The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-03-03

in this division, than that which has
been set up for its imitation.
In no feature of its whole charater
is this more striking, than in the
knowledge of their first great need OF
an University--the superstructure,
upon which their rising literature is to
be built
To give a consistency to the spon-
taneous growth Of genous, like that OF
Provence in the tenth centuary-the
Savans of the South have wisely de-
termined to establish Southern
University in ccntrel location, which
is the very first step taken, in the
right direction in this Republic, since
its organization of contederative
States
The project is the beginning of a new
era in American life and character;
and marks its own epoch in the chron-
icles of the nineteenth century. Nor
is this phenomenon anomalous in
comparative history, which through
all time has marked the direction OF
the current of learning flowing North
ward from the South.
1t was the University Of Alexandria
that caused the princes, and phiIoSo.
piers OF Persia, Greece, and Asia
Minor, to seek the sunny plains OF
Egypt, in search Of these treasures OF
KNOWLEDGE. which were garnercd in
her scholastic store-houSc. From this
fountain flowed that pure stream OF
civilization, which icrtilzed the bar
barous mind Of other nations OF the
elder world, into marvellous refine
ment. Poetry, philosophy, and physlc,
were among the branches Of intellect
ual study at Alexandria, when the
world outside, was Wrapt in II pail o'
ignorance. The revolutions Whicl
desolatcd the East in the middle ages
swept oil, from the face Of mankind
all traces of that golden age OF Alex
andrian learning; and the precious
treasures OF literature mingled witt
the dust ofits ruins.
The Assyrans awalling at the voice
of the Prophet Of Mecca, from theil
brnightcd sleep Of ages, since the fall
of Babylon, soon became masters o
the East, and began to revive this
literature with the building OF thci
Empire. The rapid progress OF AS
syrian mind in its search after lnowl
edge, has not only astonished ever,
age since its decline, but has become
a curious study for the scholars otthI'
century. The problem, however, i
easily solved; in the records preserved
TO us of their innumcrablc Universl
ties.
In the short space Of one hundred
and fifty years, this mixed nation pro
duccd more scholars and authorS,thal
Greece had done from the time OF lilo
mer to the age Of PericlcS; or Rome
from its foundation to the age Of Au
, gustuS--a period of eight centuries.
The Universities Of Bassorious, Gala
, Sammarchand and Bokt,which sprung
, up in their African territories, gave
new impulse to the mind of Western
f Europe. 1t was from this sourcc,thaI
=, literary refinement ckcd out its essence
p. in the South western Provinces, anC
p commingling with the dying spirit o
y Roman sentiment, resolved itself into
!, new and powerful school, TO whicI
Northern Europe is indebted for it
n literature in this age.
n Their Universities were cOntro!lc
by both Jewish and Christian Doc
tors, all of whom were estimated b
their scholastic requirements, IN dc
pendent of religious sectlonalism.
Although the scimitar OF Islam
;. bigotry fell heavily on the enemies
Il the Prophet, yet, even It's prcJudic
.o spared the Doctors OF the UnlversItIe
;, As early as the seventh century IL
20 University at Gandinapcr was ceI'
bratcd throughout the East. 1t W;
~ subsequently controlled by Gree
-, Christian. named Boct-Tru, who WI
- invited by the Caliph, M-Man-z
=. 0be second of the Abassldp) to h
-, court, for the purpose Of translatlT
80 the Greek works on medicine i'll
~. Arabic.
N The Cristian became the master
&C that famous University which Sc
10 out its scholars to build those OF ia
40 sorius and Sammarchand.
,is From the Universities establisht
he by the Moors of Spain, were derive
va much of the elcgances Of many Lat
nd authors. The accomplished crit
an OuintiIIean, Lucan, Martial, the tv
Seneca's. pompeonus, and many dl
.innnishnl Roman statesmen, (amol