The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-11-04
Mr., Dickens on Education.

MIR. Charles Dickens, the great novehst,
some time during the last of September,
made speech on education in Birming-
ham, England, at the opening of the win
ter session ofthe Midland Institute. 1t is
an institution that provides the opportuni-
ty of education to labering men in the
evening. Each lesson costs but one PEN
ny. The instruction is elementary and
advanced. The institution was established
sixteen years age, and has proven
marked success. 1t has some $500 MEM
bers or students. Half of them are arti-
zans, on weekly wages. Over 400 are
clerks, apprentices, tradesmen or trades
mems sons: Many women attend. 1t Of
fers sill the advantages of first-class lit
erarty institution. 1t has its reading rooms.
its library, chemical laboratory, museum,
art departments lecture hall and lectures.
MR.. DICKENS THUS SPEAKS OF WHAT THE
y INSTITUTE BIAS AceeMPLIsHED. Sc
Suppose that your institution should
have educated those who are now its
teachers. That would be a. very remark
able fact. Supposing, besides, it should,
SO to speak, have educated all around it,
by sending forth numerous and efficient
teachers to many schools. Suppose the
young student, reared exclusively in Its
laboratory, should be presently snapped
up for the laboratory of the great famous
hospitals. Suppose that in nine years its
industrial students should have carried off
a round dozen of much-competed-for 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 Council, having it in trust to find an
artizan we'll fit 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 of taking it into custody,
in the very act Of running away with
hundreds of pounds down the town drains.
Suppose another should perceive in his
books, in his studious evening, what was
amiss with his masters until then inscruta-
BILE defective furnace, aud should go
straight-to the great annual saving Of
that master-and put it right. Suppose
another sheuld puzzle out the means, until
then quite unknown, of making certain
description of colored glass. Suppose
another should qualify himselfto vanquish,
one by one, as they daily arise, all the
little difficulties incidental to his calling
as an electroplater, and should be applied
to BY his companions in the shop in all
emergencies under the name of "Ency-
clop@dia" Laughter and applause. J.
Suppose long procession of such cases,
and then consider that these are not sup
positions at all, but are plain, unvarnished
facts-rhear, hearl-culminating in the
-one special and significant fact that, with
single solitary exception, every one OF
the institutions industrial students who
have taken its prizes within ten years
have since climbed to higher situations in
their way of life. [Hear, hear.]
Mr.. Dickens discusses with characteris-
tic originality the,reason why the laborer
should seek education: We give this par
agraph: a $50
To the student of your industrial classes
generally, 1 have had it in my mind first,
TO commend the short motto in two words.
"Ceurage, Perseyere." [Cheers.] This
is the motto Of friend and worker. Not
because the eJes of Europe are upon them,
for I don't in the least believe it laugh
teri: nor because the eyes of England are
upon them, for don't in the least believe
it.; not because their doings will be pro-
claimed with blast of trumpet at street
corners, for no such musical performance
will take place [laughter]; not because
selfimprovemen is at all certain to lead
to.worfdly success, but simply because it
is good and right Of itself, {" Hear, hear'],
and because, being so, it does asspredly
bring with it its own resources and its
eEn rewards.
He then says some very admirable
things as to the extent of their studies
i would further commend to them a
very wise and witty piece Of advice on the
conduct of the understanding, which was
piyen more than half century ago by the
Rev. Sidney Smith-wisest and wittiest of
she friends i have lost. He says-and he
Is speaking, you will please understand, as
Ispeak, to school Of volunteer students
-hs says: "There is a piece Of foppery
which is to be cautiously guarded against,
the foppery of knowing all sciences and
excelling in all arts-chemistry, mathe.
mates, algebra, dancing, history, reason,
ing, riding, fencing, Low Dutch, High
Dutch, and natural philosophy. Laugh.
teri In short, the modern precept OF
education very often is: sTake the Ad.
mirable Crichton for your model; l would
have you ignorant of nothing" "Now,'
says he, "my advice on the contrary, is
10 Have the courage to be ignorant of a