The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-16

that with grammatical forms 80 few it had
developed such marvellous power Of struc-
| ture andidiom as to be not inferior in power
| of expression to the classical languages, and
in many respects superior. 1t had laid
aside grammatical form not from poverty,
hit because it had found better means OF
expression. The ordinary mode of study
ing English grammar not only misrepre-
sents the facts of the language, but causes
us to ignore the most striking characters
tics and the most remarkable powers Of our
mother tongue. We could have no true
science Of the English language until we
had learned to construct our English gram
mar from the English language itself. Pro-
lessor JoYsEs illustrated these points by
examples.
raj neglect of the study of English, and ac-
counted for this in part by reference to the
different clements of which the language is
composed, and its irregularities. He was
earnestly in favor Of putting pupils to
writing compositions at an early age, and
insisted that there were purloiners among
grown people rs well as among children.
He insisted that this could be guarded
against by giving suitable subjects. He
spoke of the advantages of composition in
teaching spelling. ....
Mr.. THOMAS WILLIAMSON, of Lees
burg, was warmly in favor of the compost
tions but he would have his boys to under
stand distinctly that he would whip them
if they brought him any highfalutin rhctO-
ric. lie made practical and very amusing
suggestions on the subject.
Rev. DR.. w. i. BROADDUS urged that
writing compositions DEVELOPS the mind of
the child, and told very amusing anecdote
illustrating his views.
Rev. Mr.. MVIRETT had had 4 similar
observation to that Of Mr.. POWELL. He
urged mothers to be careful in giving eX-
cuses for their daughters.
Night Session.
The house was crowded to its utmost ca
pacity to hear the address of Commodore
MAURY, which we sent you. After prayer
by Rev. DIR. SMITH, the address was listened
to with deep attention and interest.
The CHAIR having announced that the
question was open tor debate,
Rev. DR.. 3. NJ. SMITH said that he most
cordially approved of all that had been said
in the admirable address to which we had
listened. But he wanted to remind the As
ISOLATION that after all mind is the stature Of
the man, and rules the world. The devel-
opment of mental porcr is the great thing,
and this is best done by studying the elias
sizes. Let us developc our material resources,
ant to raise UP men and 'r0mcn.
Heretofore we have been able to say to the
North "You can build better steamboats,
and make better machinery than We CAN
you can beat us in material Development
but we are far ahead Of you III raising up
men and aro?nen. He wanted this to con-
tinue to be the case. And while our enthu-
siasm is up, under the influence o. the able
address to which we have listened in favor of
PHYSICAL Science, he wanted to insist that
our boys and girls be made to study Latin
and Greek. lie wanted Physical Science
exalted; but not 1T the expense OF the
Hunldnihes.
Professor WINSTON, of Richmond, re-
gretted TO hear DR.. SMITHS speech just
then, able and orthodox though it was.
He apprchcnded that tallacy lurked amid
its admitted truths. The premise was In
Observation-Disclosures is no power equal to
mind-power; vet the logical connection be-
tween this gittering truth and the an
nounced conclusion-that, therefore, no
study is comparable to that of Latin and
Greck-was too subtle for his observation.
Between such L premise and such conclu-
sion surely many links were wanting. But
Granting it true that this much needed
mind-powcr can be best acquired. or even
that, in its highest degrees, it can only be
acquired 10y classical study, what bearing
could that fact have upon the main recon-
mendation of the eloquent address of the
evening? How many of our young men
are unable to acquire this degree of mind
power? Are these, therefore, to be left
wholly without culture, without this yaunt-
ed power of mind! Our farmers, our me-
chancs, our builders, the forcmen III our
shops. all need education in their respective
branches of industry; are they to be de-
MED this because, torsooth, Latin and
Greek (Which they can never study are the
best means of gaining the highest mental
power. BY no means, Sir. Let us, it we
can, provide for these also, and provide,
too. Just that which they need. lie con-
Guided by moving the appointment OF
committee to consider the recommendation
tor the establishment OF pol ytechnlc school
for the south, and to report what can be
done by this Association to promote the
scheme.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. ANIRE1"r moved to publish the ad-
dress in the Journal, but was informed that
this would be done, under the rule.
Rev. Dir. SMITH moved that the EXecu-
tive Committee be instructed 10 invite
three ESSAYS on female education for each
session of the Association from such OF tne
lady teachers of the State rs tney mlShe
think proper. -, o, .ho
most 1nfmtesinlat sympathy with the Wo.
mans rights movement, ana tnoushc tndt
Colonel VENABLE, IN his motion to admit
women to the full privileges of the Associa-
ton, had allowed his gallantry to get the
better OF his judgment. But we have some
splendid teachers among the women OF the
State, and he wanted to hear from them by
ESSAYS, which some gentleman could read
before the body.
Colonel VENABLE defended his reso-
luton in an eloquent and telling speech.
lie was surprised at the opposition mani
tested lie paid an eloquent tribute to the
lady teachers of Virginia, and said that he
was not afraid to trust them to come to-
our meetings-they do not want to speak
in the body. Nor was he afraid to have
called in question his orthodoxy on the Wo-
mans rights question. He was not like the
man who found it necessary to whip his
wife to prove his opposition to woman's
rights.
whether the term "citiZens" in the con-
stitution of the Association did not include
the lady teachers already!
Professor MINOR said as lawyer that
it most unquestionably did. He was VIII,
ing to admit women as visitors, and would
encourage them to come, but he would not
have them to speak or vote.
Rev. Mr.. AVIRETT earnestly opposed
Mr.. NEsABLE's resolution. He would have
woman remain queen of the home circle.
When she starts out to attend and take
public part in conventions she will cease to
be Il Virginia woman.
Colonel VENABLE, after the eXplana-
ton made that ladies can now be admitted,
was willing to withdraw his resolution.