The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-12

That they are kDoWil w tile iiiiiao'e 'hIS 'ho''
for the same properties and bv the same Pc
culiarities by which we distinguish the1a!
The thought--like as when oman did cat
angels od"-brings US closer to things
above, and makes us disposed to cXclaim IN
voluntarily, as we look aloft in the silent
hours of the night and contemplate the stars
in their glory, OF verify "our 8od is the'r
God"
study OF dark lines in the spectrum. mas
already led us into labyrinths where we hear
science whispering, Behold, andrefect how
earth, sun, stars, and planets, are bound III
kindred ties. Are they Motive and they
inhabitants and all, linked together all in
glory and for one common destiny"
When those around you are achleVlnG
such conuuests, and SIGNALLING the age III
which YOU live by such glorious triumphs OF
the human intellect, arc you. gentlemen,
,ftcr having laid such firm foundations for
knowledge rs YOU have been doing here,
going to fling away study, shut your books
and Vour ewes to the wonders OF creation,
and live in ignorance of all fresh knowledge
that your contemporaries in other parts OF
| the world are gathering and recording for
future generations
The clue which herchoff has placed IN
our hands is bringing us, not only to Know
what the lights of heaven are made OF, ana
1
il is promising to tell us whether this or
that celestial object may have physical con-
ditions analogous to what VIC have here.
| Having laid your educational foundations
under such happy auspices, and beng ABOUT
to enter upon the great battle of life, after
such training, it is your duty to assist, each
in his way, in winning those. conquests OF
mind over matter which constitute the pro-
.a'ess of the age, and make the improve
| f,lorv Of own
generation. What is it but the increase and
diffusion of knowledge that has given us our
arts, our sciences, our manufactures, our
comforts, our luXuries, our clVlliZatlon-n
short, everything that raises us above thc
savage, who, by his ignorance, is degraded TO
the level of the brutes with which he herds.
And from what did this increase OF Know
ledge arise but from observing the opera
tons and studying the laws OF nature. :,
The pursuit Of knowledge, ana eSpcclllly
| of this kind of knowledge, is the noblcst OF
all occupations that engage the energies of
man: it ennoblcs his mind and dignlleS his
| nature.
! Cast YOUR eye over the world, and you
will see that the men who observe ana think
are few. Why? Because we are all prone
to Incidence. One of the thinkers OF the Gay
| tells us that q An immense majority OF men
always remain in 4 middle state, neither
very foolish nor very able; neither very VIZ
tuous nor very vicious; but slumberlng on
in u peaceful and decent mediocrlty, adopt
| inc, without much difficulty, the current
opinions of the day, making no inquiry, cE-
citing no scandal, causing 10 wonder; but
| lust holding themselves on level With their
Generation, and noiselessly conforming to
the standard Of morals and Of knowledge
common to the age and country IN winch
they live.'* A vast majority! He means not
ten, but tens of thousands to one.
| / take it for granted that every young
man that is trained up as you have been
roes out into the world with aspirations for
something higher than merely to DRIFT down
the tide Of time with such as these.
Are we, them" you may ask, "to de-
vote our lives mGialyto physical research
and to the observation and study OF nature:
her laws?" by no means. Every one of you
will probably adopt some calling or other.
! 1t may be in the arts, it may be III llteIa-
ture, it may be in the hunliniticS, or it may
! be in some branch of the applied sciences.
! But, be the specially what 1t may, your
first aim is to master the calling, striving 30
to acquit yourself in il as to win the conf
dcncc and esteem of all with whom il may
bring YOU in contact. But no one calling
SATISFIES the cravings Of the truly noble mind.
You arc members of society, you owe duties
to it. and will possess influence upon it
| some morc-Some less. But every one Will
have. nay You already bavc, influence win
some members Of it-poWerffl for GOOD or
for evil. Let il he u rule always te use that
influence for good.
But there is time for all this, and to spare.
To keep the mind vigorous, hcalthiul, and
strong. the different faculties, the different
apartments of the brain--likc the different
muscles of the body. require frequently to
to he brought into play and exercised, that
they NAV be strengthened. Therefore give
now and then moment of relaxation from
the stern duties of life TO observation and
contemplation of such features OF God'S
handiwork as may be most congcnal t"
vour tastes, aspirations, and tancics. lfyou
have fancy for literature, poetry, or the
fine arts, cultivate it. 1t is gill; and, there
fore, not, without irreyercncc, to he de-
spised or neglected. Take care, gentlemen
these giftsand advantages ofyours are Us mo-
new lent YOU, TO be put out on uSuly. they
are precious talents, and are not to be buried
in napkin.
Strive, also, to cultivate mt least some one
of the departments of physical sclcncc-not
as Il smattcrer, nor, necessarily, as an eN,
pert, but master it sufficiently to understand
it's principles and to find companionshlp
among It's phenomena:
| know of no mental habit more worthy
| OF ZcalOuS CllINullOll llI lt'''A' va
close and attentive observation. Man. you
know. more than any other creature, has
the faculty of observing and remembering,
of collecting and comparing, and OF draw
inc conclusions by the lights of reason.
Now. remember that it is chiefly by bring
ing these powers and attributes TO pear
upon the facts and phenomena OF nature
| that the world has been brought from the
rude condition of ancient days TO its present
advanced state of industrial energy and ma
terial prosperity. Remember, that to OBJ
serve nature does not require those rare
powers that the young, especially, are APT
| ia fancy. All Of us. each in his way, are
observers Of nature !; and it IS the faculty Oh
noticing what comes under the eye, ana oil
striving, each in his own way, to trace eject
back to cause that am advising you to cul-
tiyate and nourish until it ripens into habit.
You remember it was the fact, familiar to
others no doubt, but first noticed bya pump
maker, that led TO the invention of the ba-
rometer, an instrument which now daily
and hourly saves ships and their crews,
merchants and their fortunes, from wreck
and disaster.
The whole science of electricity has
grown out Of fact first noticed in the
Kitchen.
A traveller bought writing-desk in Eng
land, brought it to this country, and oh
served that 1t soon began 10 warp, crack.
and split. That fact led to the discovery OF
most important meteorological circum-
: stance-yiz., that the climate Of America is
DRYER than the climate Of England.
And so with MANY other diScoveries-as
the alteration Of lightly noticing that the
| wind-vane on board vessel under sail
pointed differently the moment She an
chored.
Every physical fact, by whomsoever OBJ
served, is, when placed in its true connec.
tons. discovery, ali invention {; and all