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

| her. are all impressed upon our senses III thc
| same way. Color Is conveyed to the eye Dy
vibrations, just az music is TO the ear. bu1
the organs of the human ear are 20 ordered
that it cannot comprehend color any more
| than the eve can see sound. Nevertheless,
| ro,,r rioht-miuded observer of nature may,
whenever, with his mental eye, he LOOKS aioit
| in contemplation, hear over again the song
which the morning stars first sang together,
or at this season, when he takes his solitary
walk among the beautiful hills and lovely
landscaDes that surround us, he may not
only feast his natural eye among the eNqul,,
site flowers which deck the ROCKS ana
festoon the cliffs, but his mental eye can
enjoy feast also Of the most exquisite
relish. r7,o
LIGHT nc we'll as sound has its gamut. Inc
hioh notes comprise the violet end OF the
snectrum the red end forms the base: ana
though the human ear may not catch the
SONGS that the rose and the lily and the
violet sing the livelong day, they may, for
auoht we know, he to the hummng BIRD,
the butterfly, and the bee, musi" more Ell,
chanting than that which Prosperos Ariel
SANG to the shipwrecked mariners.
Surely the habit of observing nat'ire a.
she is displayed in this beautiful world ana
auna: in its organic or inorganic KING
doms where all is order, harmony, ana de-
SIGN. must be among the most pleasuraole
sources of intellectual enjoyment. 80,
The pcrception of order in nature, With
out WEAKNESS of mind, Is SAID 10 DC tne
highest of intellectual pleasures. ASPIRE 10
it. Your training here has taught you 70
comprehend the invisible as well as the Vlsl-
BILE in nature to picture WIN the eye VI
the mind operations, forces, ana processes,
which entirely elude the naked eye; 10 loon
e for i'm
rest TO follow them forth, without losing
sight of them, into the world OF the senses,
and to see and to hear them there, express
ing themselves in the phenomena OF nature,
and with unutterable accord ~
Thus the harmOnies OF nature ana inc
contemplation of the phenomena dlSpia!cd
by her is the true secret Of those chnrns
which sagcs find in solitude; and they are
rs much within the reach OF the humpiest
amongst us as they are within the reach Oh
the most powerful. r..
Therefore take up, let me entreat you, lor
observation and study in your leisure mo,
ments. some one branch of the physical
sciences. You will find it neVer-lalllng
source of pleasure and enjoyment.
Always keep in reserve points OF inquiry
relating TO it upon which you desire in
formation. The practice bcgets naDl!s OF
inuuirv. and fosters the observing faculties.
Nov; why, the thought may have risen IN II,
the minds of some, do lay such stress upon
the DEVELOPMENT Of intellectual 1acultleS
and the cultivation of love for physical
science. and say 50 little about the practice
of moral virtues and Christian graceS.
Are you not heirs of THE LOST CAUSE, Win
its noble examples and Christian memories!
Its traditions make us very proud. Are
you not sons of the Sunny South? DO you
not now, in the days of your youth. tread
the soil of Virginia, breathe her atmosphere,
and drink at the fountains from which the
bravcst Of men and noblest of women have
drawn inspiration: In then sauy;f You have snd
of the rcntlest graces that ever arrayed
Themselves on the side of right. They are
t t Their silent teachings 1E3
are far more effective with their lnutG elo-
make them. Treasure them up. They are
precious legacy-heirlooms OF incstlmable
value in the eyes Of every true man among
us!