Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-10
Learning and Usefulness.

the world commenced in the closets OF unir
u tdrcstcd theorists; that the most importan
O. discoveries aud Improvements in arts. aeri
b culture and business had their origin. no
{ among practical men, but in the visions o
I, rocluse genius"
j II We do not mistake, twill be- found tha
, there IS no interest of society which il no
} closely connected with the researches o
J the scholar. 1t is the thought Of dream,
scholars which now guides the rich freight,
/ of the merchant over the seas, drives the
shuttlcs Of every min, reveals 10 the farmer
the secrets Of the soil, and restores his wasted
acres, aud flashes intelligence instantly over
a world, The steam engine is but the out
ward steel gnrb Of thought There is moi
one implement Of husbandry, nor q tool OF
the artisan not human habitation, nor a
piece Of machinery which has not felt the
Transforming touch of human genius.
It is the glory Of this country that ever,
department Of industry is luminous with
thousht. There was q time, in the history
of the world when greatness was Settled by
the pound, or 10y the density and toughncss
Of muscle. The stronQcst man was KING.
Ulysses was dcspised and insulted bv tbe
suitors Of Penelope. when he appeared among
them in the garb Of a mendicant; but when
he took up his long unused bow and bent il
to the arrow 5 head. he inspired reverence and
terror. Samson filled the hearts Of armies
Of mon with fear, but he would have nade
poor headwav with his iaw-bone AGAINST n
raw recruit now, with Mimic rifle ON his
shoulder The great pyramid Of Cheops
took twenty years in building. with hun.
bred thousand workmon. but Stephenson
| lifted the tubular bridge of the Nleuai Strait,
into position in two DAYS with a column Of
water not two inches in diameter.
1t is coming to be understood that he sic.
cerd. best in his undertaking whether that
ismschanical. or industrial ormau nal or nro-
fessional, who brings to it. not the greatest
physical power Int the BRIGHTEST and leorest
and most cultivated intellect The STRENGTH
of polyphemus was of yepv LITTLE use to
him after his one burning eve had been bored
out hy the skill and enterprisc Of the crafty
Greek II is getting to he understood too
that intelligence and capacity are needed in
Congress as well A. in farming. The people
are learning wisdom Inv failures ~ ,yell ~
by success They come mn from zach fan
wi.er than before. and itwill not be- LONG be-
fore they win snap the bonds which hold
them to upveisp nolitical action aud vots for
tn, wis.-t and able,t men thew can find
Aud these men they viii find among tbo
closest students. The statesmen who have
made mark ON the country and best room.
lated and controlled its various and conflict
inc interests. have always becn tbe host and
proiomldest scholars. We have been very
apt. in our republic. to associate Noise aud
the arts of the politician and blatbereskit.
Of The rhatorician with moral or intellectual
power But we are coming ont Of This false
estimate. Because the cacklng of peese |
once saved Rome. II does NOT always follov
that tbc sepsoloss s,hl,lir,, of tbo ,,,o,i,r,,
political orator is Of more efficiency and
value 10 people than the counsels If a
NcnttlX or the nllIlOepullV Dt "A simmer II il ]
in the oinof fine tbintor and NAT !, hts
Che sohemer tl,atall permanent constitutions
and politics and laws are forced. lie alone
can bring chaotic society. such NJ now ovists
in some Of the South arm st,tes ont of nc d;s
order and adjust its mechanism. and know
how wisely To touch the snrings of human
action. SO rs Ia btinr the nolitic,I and soci,l
state ont NJ tsconfusion II suotl,on
who has the happv accident Of a hulI., IN III |
breast. or AN emntv seeye who therororo
necessarily knows how To deol with . nrn,d |
disniritcd and miserable noo,lo and sn.oo.s
fully cbanoe their iolinstit,,;ors 1ti.f,,
more likely to he done bv tbe scholar ,,bo
sits at his books IN his o,,,et AMI loo,s
forth from his sacb.ior with rod;o,t all
nnri6ed vision tbo, nv tbo rod.bord,d oa,.
tain or the white-bonded declo;,nor ~ 10
platform. What tbe country needs roy !.
men Of tbought t vb,se fest ,bo ma, hoe
poured all that IS valuable IN liberty reI;.
zion. science and law. The interost. Of tho
present ought NOT IN Inc committed IN ,ho
reckless hands of those who know notbino If
the past to whom history tells notbino and
=. = 49,