Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-24

still crowd it out and take up
all the time of the pupil with
Latin and Greek? Where is
the wealth that they create?-
They are beautiful in their way,
but science is useful as we'll as
beautiful. 1t strengthens the
arm, it ennobles the mind, and
elevates man by teaching him
| to see the marvels of creation,
to mark the ways and study
the designs Of the Creator.dIl
The idea has been expressed
here that such studies are I'M
favorable to the growth of the
thinking faculties; Isthink no.
thing as more favorable, and
nothing 50 suggestive. Take
as an illustration single in
stance from physical geogra-
ply, and allow me to say here
that think this department. Of
human knowledge is far from
occupying in our system OF ed
ucation the place that 81 it deser-
yes; it envelopes US. Look out
upon the landscape whenever
and wherever you will, and the
scene abounds with interesting
phenomena; j. and among all the
sciences there is not one that is
notwithstanding, profitable and
instructive than this; it sug-
gests themes of thought that
/ are as instructive to children as
they are profitable to old age;
and as l said, let me illustrate
by example: Almost every
child, as soon as he learns to
read, has books placed in his
hands which tell him about the
lions and the tigers, the hyenas
and jackalls, the .glratfes, re-
bras, and antelopes Of, Africa.
Now, it is said that Cuvier
could construct from a single
bone the1entire skeleton of the
animal, and we know little or
nothing concerning the geogra-
ply of those vast and unexplor-
ed regions of Africa. Now let
us see what any bright eyed
boy of eight or ten years Of age
can do towards constructing the
physical geography of a CONT
nent. by learning that this or
that'animal -dwells there. He
is told of the African lion, and
you ask him what that animal
lives upon; he answers hocks
and herds. .5s Then you ask him
can 1oeks. and herds, deer and
antelopes live in a jungle or
find subsistence in dense forest?
No, he will tell you, they must
have pasture, green meadows,
open prairie, running brooks
and still waters; and when you
come to remind him. of the num-
bers and ferocity of the carni-
yorous animals, and of the null
titudes of the granivorous that
find pasturage in those I'M
known regions, then you make
a suggestion which enables
him to draw a most graphic
picture of the physical geo gra-
ply of those regions, in some
of their aspects at least. Re.
mind him, also, that lions and
leopards require tjunglesa for
their lairs, parrots and monk
eys trees for q their abitation.
and how complete and beautiful
is the picture thatshe will think
out and paint upon his imagi-
nation of that. unknown int
rior. 8, aols ,ss9llii p aiNowb
The forming of a cloud, the
falling drop, the running brook
the gentlest breeze and thu
most modest flower, each one
opens up themes of thought e
qually suggestive, profitable
and instructive to every lac
that is taught to observe and
to think, whether he has stud
led Latin and Greek or no.
One of the grand achieve
ments which this Association
has before it, is to readjust, re
model and adapt the course O
studies in our schools and col
leges as will best meet thu
wants of the times and of ouI
! people. It is a subject that de
serves the best thoughts Of The
best men and most experienced
teachers among you. ,.,. ,.,
disappearance of a Bank