Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-08-19

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which stranger intermeddeth not "-whicb n ~
taketh from them-with it they NAV smile at the o
frowns-defy its enmity and defeat its malice Il nInS
upon the hoary heads crown of perennial yerdnrro
is capital well invested And if my opinion as noa
cal man has any weight, or is entitled to anv rpan
would advise you to educate your children as far
may be in your power, at home, that their physical ~
we'll as mental constitutions and qualifications mo- t
accnlated and attached to, and compatible with tp
locality and society in which they are destined f. oa
their parts. Make use OF the advantages now wtbr
your reach while you have good schooan good teach
You are that the mental development Of 1o
children will depend great deal upon the teacher U
employ-and can assure you that it is not evnry Nv
who attempts teach. AS truth of this will cito
one instance Not long since young man apntareS
before the examining committee for common schools f
teachers certcate in the course of examination tho
statutes of the State was handed him. and be was n
quested to read few lines, commencing Be if frtb
enacted, &c. This young discp pie of Plato made L5
blunder at further and dead halt when be came ~
the big word enacted" Closing the book with an i'm
ploring look he said, don't believe can read it +
is book amt used to-" Nor was he or, are such as
he, fit competent to unfold and draw forth the bddo
treasures Of the tender mind.
In all the range of human employments there NOT
delicate, difficult responsible position, nor one
that mperously demands the exercise of the beet
qualities Of the head and heart than that of teaching chill
dren Their minds plable how crooked
and deormed they must grow when trained by one WHO'S
qualified for his or her position neither by talents know
ledge, temper, nor manners Here, doubt not but
you have one in whom all the necessary and essential
qualifications are combned-to whom am certain #
is pleasure to imparts her parts to Others and t
watch and to frame the tender buildings of the youthful
mind 10 such interest," with impunity the developments
of their tender minds and remember that wealth NAV
mpart false glitter and meritrcious ornament to the
social fabric but unless that wealth has its foundations
based upon intelligence and virtue, it will be but the
gilded halo lowering around decay
And to you the pupils OF this School presume that
you all aware OF the purposes for which you have
been placed here 1t is impossible to look upon an A.
sembage of youth like this which you present-coIlecte
here from the various parts of the surrounding country
think Of the purposes for which you have thus assem-
bed and the different circumstances under which Won
have come together, without bestowing thought upon
those dear friends who have placed you here The kind
and soctude of your parents presents you the
most powerful incentives to your present. as well as
future eXertons. With what tenderness have they ad
mnisered to your wants in helpless ntancy-with what
patience borne your indscretions in hayward childhood
with what anxiety will they watch your steps err
ing youth No care has been too severe, self denial
too palntu-nO sacrifice too great which would cOntr
bue to your felicity TO you the meridian of their lives
constantly devoted-on you their treasures expended
and in you their hopes concentrated. For all this kind
ness anxiety, affection and trial. the only reward they
expect the only requtal they ask is that you make
profitable use of the advantages which they iondy
place before you, that when you enter upon the world
you may act worthy of yourselves and not dishonM
them and shall this requital be denied them? VIII you
by your folly, disturb the tranquility of age? rob De
declining life OF its few remaining pleasures and snatch
away from the hands of your dong parents the lust
cup of earthly consolation? The chord that vibrates
from your generous hearts, yields, feel assured the
ready response. We scarcely contemplate submer
spectacle than that of virtuous youth urged on in Their
struggle for knowledge not only by love of science and
| nv q IF ito hut bolv
purpose of making by their mental riumphs father
heart beat with delight and mothers breast glow with
rapture; sacrificing with noble energy the customary
foles OF their ageyieding their souls to the effort and
like successful competitor in mighty race, pressing
to the goal of honor fame and fortune. Ii ever the
bosom of parent burned with joy-t is in witnessing
the efforts of such a son or such daughter.
Aside from the duty you to your parents, you
must remember that there duties of equal import
which you owe to yourselves that it is for your
own Individual and especial benefit that you are here
you must therefore be true to yourselves. shall not
attempt to mark out for your government any partcu
lar course OF study rule of action You have before
you the prospects of brilliant and happy fuure-hc
means to make it such within your reach. In
what other nation has honest ambition so wide range
| and merit so certain and brilliant reward? Where
else in the civilized world a vrtuous education be
| so surely obtained
In all the wide creation there is not an object so mean
nor an event so common that the educated mind does
not stoop to investigate From the ultimate maCue Of
matter to the final aggregation of the planetary globes
from the smallest monad that sWims in fluid floats in
the breeze to the great Levathan that poughs the wide
abyss; there is no object within the comprehension Of
the natural senses with which it does not seek to become
familiar. Nor does it stop here but by the aid Of
glasses it discovers forms too minute to be visible with
out them or reaching aott, surveys the fields beyond
the range of natural vison and counts the myrads Of
little stars that stud the milky way With it there is
solid enjoyment in the pursuit ITSELF arising from the e1
ercise OF such mind, and from the lovely aspect IN
which nature always presents herself to the voary Of
science. 10 him there are books 10 running brooks
sermons in stones, and good in everything" 10 him
There pleasure in the painless woods,
II There is rapture in the lonely shore;
| There is society where iDtIudes,
Il By the deep sea and music in its roar"
That these pleasures may be yours, drink deep while
you may at the fountain OF knowledge, thereby becm
ing powerful in intellect and useful in life That know
edge is power is apparent that the term Itself
has passed into the hackneyed phrase of daily use BY
1t is enabled to do almost everything that he wills
By he may curiousy trace nature through her various
Windngs to her most concealed recesSes By he may
discover the power the wisdom and the goodness OF D
great Artfcer of the Universe and view with del9h
the proportions which connect this vast machine Dl
it he may discover how the planets move III their Va
orbits, and demonstrate their various revolutions
By it he almost open the secret pages OF ceesta
nature he can almost make the marble speak De Cal
: almost make the brook murmur down the paine(
e landscape. Genius, under the guidance OF know
J, edge, with thousand hands, and in every CIV!
lied country on the GLOBE are handling the Gle
ments of earth, and moulding them into every lmag
Unable form for practical use and application. Luz
sluggish it has anmated-the wild it has tamed it ba
subdued the fierce, and the subtle led water, fire. ar
and electricity all yoked in the harness OF Art
and are creatiDgtetehing and carrying concentrating
and distributing taste and want may direct the treas
&c apHC
the poles and the Equator Graduated to every degree
the same power upheaves ton OF iron, and directs e