Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-24
Commencement OF CoIby.
VAUDEVILLE, July %.

WATrRyILIE, July %.
Many strangers and large number of the
Alumni have arrived, Gardiner Colby,
Judge Wording of South Carolina, H. c.
Cutting, ID. d., of New York and others.
The following is an abstract of Hon. VIM.
Writings Grafton before the Literary Socie-
lies Tue sday evening: After making a brief
introduction the orator mentioned two classes
Of scholars-the merely artistic, and Tor
oreyity those who desire to be practically
usefulin their day; the latter only are adj
dressed by the speaker. He then stated the
subject OF the Grafton. Suggestions relat-
ing, first, to the laws Of brain power, second
~ to certain faculties which lie at the founda-
ton of high intellectual attainments, and
third to certain branches of Study, which
though essential to success in the learned
professions, have been often overlooked by
college students" The speaker first calico
attention to the necessity Of studying man,
MT as having mind alone, or as body alone,
our as ian organism of mental and ply steal
power combined He showed that tins
t. demand the attention of every young stu.
Ient;" deeming materialism as Que of the
most "deplorable of philosophic errors" He
showed that the physical basis on which our
capacity for education rests is the brain. He
alluded 10 the II, cessi,y OF studying the brain,
npersonally, so to speak, so as not to be
deceived by consciousness or by sensation.
The orator then proce. ded to some general
statements in relation to the laws OF the ntr-
sous system as applied TO the brain-and the
irst mentioned was that of consumption and
aestoraton. Secondly, how mental power is
united, controlled and built up by digestion,
assimilation OF food, circulation OF the blood,
nd the action of sound lungs. Thirdly, that
he brain itself was mould, every day OF our
ives by food, air, action, and thinking, there
~ are forming the channels of our future
thoughts. Fourthly, that the growth of brain
lower is subject to fixed dynamic laws, to
which men must conform, or they must fail
% acquire mental capacities. The orator
hen spoke Of the necessity TO scholars OF
learning these laws, as they lie at the basis
Of practical Development of intellectual pow
ers. He then stated, filthy, certain varying
conditions in which the brain should be stud.
led, including sixth, that Of insanity, which
Nth all other failures in the intellectual con-
situations, he attributed to u want of right de-
velopment in ourselves, or our progehitors,
and alluded to the proximity of poetic frenzy
TO insanity, and of imagination TO madness.
Seventh, the students first struggles to ac-
4uire brain power is in gaining control of the
Willis Office and function in marshaling
and applying the faculties. Eight, the neces-
,ily of studying the nature and force OF habit
md how it effects the construction of the
Drain. Ninthly, the study of the order of
sequence in which mental faculties come and
go, and varying physical conditions. Tenth
ly, that all men are by nature endowed with
genius, who stand in right relations to the
universe. and that students should therefore
secure the best physical conditions for sue
cessful work-as motion or rest, abstinence
or nutrition; cultivation of the soil, etc.
Eleventh, for the same reason the scholar
should avail himself of the time and seasons
for work when his mental capacities mount
highest; and he should not neglect the times
when they are most disturbed by passions.
Twelfth, that the principle of systematic
evolution lies as the basis of practical educa-
lion, and new faculties must be added to the
mind in regular sequence, That mistake as
70 the order in which acquisitions can be
made has caused the haste of much of the
oss of scholars.
Fourteenth, the law of the conservation of
energy, illustrated and applied. Fifteenth,
he coordination of mental faculties referred