Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-11-15
NATURAL sCIENcE.
From an Address by Prof. John w.
Caldwell, southwestern Unit
Versity, CInrksviilc, Tenn.

From an Address by Prof. John w.
Caldwell, south western Unit
Versity, CInrksviile, Tenn.
Science is cosmopolite. She sinks
her shaft into the interior OF the
earth, and drags therefrom the val
ued ores, and the buried records OF
past ages. She climbs the Alpine
glaciers and measures their grand
and majestic tread. She throws
out her sounding-line and plumbs
the depths Of the Atlantic, bringing
up the life-evidences of those abys-
NAL zones. She places her scaling
ladder against the sky and triangu-
lates the heavens-she determines
the distances of planet, sun and star,
and demands of those fiery orbs the
secret of their constitution. She
penetrates with her overwhelming
telescopic gaze the hidden mysteries
of space, and calls from those hith-
erto unfathOmed recesses unknown
suns and systems-and then return
ing from such adventurous flights,
she peers into the drop OF water, to
gain more intimate acquaintance
with its minute protozoan 0ccu-
pants. She scorns to be limited To
the narrow confines Of the present
she seeks to retrace the steps Of the
ages, and view the original cosmic
nebula, as il begins its grand march
of differentiation, long WOns ante
rior to the time when the morning
stars sang together for JOY over
completed and spotless world.
The study OF nature Is by no
means unproductive-it yields am-
pie returns TO all. Nature from her
large resources supplies the choicest
gifts; and he who knows her best
may use her to greatest advantage.
Is the practical desired2 She meets
the call. 1t would certainly be a
work of supererogation In this over
practical age and country, 10 re-
hearse the great benefits In this
regard that we owe to science. We
have but to look around, and sutii-
eient evidence is presented. DO
you demand the aesthetic? She
points you TO lovely objects In
the organic and inorganic world
she bids you behold and admire the
and harmOnies seem
she reminds you that the instructive
response given to the concord Of
sweet sounds is but the exponent Of
that deeper emotion which answers
back to the grand choral which re.
sounds through space as world upon
world continues the grand process
sion, In obedience To appointed law.
Are YOU an artist? Nature furn-
ishes the best models. Are you a
poet? Her themes are the most
lofty, her similes the most appropri-
ate, her subjects most worthy Of
poets contemplation TO enlarge, q
poets pen TO portray. Nature Is
the highest art! Aud, too,
the philosophical and metaphysical
of the mind are not with
out their opportunity 10 exercise i'm
the field of science. Her throne in
deed is founded upon reasOn-and
Il the opinion Is entertained that
her supporters are bFainless enthusi-
lsts, and her system eOncalenatiOn
)f wild and baseless speculation
The sooner that opinion Is erased
rom the popular mind the better.
The work of the natural philosopher
demands as much common sense as
my other work on earth, and there
Is need of the greatest acumen and
that the sharpest intel
ects are able to afford.
Nature is all around and about
Is-within the reach of als-and all
may assist i'm advancing her cause.
II may not be given TO any Of rs 20
make grand generalizations, or to
Ormulate far-reaching laws; and
,et one may accomplish something.
We may help to gather up materi-
lis-we may be the children on the
iea-shore, picking up the shells,
which when classified and arranged
Dy n master-hand shall constitute a
Dart Of the beautiful and valued
abinet. Let us come into u close
with nature; such con-
verse will enlarge, elevate and pu-
'ify the mind. IL does not tend TO
degrade, but 20 spiritualize our
thoughts. IL carries us from the
of the material TO
hat of the dynamical, OF force and
mind and will, rather than matter
we rise from the visible and tangi-
Die to that which Is beyond sense-
rom Nature herself TO the God OF
Nature.