The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-08

NoUSDsvu.LE, May.
Editors IlttllIgcrcG:
We have been having some rare intel
lectual treats since last wrote to you.
On last Friday evening J. r. Thompson,
President Of the West Virginia Univer.
sity, lectured to fair audience at the II.
f. Church, although the audience was
not what it should have been in numbers.
What it lacked in numbers, though, was
made up in quality, for Mr.. Thompson
can surely congratulate himself that a
more attentive audience could not have
listened to his stirring words. After
speaking a short time in behalf Of
the Institution, he took up the subject Of
brain culture, and for more than an hour
he held the breathless attention OF the
audience as be showed the great difference
between the cultured and the ignorant
man. The great difference between the
savage and the refined consists in culture.
Il is brain power that ever has ruled and
ever will rule the world. All the great
achievements either OF ancient or modern
times are due to brain work. Every ma.
chine invented, every great enterprise
undertaken and successfully carried
out, fret took shape, lived and was per-
iecled in the brain Of some great thinker.
Cultivate the brain and we will have fewer
criminals, less vice, and more oil that
true piety 90 requisite 10 make earth a
paradise. II is the object Of our schools
TO lay n sure foundation for this brain
culture, and ii Ia the object OF our Uni.
ycrsity to give this culture in its broad
est sense. But it is folly for me to at.
tempt 10 give even short synopsis o!
the address. Suffice to say, President
Thompson fully sustained his reputation
asa lecturer Of the very frst.class.
On Saturday evening n temperance
meeting was held at the same church
aud Notwithstanding the inclemency OF
the weather the house was full. Presi.
dent Thompson opened the meeting by
reading a selection from the 18th chap.
ter Of Luke, and prayer. Washington
Baggs was then introduced, who spoke
earnestly for some time and in q very
effective manner judging from the fact
that at the close OF his talk number
came forward and signed the pledge.
Hon. L. G. Cracrafl spoke for nearly an
hour, making one OF the most earnest,
eloquent, and powerful appeals in favor
Of the cause that it has ever been our
pleasure to hear. Capt. John Baggs fol.
lowed with few remarks, after which
the meeting closed. % new names were
reported which now swells our number
TO $50. Slowly hut surely the cause pro.
crosses. At least, two Of the names re.
ported were and have been for years,
habitual drinkers.
On Sunday morning at l0l o'clock,
President Thompson preached at the
Presbyterian Church from the text "Bless.
ed are the Pure in Heart for They Shall
See God" The congregation was large
and the sermon was listened to with the
deepest attention.
In the afternoon at o'clock a very
large congregation assembled at the NJ.
L. Church to which Mr.. Cracrait spoke
for moro than an hour in behalf
Of the cause Of temperance. Mr.. Bags
followed in q short speech, The meeting
was a success, thirty new names being ad'
ded to the list.
Our Wheeling friends may congratu.
late themselves that their visit has not
been in vain among US.