Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-11-25
PROF. ARBOGAST'S LECTURE.

Rev. B. Arbogast, of Winchester, Princi-
pal of the Valley Female Institute of that
city, delivered the third lecture in the regu-
lar winters course at Washington Hail, under
the auspices of the Good Templars. on Mon,
day evening Of last week. Ills subject was
"Water-its forms aud uses" and it was
handled by the distinguished lecturer in
such mastery manner as to convey to the
popular mind in an attractive form the most
recent discoveries, and most advanced theo-
riss in regard TO the science Of hydrostaties.
The great preponderancc OF water in the
physical system of msn was illustrated by
many facts of scientific discovery not gener-
ally known or appreciated. Tho function Of
this element in supplying plant food, and in
decomposing and assimilating soils, was
dwelt upon with many practical illustrations,
both interesting and useful. This was fol>
lowed up by still wider range of scientific
data explanatory of tho storms upon the
Ocean and elsewhere; the Gulf Stream; the
Trade Winds, aud other wonderful phenomena
of nature, which originate in the ever chang.
ing aqueous elements upon tho carth's sur
face, or in the ssacarial seas" above her.
Upon the whole, We concur in the univer-
sally expressed qualification at this lecture.
1t is the sort of lecture our people should be
entertained with, as contra distingu ished
from the common places with which they are
so often RECALLED, gathered from the fields Of
honiletics, or still more threadbale public
or political topics.
NOTICE SERVED ON GEN. GRANr.-In
the Cincinnati Commercial OF tho 10th Mr.
Halstcad says:
We have to remark of this that the poli>
ticians who are for Grant all assume that the
people are driving them. This We believe to
DO great folly and deusion. The silence of
Grant on this subject does not seem to US SO
impressive as TO others. Indeed, it is farce
that will soon be laughed at If Grants
friends suppose that he will get the nomina-
ton without contest they are foolish. Do
they suppose Sherman and Blaine will put
their hands on their mouths and their mouths
in the dust Before Grant, and that the whole
American people will bow down in abjcct-
ness in the presence of his glory? If Gen.
Grant is wanted for the third term by nearly
everybody bat few politicians jealous of his
overshadowing prestige, and the country
needs him as the one strong man, it would
be sheer perversity in him net to consent to
hold the Office of President, or whatever we
might name it, for life. We have not heard
just now of his intense Indifference to the
presidency for the first time. He is the only
man who ever esteemed it sacrifice to take
that place"
On Thursday, in the course of the trip to
Mount Vernon made by the Army Of the
Cumberland, one of tho passengers mounted
chair and said that as soldier who had
fought against General Thomas, and who
carried Federal bullet as momento of
how we'll Thomas's men shot, he wished to
raise his voice in honor of the memory of
that great general. General Garfield made
response, saying that tho speaker carried a
bullet of the Army of the Cumberland in his
breast, he now carried its heart also. The
bullet was sped to wound; the heart vas tens
dered to heal. General Garfield reioiced
that the day of woundug was over, and that
the day of healing had como. It seems n
pity, says the Baltimore Sun, that there
should not be more of this fraterniziDg and
handshaking over the bloody chasm, but a
much greater pity when Congress meets and
the great presidential squabbIe is reopened.
those who now offer tho hand of Fellowship
should4instead Of i. tender only the sword
aud torch