The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-26

have preceded you, and the mighty works
which they have done, TO inspire you with
new zeal and give you more coursge to
labor.
You may think, young gentlemen, that
you have not the field in which 10 exert
your energies. admit that the car Of civil
ization has been driven weltnigh over our
land. The earth has been checkered with
It's railroads, and the mighty deep has been
spauned with its ,cabie.,,t The, apple has.
fallen upon NewtoD's head, and Franklin's
kite has been raised, bringing the lightnings
down to our doors. Fuiton's little steamer
has made successful trip, and Faust has
put the printing-press into active operation.
Homer and Miitonbape written their poems,
| and. Cicero, Macaulay, and Bacon, have.
erected lasting monuments to their memory.
Columbus has discovered America and
Gaiileo explored the heavens, but still there
are other discoveries to make, other labors
to perform, other victories to gain. All
over our land the cry comes up for men to
carry the mighty work still on,cGrd.
Every age must play its o,cn part
in the great drama Of !; life. and
we want men in our day not excelied by
the illustriouS of the past TO be re-
corded in the annals of our country's glory.
Young gentlemen, will you not respond
Will you not send some of these representa-
tives Of mighty nations glory from your
own ranks? Will you not send them from
Richmond College," even froh your
society .hallsp Yes; and LET US make our
lives success. Let us, endeayer to prove
ourselves men, for men are always in demand.
Let us. buckle on the ichole ,drmor of man
hood, and brighten our weapons before we
begin the conflict; aud then, with the ex-
amples of the past behind us, with resolute
hearts ,osthin us, with the smiles and en-
couragement of the ladies around us, and
the promises Of che future before us, let Us in
scribe " success" on our banners, and
whether it be in the power ofmortals or not
TO command it, we'll do more-welld deserve
it. s.
THE ORATOR OF THE PHnoLoG1AN SOCIETY.
Mr. J. II. Newbil, of Middlesex county,
the orator Of the Philologian Society, an
nounced as his theme The Iron Key with
which we may Unlock the Doors of Golden
Treasures" and proceeded to discuss it in an
earnest, practical, and, at times, eloquent
style. The first lesson the speaker drew
FROM his subject was that "the means en-
ployed are nos always commensurate with
the ends attained" From crude and COM
paratiyely Insignificant beginnings often
come the mightiest results. Science and his
tory furnish abundant illustrations of this
lesson. The Marquis of Worcester, watch
ing the rise and fall of the cover of tea
kettle, evolves the laws of the agent which
furnished this force, and set in mo-
ton course of discovery which nas
given TO science and art steam-power with
all its applications. The royal library in
Paris, the most magnificent in the world,
with its 100000 volumes, was begun by old
King John with two volumes. The fate Of
nations and empires hung upon the casting
vote Of the Athenian general in the council
Of war On the plains Of Marathon. The cut
| ting Of few rude characters on the bark of
beach tree BY an old bachelor gave the
| world the art OF printing. Be not forgetful
of small things. The huge mountains are
made up Of grains of sand, centuries of mi
nutes, and the ocean of drops. So, little en-
| deavorS, earnestly and increasingly put forth,
make the great men of the worlds history.
The speaker then drew another lesson
| from his subject "a man from the hum
| blct walks of life may attain to great glory
and renown." The wealth or the reputation
of the father is often an invaluable starting
| point for the son; liberal education is q
| mighty help to the young aspirant; the
favor and influence of powerful friends will
often place the young struggler or vantage
ground but while this is true, it Is not all
the truth for occasionally at least from the
"plains Of mental mediocrity Prise up huge
mountains of genius, and even from the deep
dark ravines of squalid poverty stand out In
bold relief the shining peaks of true moral
and intellectual greatness. ~raa 81
In Newington Butts may be seen a poor
| little boy, the son; of a journeyman black
smith, nursing his baby sister. Necessity
will not long permit him to remain in this
peaceable, childish occupation. He becomes
an crrand-boy, then an apprentice, and after
much struggling a journeyman. But SO
small is his income that in order,to attend a
lecture of the great chemist Mr. Tutum his
brother must furnish him shilling. Yet
| fortune has not decreed that the veil of OBJ
scurity shall always enveIop this extraordi.
| nary YOUTH. The popular voice may be
already heard saying to him "come up
higher" Lie is now admitted as a mem.
! ber of the City Philosophical Society.
| He soon becomes the anlanuensis of Sir
Humphrey Dayy, then professor oil
| chemistry, the "prince of experimental
| lecturers" So great renown has he now
| attained that his scientific advice is sought
| by the Trinity House. while his long series
of published researches have won for him
| the highest niche in the temple of science
And now the learned societies of Europe
and America vie with each other in heapiDg
| upon him their honors. This remarka blt
| parsonage, who passed from the nursery to
the temple Of science, from the errand. hoy
to the philosopher. and who, at first begging
for the meanest place in scientific work
shop, finally refused the presidency of ttt
Royal Society Of London, is Michael Fara
day. ~'.. -.
With many such illustrations the speaker
Impressed the second lesson Of his theme
and in conclusion remarked that true mora
worth and intellectual greatness do not de
pend on shining talents. How often do WI
see the young man endowed with fine riatu
raj gifts, favored with 8 liberal education
towering above the heads of his fellows, tn,
| pride of his family, the boast Of his kindred
the hope of bis country, making use Of thos'
very advantages to thwart the purposes o
his being, incurring misery for himself ant
entailing everlasting disgrace upon hi
| friends, On the. other hand, there are thos
/ who, by patience, perseverance,, and pains
| taking-by purity Of character, tixedness
purpose, and moral coi1rage-feach the pin
nacle of fame while they live, and dyin!
| reflect on posterity the rays of their oWl
fading brightness. -, -, =. "
| Mr.. Newbill was not forgotten, for at tn
conclusion of. bis interesting address he tor
was the recipient not only of a heart
applause but several beautiful bouquets
| -s.$ ss,s I'LL - : ...n,,nn,
The peGt feature. of the programme wa
the delivery of the medals of the societies b
Judge Robert 0uld. Judge Oufd said: /
is not my desire or purpose in the discharg