, 1878-11-09

her influence recognized and appreciated
as 4 leader III all that pertains Ia a healthy
progress.
Then IN no more profitable investment
of money than that which Is devoted to
good schools \ sound education is it.
self wealth And the city or town which
Is Jealous and active III securing the best
intellectual training for It's youth. viii
surely he prnspered. and more than re-
paid for ali It's expenditure of money. by
the higher Development of characterin IN its
sons and daughters. - intellectual iife.
SAYS Hamerton. lis not 50 much an ac-
compl;shmeut as Il state or condition of
the mind in which il seeks earnestly for
the highest and purest truth. Yes,
friends, this is the grandest service which
the thirst for knowledge renders that
it directs the mind towards truth. And
the spirit Of truth, If it have It's rigntful
sway over the mind. VIII lead It's faithful
a.lherents into a good and upright and
faithful life Let us net he misled by the
idea that mere money making and busi-
ness thrift Is the best criterion of pro-
sresS have not ore word Ia say
against, but many words in favor of. in
dustry and application 10 business, if it
he not excess. But the thought which
| wish To emphasize is this Do not allow
yourselves to become So absorbed IN Your
material pursuits as 10 think that the size
of your bank account is of more impor-
,ance than the development of intelligent
manhood and womanhood in Your chill
,iren. who are coming forward In the
world Let Your best thoughts and most
generous feelings he directed that way,
and il viii help you 10 do better work
your stores, your counting rooms, your
offices and workshops.
In his History Of the United States Dir.
Bancroft, in speaking Of the early "uri-
tanS, says When New England WAS
poor, and they were but fen in number,
there Was spirit to encourage learning.
The tisrt thought and desire which the
early Puritans had. after they had pro-
vided rude shelters for their families on
the cold. bleak shores of Massachusetts,
was that their children might he proper
IL instructed And So they put their
axes to the forest trees To provide the
lo.s for school houseS.
What = noble testimony 1t Is, to the
wise Judgment prevailing liberality of
the first settlers Of Massachusetts that
within sixteen years litter the landing
of the Pilgrims, Gn 1866 ''the general
court voted siam equal 10 years
rate Of the whole colony towards the
erection Of Il college And that was
the college which two years later, John
Harvard endowed with - half II his es-
tate ard all his library
William Penn MAS man who knew the
priceless value of a soTnd education. He
had cnj wed the benefits of Oxford Uni
versitv and drank deep from the foun-
tians Of knowledge. For this fidelity to
an friend he willingly suffered persecu-
tion, c"ntumeiy, Imprisonment and Pov-
erty, But whcn, at last, he had secured
the LoYhL CHARTER was about To- set sail
Ia take possession of his ncw Colony OF
Pennsylvania, he wrote letter To hiswIfe,
which contained these wor,is-''Live low
and sparin.ly till my debts are paid.
But then, III behalf of their children, he
adds. Let their learning he liberal.
spare no cost, faf Lg S',ch paI:Sjmony al
Is lost that is sared." These are more
than loyal words Some knowledge tends
to elevate and ennoble man himself. And
this was the desire which he expressed in
regard 10 the future occupation of his
children. and it is word that ought to
haze weight with all our farming pnpula-
ton, that agriculture might be the chosen
employment ''Let M children he hus-
bindmen and housewives, lie sa''-
One thing is very manifest, even 10
the causrai observer. that is, the States,
winch haze bestowed the most thought
made the most generous provisions Tor
hi9h standard of schools and colleges,
are the States which have exercised the
wisest and best influence in the nation.
Let us hold To the conviction that educa-
ton. and enlightenment are priceless
blessings. which cannot be too widely be
slowed. Wherever we find a mind hun
rarin. and thriS,ing for knowledge, let 1t
I've our endeayor Ia supply its cravings.
And when We find those who are willing
To- feed on the miserable husks which only
minister to the animal nature IN man,
O. let us strive the harder To d,rakea III
snch minds 3 hungar and thirst for that
higher and better knowledge which ele-
Yates. and ennobies humanity.
And now, III conclusion, wnnid say,
rs one who earnestly desires to aid III
promoting the moral and intellectual vel
fare Of onr thriving city, let us, one and
all seek to realize the great Importance Of
the subject before rs Upon the steps
which We take this year in regard to our
public schools, viii depend more than can
he expressed. the advancement and pros
perity Of this city, or It's retro9ressIOn.
There is 10 middle ground to stand upon
The hour has come when the public
spirit. theintelli.ence and the generosity
Of our citizens are to he put to the test
The appeal is made to the best thoughts
and feelings Of all parents, and all friends
Of progress and enlightenment. If that
appeal be responded TO as PROMPTLY and
generously as | believe 1t will be, then
We shall have taken that position which
viii command universal respect, and be-
come source of unspeakable blessing,
not only to the present, but to succeed
inS generations.
TIE CASCADE CAXAL-The following Il
IN, hnu,f,x- la.4