Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-16
BRATTLEBORO:
FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1875.


We think there is slight tendency in
certain quarters TO depreciate what is COM
monty termed a liberal education. The
vigor of the community inclnes TO practi-
cal pursuits. Even scholarly men argue
against classical culture, as needless in the
rough and tumble of life, and as useful
only to ministers and certain grades of
professional men. Scholarship is not wish
bly, productive of material results. 1t per-
plexes common people, has no value on
"Change," and drives the majority OF
mombers of Congress crazy with its grace
full addresses, learned quotations and
knowledge of history and principles. In
times Of great and devouring materialism,
when so many are mad for gold, and some
are over estimating merely scientific Gull
ture, the scholarship OF the past, which
disciplined the student in languages, his
tory and philosophy, is very naturally pro-
nounced to be not up with the times. 1.-THE
self-made man." with his exploits on the
stump and in the caucus, with his brilliant
success in Congress, or in the Presidential
chair, or in the high offices of the country;
with his railroad chierlainship, and palatlal
mansion, and victories in the gold room,
flatters the popular solf-love and fills the
public eye. Even the colleges recognize
the splendid services of the hero of the
stump, or tho chamber OF commerce, or
the caucus and convention, with magiste-
rial decoration or a electorate of civil laws.
Tho universities cater TO the sentiment
which depreciates high scholarship by CIV
ing their highest honor and degrees to
those whose only distinction is ability TO
manipulate an election or manage politi-
cal assembly.
It seems to us vital to the welfare Of our
country that high liberal culture should be
rescued from this cheapening process, and
from all that debases it in the popular
mind, and elevated to its legitimate posi-
ton. A higher culture is the supreme
need Of our country. And this is essen
tial, not for the profit of the few who re-
ceive it, but for the benefit of the many
who are indirectly affected by it. The
presence of minds, strongly and vigorous
developed, is the most powerful aid TO
popular education, to public stability, to
the preservation of our institutions. 1t is
the necessary condition of the best success
of all our general growth. In country
where the ruling power is public opinion,
1t is above all things desirable that the ri
pest and most widely cultivated minds
should have fair share in forming it. A
class of well-educated men, of strong and
independent thinkers, is the palladium of
a republic. The ideas of such class can
not exist in any form in a community,
without shaping it and determining its
character and destiny. few thoughtful
and able men always give value and pow
err to community. They help all its in
terests. Even when their ideas do not
control, they modify, and in the end they
commend themselves to the common sense
Of the community, and are worked out in
practical life and institutions. New Eng
land owes its superiority to its colleges
and its educated, trained men, far more
than 10 its climate or its natural advan-
tages.-Dr. W. II. Lord, in the Montpelier
HdtchntGn.