Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-11-29
Earle IxusseIl ON Educa-
ton.

erary and Scientific Inssiution {better
known as the London Mechanics In
stitution), Earle Russell made some re-
marks, In the course of which he said ;:
There Is one element that has been
constantly q part of the Birkbeck In
stitution which Ilshould like to notice,
viz.: that ladies as well as gentlemen
are admitted to share in the advantage
offered. Icannot think that knowi-
edge of arithmetic, or an acquaintance
with the various branches of literature,
will at all injure that domestic econo-
my of which ladies are generally ex-
pected to be perfect mIstresses. (Chsers)
On the contrary, l should think that
anything that sharpens the intelli-
gence, imparts better Information to
the mind, and gives greater scope to
the mental faculties, Is likely to inn
prove the capacity of ladies, as well as
that of men, i'm anything they may un-
dertake. (Cheers.) The very interest
ing report, which gives an, account of
Mr.. Fraser's journey to the United
States and Canada, tells us something
upon this point. 1t says that, I'm the
schools and colleges he visited, young
ladies are allowed to compete with
young men for the highest prizes; and
he mentions that the first on the list of
one institution, with regard to Greek
authors, were three young ladies with
regard to Latin authors, were two
young ladies, and think three young
ladies stood first for the mathematical
prize. (Cheers.) am very glad that
this institution so long ago had that
right appreciation Of the talents of la
dies; and trust we shall find that,
whether our friend Mr.. Mill succeeds
in his scheme or not, daughter and
cheers.) the ladies, at all events, will
go on gaining these prizes for learning
of various kinds. lam sure those pri-
zes that have been gained in English
history, for instance, will he of great
use in teaching the lovers and hus
bands, and, hereafter, sous of some la
dies, a knowledge of English history,
which may guide them in their polit-
ical careers Knowledge of which,
am sorry to say, the gentlemen OF this
country are not seldom wanting.
Laughter and cheers.l But whatever
may be the case in that respect, you
will permit me, having spoken on
these subject, to say there are great de-
ficiencies in those immense buildings,
colleges and institutions for education
which the benevolence of individuals
-of great and rich churchmen of the
nation--have founded In former times.
(Cheers.) The greatest literature, the
greatest history, perhaps, are those Civ
en- us by ancient authors. But our an
cestors seem to have thought--and we
are apt to follow their steps sometimes,
rather too much-that what was known
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth must
be all that ever could be known, and
that, therefore. IL was necessary to 90
beyond the studies engaged In at that
time. / think IL is reported that Soc
rates, the wisest man of Athens. said
1t was very likely that the world wo'd
belonged to man-his moral qualities,
his politicAl state, and every relation
in which he might stand, either soci-
ally or with regard to his capacity of
entertaining right notions of religion
but that there was one thing which IL
was not likely man would ever master,
namely, acknowledge of nature. laugh
ter.) He thought the natural phenom-
ena were quite beyond the capacity Of
man, and that it was not likely we
should ever make An advance In that
subject. Now, + should say IL there Is
any knowledge that disguises modern
from ancient times Il is that knowl-
edge which, fCopernicus, Bacon and
Gslileo, down to the days Of Davy,
Faraday and others like them, has re-
suited In eur discoveries in physical
science. (Cheers.) Let us imagine
If we can--Socrates returning to this
earth, and being placed In one Of those
Cunard steamers that 60 from this
country to the United States. He
would hrst be surprised to find there
were no rowers and sails. He would
ask how 1t was possible the ship could
perform her voyage, and ~ would re-
manner In which, by the operations of
steam and by the inventiOns of VISIT,
the steam engine was made, and then |
applied to the requirements OF tine ship;
and i think he would be still more as
toBished when he arrived at Boston or
New York to 6nd that what had been
done in England that very morning
was known here the same evening. |
daughter and cheers.) think, then,
that whatever may be the transcend |
ant merits In literature and history Of
ancient authors and heroes. there has |
been an advance In modern times they |
never have fereseen. have mention.
ed few instances, but 1t would be an
almost endless task to enumerate all
that occurs to one. The progress of
modern science is perfectly astonish.
ing, and IL has never come TO c0nclu- |
sion yet, for every day, almost, brings
Its new discoveries before our notice,
and those who arc studying In these
subjects win continually have the de- |
light OF seeing something new, some |
thing that viii point out the means VI
still further subduing nature, and be-
ing what Bacon called the servants and
of nature. The year 1923
seems : very long time To 10 back to.
but can remember 1t, and IL appears
to me that during the remainder Of my |
Life, whatsssr Z q the time ,',t q its duration
myself as much as my power pernits
me e p,omots the Cause eOf sdsestisp.