The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-06
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS IN MAINE.
THE STATE COLLEGE.
Commencement Exercises.

BANGOR, Aug. 5.-The weather for COM
mencement day at the State College could not
be improved and there was large attendance
throughout the day, large number of promin-
ent men in the state being present. The grad
uating class acquitted itself with great credit
The themes were generally Of a strong char
acter, well written and well delivered. The
young lady graduate attracted much attention
and performed her part admirably. The fol-
lowing is the order of exercises.
Order of exercises.
Rodney David Hunter, Clinton
Chemistry,
Walter Baentine waterville.
Let there be Light,
Louise Hammond Ramsdell, Atkinson.
Applied Science,
William Albert Allen, Orono.
John Irvine Quincy, Foxcroit.
William Herbert Gerrish, Portland.
AT the commencement dinner speeches were
made by President Allen, Governor Dingley,
Senator Ramlin, ex-Govs. Washburn and Per-
ham, Hon. j. O. Madigan of Houlton, Hon. S.
H. Blake, Rev. Cyrus Stone of Bangor, Rev.
Mr.. Shepley and Rev. Wellington Cross of
Orono, Mr. Perry of the Wing, and E. q.
Brett.
The concert by Miss Cary of the Beethoven
Quintette Club was largely attended, special
train running from Bangor, bringing mauy
people. Miss Cary was in remarkable fine
voice and sang magnifce ntly
Nineteen candidates have applied for ad.
mission.
The graduating class numbers six, all of
whom received the degree OF Bachelor of Sci.
ence.
| The address of DR.. Hill of Portland, ON the
| subject Relations of the practical arts to the
| abstract Sciences" was listened to by large
| audience. DIR. Hill said that he would invite
| their attention to few thoughts upon the mu-
tual relation of the practical arts and the alb
| stract sciences He began by the concession
that the arts were to a large degree indepen-
dent of sciences Science sought truth for the
truths sake; the arts sought utility for uses
| sake. 1t was true that utility is a word of
wide meaning; and abstract truth might be
| considered useful, ia satisfying the human
thirst for knowledge. Nevertheless there
was broad distinction; the arts served the
body and only medately the mind Che did
| not allude to the fine arts); while science serv-
| ed, directly. the mind only Tbs use OF
| science was in the satisfaction which 1T gives
| the intellect; or in the key it gives to higher
sciences; or in the food it furnishes to devout
| contemplation. The use OF the arts was in the
| preparation of material products, or in the
qualification of the senses. Yet both the sclen-
| titic men and the artisans were at work in the
| same great laboratory of nature; and were con-
stantly abe to give each other hints and sug
| gestions of great Importance and fruitfulneSs.
| Practical skill implied some knowledge,
while scientific knowledge did not imply prac-
tical skill; therefore, although the workshop
and the farm often give the man of science
l vain
| happened that the man Of science gave the
practical man knowledge OF which he could
build new inventions and new arts. The his
tory of science was full of instances in which
| purely abstract discoveries become afterwards,
in the hands of practical men fruitful of re-
suits of the largest commercial value.
Schools of applied science ought therefore, il
possible, to be placed in the immediate vicinity
of schools OF abstract science, that the profess
ors and students in each kind of study might
stimulate the other to a freer thought and in-
vestgaton. The higher the class of intellects
thus brought into close relations the more rapid
would be the progress, both in science and in
ventions 1t was for the pecunIary advantage
| of the whole nation that the highest genius for
pure science, as well as that of practical iuven-
tion should be fostered and educated in the
best manner.
He would acknowledge that many great me-
| chanical inventions, and some chemical arts of
| value, had been the work of practical men
without the aid of science. But on the other
| nand he would refer to electricity and chemlS-
try, navigation and engineering for hume rous
instances of the most valuable practical arts
| resulting from scientific devotion to truth for
truths sake, in men of exceptional genius ex-
ceptional industry, and exceptional learning.
Such men were rare, therefore it was the
| greater loss to the nation if any of them failed
to find the opportunity for the highest culture.
| 1t was the great defect of the educational
| system of our country, that provided for the
education of the many; but not for the educa.
ton of the few. who desired the highest insruc-
ton and the most thorough tr4ining. He was
| glad to iId this College at Orono aiming SO
| high, seeking to increase human knowledge as
we'll as to gain that already attained by others
He trusted that they would continue to seek
pght from every quarter aud apply it to me-
hanical aud agricultural uses.
|. Agriculture was an art high and difficult,
calling all the sciences to its aid. 1t needed d
few great leaders thoroughly instructed in sci
ence, and with a native tact in discovering
practical modes Of applying that know edge to
use. Many very important aud difficult ques
tlons were already pressing themselves opou
our attention, for their solution we must look
to men highly educated with special reference
, to such matters. He referred to various dis
| eases, ia horses, cattle, sheep and swine; te
diseases also In trees and plants; to the domes
} tication of wild animals, the cultivation of wilt
] nlants the preservation of forests: the reclaim