Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-06-29
COMMUNICATED.

ItOMMUNICAIED.
PRAcTICAL MEN. There are few OF the
successful men of this day who do not pride
themselves on the fact of being practical men
and vet few men are so much in the way oil
scientific progress as those who claim to be ex-
cusivcly practical, and whose own narrow IN
dividual experience is the sum OF that practice.
Because they cannot See the present utility OF
theory, they scoff at such as are thinkers only,
as idle impractical dreamers. And yet the his
tory of science shows nothing more conclusive
ly than that the practical man is after all sin
pularly impractical Bound down by his own
narrow limited experience, he works by set
of rules, without thinking of the foundation
on which they rest, and is content to follow
routine without any attempt at Improvement.
A superstitious adherence to formulas, he mag
ines to practical independence. The truth is
that the general public attires itself in the cast
off garments OF science, and is usually Gen.
tury or so behind the times A little reflection
will establish the truth of this statement. Ex.
pcrienee is valuable, aud not to be underated,
provided it be founded on real and not imagin-
airy truth But unfortunately much that the
world values as experience is really made up
OF few imperfectly observed facts, mixed
with vast amount OF false reasoning on those
facts, and not little superstition descended
from remote antiquity.
People who see no good in the theories OF
men OF science have always lived, and probably
always will live to deride the student and the
searcher after hidden truths; aud the world
always has suffered genius to go unrewarded.
The man who discovered the process Of making
soap from soda, and thereby saved the world
from being unwashed at the present day, as it
would possibly be had the old method OF max
ing soap from ley not been superseded, died
lately bsggar and another who spent years 10
Searching for hardening process tor caoutchouc,
thereby putting thousands OF useful articles in
q light and durable form, and furnishing the
public the base on which nearly all artificial
teeth arc mounted at the present day, died
without realizing anything for his labors.-
1t is well for the world, perhaps, that genius
brings its own reward, and the creative art In
science is as luxurious q one as that OF the
poet The practical man is he who makes for.
tunes out of the dreams Of the thinkers, but
if the dreamer had not lived where would be
his means Of progress? 1t is the thinkers
who furnish the capital, who elaborate the
workers.
WASHINGTON iTEMs.-In the Circuit Court
yesterday the trial Of the case of Joseph II.
Bradley VS.. Judge Geo. p. Fisher was COM
menced. After some preliminary proceedings
Jury was empanneled and sworn, after which
MIR. Bradley proceeded to address the court
and Jury in his own behalf. After discussion
by counsel, Judge Wylie expressing decided
Opinion that the present case could not be stated
suggested that case be made for decision by
the Supreme Court, and let the matter be set
tied there, which was agreed to by both sides.
The officers OF the navy and marine corps
called upon the new Secretary of the Navy yes
terday to pay their respects. They were sew,
orally introduced by Rear Admiral Porter. All
the officers now in the city were present In un-
dress uniform. After the introduction and
few moments had been passed in conversation,
Secretary Robson addressed his visitors in
some appropriate remarks. lie has signifed
his intention not to make any removals in his
department, at present.
Gold.
NHW YoEK June 2S-Gold today lsT!