The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-11-08
IOURNA AZ
MoNDAY......,...............NovEMBER 8. 1861
CHARLES DICKENS ADDRESS.

Dickens delivered an inaugural adj
dress at the opening Of the Winter
session of the Midland Institute, in
the Birmingham Town Hall. lie
said: It was suggested by Mr.. Bah
bace. In his ninth "Bridgewater TFea-
ties that a mere spoken word--a
mere syllable thrown into the air
may 90 on reverberating through
illimitable space for ever and for ever,
seeing that there is no rim against
which it can strike-no boundary at
which it can possibly arrive. SINH
larly it may be said-nOt as an inge-
NOUS speculation, but as steadfast
and absolute faet-the human cal
culatiOn cannot limit the influence of
one atom of wholesome knowledge
patiently acquired, modestly possessed,
and faithfully used. Cheers. As
the astronomers tell US that it is prob
able there are in the universe innu-
merahle solar systems besides ours,
to each Of which myriads of utterly
unknown and unseen stars belong,
so it is certain that every man, how
ever obscure, however far removed
from he general recognition, is one
of the group Of men impossible for
good and impressible for evil, and
that it IS in the external nature of
things that he cannot really improve
himself without in some degree i'm
proving other men. And observe this
IS especially the case when he has i'm
proved himself In the teeth of adj
verse circumstances, as In a maturity
succeeding to a neglected or i'll taught
youth, in the few daily hours remain
ing to him after ten or twelve hours
labor, in the few pauses and intervals
of life Of toll; for then his fellows
and companions have assurance that
he eau have known no favoring coz
ditions, and that they can do what he
has done, In wrestling some enlight-
eminent and self-respect from what
Lord Lytton finely calls those twin
jailors of the daring heart, low birth,
and iron fortunes" Mr.. Dickens
proceeded: Your institution sixteen
years old, and in which masters and
workmeG study together, has out
grown the ample edifiee In which it
receives its $500 or $500 members
and students. 1t is most cheering
sign of its vigorous vitality that of It's
industrial students almost half are
artisans IN the receipt Of weekly
wages. | think am correotin saying
that 400 others are clerks, apprentices,
tradesmen, or tradesmen's sOBs. L
note with particular pleasure the
adherence Of q gOOdly number OF the
gentler sex, without whom no insti-
tuition whatever can truly claim to be
either a civilizing or a civilized one.
The increased attendance at your
educational classes Is always greatest
on the part of artisans-the class
within my experience the least reach
ed in any similar institutions, and
whose name is oitenest and the most
constantly taken In vain. But it is
specially reached here, not improba
bly, because IL Is, as it should be,
specially addressed in the foundation
Of the industrial department, In the
allotment of the direction of the
socicty's affairs, and In the establish
ment of what are called its penny
classes bold, and, [ am happy to
say, triumphantly successful eXpe-
riment, which enables the artisan to
obtain sound evening instruction In
subjects directly bearing upon his
daily usefulness or on his daily hap
piness, as arithmetic elementary aud
advanced), chemistry, physical geog-
Taphy, and singing, on payment of
the astounding low fee of q single
penny every time he attends the class.
| beg emphatically to say l look upon
this as one Of the most remark able
schemes ever devised for the educa-
tional behoof of the artisan cheers
and if your institution had done
nothing else in all its life, would
take my stand by it on its having
done this. [Cheers. Apart, how
ever, from its industrial department,
il has its general department. Offering
all the advantages of first class liter
ary institution. 1t has It's reading
rooms, its library, its chemical labora-
tory. its museum, its art departments,
its lecture hall, and its long list Of
lectures on subjects of comprehensive
interest, delivered by lecturers of the
highest qualifications. Very we'll.
But it may be asked, what are the
practical results of these appliances?
Now, let US suppose few. Suppose
that your institution should have
educated those who are now its teach
crs. That would be a very remarka-
bio fact. Surprising, besides, 1t
should, so to speak, have educated
education all around 1t, by sending
forth numerous and efficient teachers
into many and divers schools. Sup
pose the young student, reared ex-
clusively in its laboratory, should be
presently snapped up for the labora-
tory of the great famous hospitals.
Suppose that in nine years its indus
trial students should have carried off
n round dozen Of much competed Tor
prizes awarded by the Society OF
Arts and Government departments,
besides two local prizes originating
In the generosity Of Birmingham
man. Suppose that the Town Coun-
ell. having it in trust to find an artl-
gan we'll tit to receive the WhitwOrth
prizes, should find him here. Suppose
that one of the industrial students
should turn his chemical studies to
the practical account Of extracting
gold from waste color water, and oil
taking into custody, In the very act
of running away with hundreds OF
mounds down the town drains. Sup
nose another should perceive in his
hooks. in his studious evening, whai
was amiss with his masters unit
then inscrutably defective furnace
and should go straight-tO the grea
annual saving Of that master-anC
nut it right. Surprising another
should puzzle out the means, unit
then quite unknown, of making 1
certain description of colored glass
Supporting another should qualif.
himself to vanquish one by one, a!
thew daily rise. all the little difieultie
incidental to his calling as an electro
platter, and should be applied to b.
his companions in the shop in all EN-
ergencies under the name OF Eney
ciope liza" Laughter aud applause.
Suppose a long procession OF sucl