much, IL any, good Il vi
be like the brilliant gem which confined in its li,i
box, only shines within the limits Of It's narraw an
contracted space, unseen and unadmircd-Was
ingtoH DispateA.