The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-16


sL...as ! ..L : -. - ssas.
Ma. nAnn1s b Ds1o,Ksry ,s He ETesssno..
velisk ! recently add5essa & hs5tipe al
BirYjhgham, AnglaSA, on ths 6oca ion
lot tl3e opening of tke yintee s6ssio6 OF
the Midland Institute. BE gave his
views, enlarged aud liberal rs they were,
on popular education; denied that the
present age was q material one; and, in
conclusion, said 10 the students present:
20 the students of your. industrial
classes generally, have had il in my
mind, ffat, to, commend the shorG motto,
in two words, Courage
This is the motto of friend and work
ef.2 Not .because the eyes OF Europe are
upon them, for I don't, in the least, be-
ileye it; not because the eyes of even
England are upon them, for I don't, in
the least, believe it; not because their
doings will be proclaimed with blast of
trumpet at street corners, for no such
musical performance will take place; not
because self-improvementi is ut all certain
to lead to worldly success, but simply be-
cause it is good and right of itself; and
because, being 30, it does assurediy bring
WAuAA ~ Aso oWh ICSOuICCS uuu IG6 own I0-
wards. I would further commend to
them very wise and witty piece of ad-
vice on the conduct Of the understand
ing. which was given more than half
century ago, by Rev. Sydney Smith
wisest and wittfest of the friends I have
lost. He says-and be is speaking, you
will please understand, as speak, to n
school of volunteer students-he SAYS,
there is piece Of foppery which is to
be cautiously guarded against-the fop-
perry of universality; of knowing all sci
ences and excelling in all arts-chemis-
try, mathematics, algebra, dancing, his
tory, reasoning, riding, fencing, Low
Dutch, High Dutchs and natural philo-
sophy. In short, the modern precept of
education very otter :s, Take Tie aadaui-
rable Crichton for your model II would
have ypu ignorant of nothing Now
says lie, my advice, on the contrary, is,
to hnve the courage to be ignorant of q
great number of things, in order that
you may avoid the calamity of being ig-
norant of everything To this I would
super-add little truth, which holds
equally good Of my own life and tile life
of every eminent man have ever known.
The one servioeable, safe, certain, remu-
nerative, attainable quality in every
study and every pursuit is the quality
OF attention. My own invention or ina
gination, such sas it is, can almost
truthfully assure you, would never have
served me as it has but for the habit of
common place, humble, patient, daily
toiling, drudging attention. Genius, Vi
vacity, quickness of penetration, bril-
liancy in association of idsss-suoh NEIL
tai qualities, like the qualities of the ap-
partition OF the externally armed head in
Macbeth, will not. be commanded; but
attention, after due term of submissive
service, always will. Like certain plants
which the poorest peasant may grow in
the poorest soil, it can be cultivated by
any one, and it is certain, in its own
good season, to bring forth flowers and
fruit. I can, most trdthfnlly assure you,
by-the-by, that this eulogium on alton
tion is SO far quite disinterested on my
part as that it has not the least reference
whatever to the attention with which
you have honored me-. Well, ladies and
gentlemen, have done. I cannot but
reflect how often You have probably
heard within these walls one of the fore
most men, and certainly one of the very
best speakers, if not the very best, in
England. I could not say to myself
when I began just now, in Shakspeares
line,
Twill be bright and shining gold.
but I could say to myself, and I did say
to myself, I will be as natural and rs
easy as possibly can, because my heart
has been in my subject, and bear an
old love toward Birmingham and Bir-.
mingham men. I have said that I bear
an old love toward Birmingham and Bir-
mingham men. Let me amend small
omission, and add 'and Birmingham wo-
men, This ring wear on my finger
now is an old Birmingham gift, and if
by rubbing it. could raise the spirit that
was obedient to Aladdin's ring, I hearth
ly assure you that my first instruction to
that genius, on the spot, should be, to
place himself at Birmipgham's disposal
in the best of causes"
ST. THOMAS SHAKING HIMSELF AGAIN.
Another round of heavy earthquakes