The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1873-12-06
Rev. EdsalI Terriers Lecture
ON PRONOUNS.

OF the Carbon County Teachers In
titute, held at Mauch Chunk, Novem-
Der II, 1S, 10, 90 and 21, 1878.
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES OF THE CAR
BON COUNTY INSTITUTE
There are at least two modes Of i'm
parting interest to historical and gram
matical topics which are regarded as
| fixed. The one method is rude as
sault on our lifelong, cherished notions
concerning them. 1t startles us and
awakens our deepest concern to have
old pfepossessions all wiped away, and
old preiudices dissolved. Modern his.
tory and recent criticism abound In this
rough breAking up of settled opinions,
and this revolutiorizing of views honor
ed by the sanction of generations. 1t
provokes a smile to think how that ap-
pie, which William Tell shot from the
head of his son, has rolled out of history.
The story of that hatchet, with which
Washington hacked the cherry tree, is
a fable. Since Parton has been illumi-
mating tho minds of the public through
the columns of the New York Ledger,
that man upon whom we have been
looking from boyhood as reeking with
blood, stands up with face of injured
innocence. l mean Aaron Burr. Those
heroes of the American Revolution who
are giants in our Imagination, have fear
fully dwarfed since Bancroft has drawn
their portraits. One of our latest histo-
rians represents Henry VIII. as states
man and saint, in the disguise Of a
man of the world ; while the very lat
est, FrOude, with almost matchless skill,
touches the character of the naughty
virgin queen with beauties, and graces,
and virtues, of which she pever dream
ed. Thus the process goes on, unset
tling old opinions, revolutionizing old
schemes. dssolving old systems rs easily
as the sunlight nelts away the frost
work from our windows, until old Homer
entirely disappears, Shakespeare is u
| plaguarist, and One older than either is
myth, and the dear old story of the
\ Crucitied One is an ingenious legend.
| This method has become popular, be-
| cause we like to lie startled. New ideas
and new schemes are very attractive to
an active spirit. 1t matters little how,
| il we are only aroused from our letlar-
| gy, it may be by murder, the Invention
of veritable flying machine, or the
discovery of new continent.
The otter and better method of kind.
| ling an interest is by showing the height
and depth of knowledge in some OF the
commonest objects of daily life. 1t is a
! kind of revelation. He is to be envied
who has the power Of taking off the
| vail which conceals from us the real
| glory of familiar things 1t is the high.
est art to make old things new. ltis akin
to a creation. French first began the
process of showing what mines of Curl
Gus knowledge may be locked under
meath these common words which We
use ten or twenty times day. Under
the hills and valleys near this town,
over which generations have walked and
worked, perhaps lainenting the poverty
of the soil, are hidden untold treasures
of valuable iron ore. 1t required the
instinct of science to detect it. Afew years
since, was riding with gentleman of
considerable scientific attainments over
a tract of land with which had been
familiar from bOyhOod. His quick eye
detected small yellow thread Of sand
or mud In the hillside. He was unusu-
ally thoughtful during the remainder of
the ride, and seemed to be examining
every thing very closely, but what was
my surprise on learning next day, that
he purchased the whole track at sum
which looked like the work of a mad
man. Yet his scientific eye had not de-
ceived him, for before year had passed,
mine Of rich magnetic iron ore was
opened. Thus, underneath these old,
dusty, beaten paths, up and down which
we are walking every day-congrega-
ti0ns, declensi0IIs, comparisons, adverbs,
propositions and OnjunctiOns-right un-
derneath our tired, toiling feet may be
treasures of curious knowledge well
worth our working. Happy he who
holds the divining rod of discovery. l
! wish we had some such cOntrlvance as
the well-diggers here have. When we
were searching for a suitable place over
at the college TO dig well, and specu-
lating on the probabilities of getting
water, observed a thoughtful old man
carrying about small twig cut from q
peach tree. He maintained, that where
there was good vein of water, it mat
tered not how deep down. the peach
twig would incline to 1t by familiar
dip of recognition. How wise would
we become had we some such detective
of the concealed mines of knowledge.
We have it. 1t is the spirit of search
it is the ardent love of truth. He who
is thirsting for the waters will be divine
ly guided to the fountain. "Seek and
ye shall find"
On inviting your attention this even
ing to so common q subject as Pronoun,
already, in my remarks, have been
impressed with the Importance of some
attention to them. A few moments ago,
used the expression A" Happy HE who
holds the divinng rod" In using HE, 1t
was not my purpose by any means to
exclude from this blessing the larger and
more interesting part of this audience.
The fact OF 1t Is, we want u new pro-
noun to meet this exigeney OF language.
IL Is awkward-its spoils the sentence
to say he or she," or "heIself or him
I self" We need prOnOun sufficiently
comprehensive to include both sexes.
! How badly the minister in the pulpit
4 A., IA l.. 4 4