The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-29
Address by Professor Miles.

The Charleston College Chapel last night
was crowded to its utmost capacity with the
intellect, the fashion and the beauty OF our
good old city,-all come to do honor to the dis
tinguished orator Of the evening, and to gather
wisdom from his lips. How great the contrast
between that audience Of last night, the occa-
sion that called them together, aud the range
of subjects under consideration, and the stormy
faction now abusing o nations trust at the
capital, and their base and selfish aims. Truly
the humanities have still strong hold upon
our people. and We deem it no small privilege
to be permitted to record the fact.
On the stlgo we observed the venerable
Daniel Ravenel, Esq, the President of the
Board of Trustees; Rev. Bishop W. NJ. Wight
man, one of tho illustrious graduates of the
College of Charleston; Rev. c. G. Plnckney,
President Middleton and Professors Miles and
Porcher. After prayer by Rev. G. q. Pinckney,
Mr.. Martin, tho President of the Christomathic
Society, introduced Rev. j. W. Miles, the anni-
versary orator.
Scholar" After some preliminary remarks on
tine vast domain of science, and the impossi-
bility OF any one man comprising the whole,
he spoke of the unity Of knowledge and of the
harmony that pervades the entire cycle of the
sciences. He referred to The attractiveness Of
study-to its influence upon the mind in arous-
ing attention, necessitating comparison, analy-
sis, and synthesis; in acquiring the power of
abstraction and generalization; in the develop
ment of the judgment to the formation of
criticism, in it's lower as in it's higher forms
whether it be criticism of words grammar and
photography, or criticism of ideas and action
in history and philosophy. In this pursuit the
scholar will learn not only facts, but princi-
plos-not knowledge merely, but wisdom.
He next adverted to the resources Of the
scholar, first among which, he enumerated
languages and literature, dwelling with MI q
scholars grace, enthusiasm and partiality upon
the attractions OF comparative philology.
Measured by this science, the obscuresi tribes,
and the most cultivated nations, became equal
objects of human interest; the uncouth mono
syllable of the barbarian, not unfrequently
proving surer guide to the ethnologist than
the classic syntax of the most polished civiliza-
ton.
Max Muller himself could not have argued
on his favorite ground with more enthusiasm,
learning or eloquence than lid Professor
Miles en- the advantages of comparative phil
ology Nor was it Sanscrit alone he eulogized.
He set forth, briefly but forcibly, the advanta-
ges of the so-called dead tongues-the Ian
guages of Demosthenes, Plato and Cicero.
Mr.. Miles has been known as good philologist
classical, modern and oriental, and as strong
advocate of the study of languages as means
OF culture. We recollect reading, many years
ago, nm eloquent and vely learned address by
him on this same subject.
We regret that time and space forbid our
giving more of this splendid address, preg-
nant as it was with thought, chaste in diction,
and delivered with easy grace. AS it is, we
fear we have done injustice to the orator with
those of our readers who may never have had
the pleasure of hearing him. Ho spoke in
touching terms Of the consolation and the re-
wards OF the scholar. But we must cease.
After tho conclusion Of Mr.. Miles address,
Mr.. Martin delivered an address in Latin. His
cnunciation was clear, his port easy and Dig
nifed, and gestures graceful. He was listened
to with marked attention, and loudly applaud
cd. The pronunciation Of the Latin, We OBJ
served, was continental, and not the barbarous
The exercises were concluded with the vale
lctory address BY Mr.. P. P. Frost, who had
selected for his subject, Decision of Charac-
ter" and acquitted himself with much credit.
Mr.. Dauer's band filled up the intervals Of
time between the speakers with concord OF
sweet sounds, which contributed materially to
the enjoyment Of the evening.