Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-04-20
INFLUENCE OF A GREAT LIFE.

During the dark ages the Church,
through the education it afforded, offered
The only road for those Of humble birth
and station to rise to distinction. The
life of DR.. Whewell shows that this demo-
feature Of letters can and does oper-
ate still in England, producing men who
rise BY the force Of personal merit and
strength Of character to the very highest
respect and honors. Dr.. Whewell, who
has just died q Vice Chancellor Of the
University Of Cambridge, was the son Of a
carpenter and Joiner, who rose, through
his high mathematical powers, during q
long University life, to the highest honors
in several very different branches Of learn
He was seventy-two when he died,
and may be said to have departed, grow
ing to the last, and leading others into
growth and solid requirements. In 1928
he was appointed Professor Of Moral Phil
osophy, then Master Of Trinity College,
and, finally, Vice Chancellor. His works
have been Of the most rare merit in vari-
Gus departments. He translated Plato
from the Greek. and Goethe from the Ger
man. His History of the Inductive
Sciences has been, perhaps, his most re-
markable and valuable contribution to
literature. But his Philosophy of the In
duc,ive Sciences, his Bridgewaser Treatises
on Astronomy, Lectures on the History Of
Moral Philosophy in England, on System
attic Morality, on the Indications Of q
Creator, illustrate the great comprehen-
siveness of his mind. In the universally
of his attainments he has been compared
to Lord Brougham, but with this differ
ence. that his writings are all so logical
and fundamental in their character that
they will become increasingly the basis Of
all future speculations on the same SUBJ
iects; while those Of Lord Brougham,
though daring, have so much that is super
fetal and unsound conjecture, that while
they attract notice for the moment, they
die out and are generally contradicted
by some later speculations Of his own
mind.
But after all, the history Of such a life
is probably even more useful to man.
kind than any n thing or all that he
has ever achieved. It shows that even
in England, amid all the distractions Of
rank and birth inserposed to the ad-
vancement Of simple merit, a carpenter
son can rise by industry, through
diligence and merit alone, to the high.
est positions Of honor and influence, tc
q commanding influence over the minds o.
men Of the higest rank and power oyel
the age in which they live. Perhaps We
may also see here that the use of rule and
compass and the simpler elements o.
mathematics, such as q mechanic daily has
to call into use, forms one Of the sfnest
bases Of education for the young. 1t has
often been remarked that there is a natural
order of studies, and that mathematics
form the most true and solid foundation Of
all abstract knowledge. It is, however,
necessary that even mathematical knowl.
edge should not begin too abssractedly. In
cutting out blocks Of wood by rule and
compass, mind and matter are brought to.
gether. This is one of the most natural
points at which they touch, and it is
through applying abstract knowledge to a
practical purpose that it becomes most in
teres,ing, most certain and most useful.
Hence the men whose knowledge becomes
most valuable to mankind are those who
begin by feeling its practical utility di-
rectly in the earlier stages. After this
habit Of perception is once formed, it is
carried with them into every branch Of
thought. 1t is worthy Of remark that one
of the most distinguished linguists in the
University within the last half century,
DR.. Lee, the Professor of Hebrew and
Dean Of Bristol-was also himself q car
penter, and worked at that business until
about twenty, before he began his literary
studies, and now, that the greatest light in
the history of philosophy and science
one Of the most important men in the
British Association for the Advancement
of Sience-has just closed his career, it
may be well to notice facts so well illus
,rated by his history. 1t would be wise
in every parent to encourage ever the ten
dency to apply all knowledge to some
practical purpose and connection with ma
terial substances and facts, especially all
the foundations Of mathematical science.
Let numbers be taught with o pint Of
peas or with marbles first Let addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division be
taught--not first on the slate by figures,
but as actual facts-by experiment with
things. A proper set Of blocks will give
many q lad a better conception Of the re-
lations Of form and figure than can other
wise be attained, and prepare him for the
study Of Euclid, by showing him how the
books Of the immortal Egyptian solved
difficulties Of the most practical character.
REBUxED AND REMEMBERED. - The
three members Of the Virginia city Union
Central Committee, who "put up"
Jones Convention-W. II. Cutter, 10.
Goodman and R. NJ. Daggett, (alias Ju-
Illus Caesar, Crassus and Pompey,) have
been terribly rebuked by the very men
whom they sought to make catspaws-in
the second remoye-for their and Jones'
objects. The members Of the Union party
should and will duly remember their
efforts for the breaking up Of the organi-
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