The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-31
TIE COOPER us.Ox FACE LECTUR IS.
Inaugural Lecture by Professor Piympton-
Remarks by Mr.. Hewitt. the secretary.

Inaugural Lecture by Professor Piympton-
Remarks by Mr.. Hewitt. the secretary.
Last evening the ensuing course or free lectures
at the Cooper Institute was opened by an inaugural
address from Professor william @. Plympton
The venerable MIR. Cooper, accompanied by the
trustees took his seat on the PLATFORM aud was
loudly cheered by the audience, which, however was
not very numerous Mr.. Hewitt, the secretary,
stepped forward and said that he desired 10 make a
few remarks, for the purpose OF removing Of very
erroneous impression. before Professor P.ympton
took mis- place at the iosirum. That technical cduca.
ton was needed by the working classes was most
true. but much nonsense was talked and more was
written on the subject. 1t was undeniable That the
workingmaa would be Improved by a scientific
knowledge Of the principles embraced by his w0Ik,
but II was difficult to get him 10 learn. lie could
not go to school again. Al that was possible was
toll. That was done In the Cooper Union; ana he
would freely assert that nowhere on The lace OF the
globe was this done more fully, more Freely, more
broadly than In the Cooper Union. lAppaase.l
1t was plain from the number vi the audience
that such q taste and desire was not IN the
community; IL had TO be created. Yet no was
greatly encouraged by the fact that there was an
audience al all for up TO inat time they had never
dared to give a course Of lectures on Mechanical
Philosophy, which was to be lnauguratcd that even
ing. in order to give additional interest a museum
OF models had been provided through an additional
grant o. money rom tho founder. tApplause.l The
Institute brought by It's lectures the workingman W
to point where he could appreciate the real trala.
ing ground, tho scientific journals aud mag azines VI
the day Even the daily journals lllci as they were
with subjects and from every part OF the WORD,
even they never rejected scientific information.
The language Of the workshop was different from
that OF science. The institute explained this fact,
compared and illustrated botl aud made the work.
inglnan capable OF understanding what had been
written by tho wise and scientific VI all ages Ia
regard TO those forces which he employed IA his
daily labor. Therefore the resources OF Tho Union
would be henceiorth directed 70 The library, AID
addition would be made OF every important work IA
science and art. Having made these remarks with
q view to explaining the facts OF technical cduca-
ton lie would Introduce 70 their notice Professor
William c. Pympton.
That gentleman came forward and SAID pleasantly
that no did, not intend 10 give any set lecture,
but Just to point out wnnt subjects would
be embraced by the course OF lectures during
the ensuing six months hut before he dipped
INTO this he would point out the necessity OF sup.
elemental education. not only 10 the workingman,
but also TO youth wno intended by his parents Tor
surveyor engineer, fondly believed himself ntied
for actual work by q course Of trigonome,ry ana
mathematics NJ school. such an one speedily found
that hardly anything which he had been taught
seemed TO apply IN his werk The principle, Il was
true, was the same, but the conditions were 80
changed that he did not recognize them. lie went
into this subject at cnghth reading from Scott
Russell and citing numerous examples. lie thea
rscited the subjects comprised IN the SIX months
course on mechanical philosophy aud mechanism,
and concluded by the statement thar such = series
OF lectures were not only useful In themselves but
the preludcs TO tho exact comprehension OF all tia
exact ecienCca