The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-06-03
FOR TIE CAMDEN JOURNAL.

| Is yet u IeHliiaiil vi 'i'e oiu '|"'
in the halcyon days of the past, cons'l'
tu,ed cultivated, refined ard educated
society here, and memory, at least,
which still preserves an appreciation for
the learning of fscicnce and the delights
of literature.
Twice, very recently, that memory
and appreciation aud their accompany
ing taste, have been greatly gratliied.-
First, by the lecture of Gen. JAMES
CuEsNUT, delivered at the request OF
"Thc DeKalb Literary Society,"" IN
which that accomplished orator and
scholar, on the subject of "the advance
ment of the human family,"as demon
stratcd and illustrated in general hlsto'
ry, in the varied phases of civil liberty
and religious knowledge drawn from
varied fountains of truth and accumula.
ted in reservoirs of snld rock, to gusll
forth fresh and sparkling at the touch
of the masters wand-but this was one
Of series of home productions, and
only intended for uSe among tliendS.-
The second OCCASION for graduation was
ola mnro public and general nature
WM. PINKNEY STARKE, WHO since
childhood, la, had his name identified
in this State with science. and letters,
was rersu ,del by his many friends here
TO deliver series Of lectures on Egypt
and Herewith Hicr"glyphic Art &r.,
and on Palestine. .....
There we're those of us here, who,
nearly thirty years since, had taken the
earlier essays III knowledge, in science,
literature and arts with him, and who
then wondered ut the giant strides Of
the JGy-mun, that left US IN the noun
tain sides, mere seeming lott rers, while
he, solitary pilgrim, reached the gid
dy heights, and while the hosts of young
men whom Barnwe!l, Henry, Elliott,
Thurnwrll, Licbcr, Twi>s, ElIcr, Stuart,
Hooper &c, would have inspired with
the love Of lcrtcrsand devotion toscicncc,
turned aside TO the practical callings OF
the bar, medicine, commerce. n.+icsI-
,urc &c., and rushed into the busy con-
tests of life, he, almost alone, adhered
to his first love, and spite Of the allure
mcnts of wealth and the Establishments
Of society, which so invi'lngiy and
temptingly would have lured him off,
still made letters alike, his passion and
his lifc-hs lahorious studies only va
ricd by ardnous travel.
Hi pursuits VT re so different from,
so superior to th"sc of his friends Of an
early day, that with most men 1t would
have resulted in separation and iSola.
tion, but his genial nature, great con-
vcrsational pnwcrs, ready capacity for
imparting knowledge, his enthusiastic
cloqueuce, amiablc traits and gentle
brccdile kept him ever prime favor
itc and chosen companion, with those
who, althouY III they could not emulate,
could appreciate him, and while his
great attaiumcnts would ever renew
their wonder, his amiablc charactcris-
tics ever proved a barrier TO envy.
When he appeared a few evenings
since, before Camden audience he WIS
at home, among his friends, and he has
contributed as much delight in private
circles, as he has instruction in his Ice
turcs.
Before we touch upon his lectures,
let us drop a sacred tear over the past
As We gaz"d upon that classic brow,
furrowcd with thought, mcnr"ry carried
us back to 1910, &c, when he was in
S. G. C,llrgc, and when I'll" great
Thornwcll deemed his the first intellect
ever FURNISHED within its walls. As
these thoughts came back, they flashed;
they did not wander-to the Potomac,
to the Mississippi, tn the Atl'ntic cuast
The bright dancing waters of the first,
the turbid s'rcam of the second and the
sweet monotone ofthe third, all singing,
signing or beating requiem and drge
over bright and noble comrades Of t. at
early day, SO vainly sacrificed.
Mr.. Starkc's first lecture was most
entertaining and ins'ructing description
in detail, of his personal travels aud
adventures in Egypt aud Nuhia, with
vivid dalipe,t ions of lny,pdri, I',iro