Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-03

EVENING SESSION.
The hall was even better filled in the evening
than through the day. The exercises were opened
by the quartette, who sang "Tbe Chapel" by
Kreutzer. Hon. L. d. Mason OF Richmond was
then introduced and gave an address on " Educa-
tion," full Of characteristic wit and originality,
All OF which was keenly enjoyed by the audience.
The following is but brief abstract OF the ad-
dress. 1t is safe, commenced the speaker, at
least to make the proposition that public schools
are a curse to all the youth whom they unfit for
their proper places in the world 1t Is the favor
ite theory Of teachers that every man can make
Of himself anything that he really chooses to
make Entire schools are instructed to aim at the
highest places in society and the most exalted
offices OF life. The fact is persistently ignored in
many Of the schools established for the education
Of the people, that the majority OF the places in
this world are subordinate and low places. Every
boy and girl is taught to abe something in the
world, which would be very well II " being some
thing" were being what God intended they should
be; but where being something " involves the
transformation Of what God intended should be
a respectable shoemaker into very indiff erent
and very slow minister OF the gospel, the harm
full, and even the ridiculous character OF the in
@truction becomes apparent II we go into a
school exhibition, our ears deafened by decla-
nations addressed to ambition. The COMPOST
ions OF the girls are OF the same general tone
we hear Of infinite yearnings' from the lips
of girls who do not know enough to make hasty
pudding. Everything is on the high-pressure
principle. The boys all suppose it Is possible for
them TO become governor OF the state and presi-
dent OF the union. Now believe that school,
n order to be good one, should be one that will
tit men and women In the best way for the humble
positions that the great mass OF them must oc-
cupy In life. care not, continued the speaker,
how much knowledge man may have acquired
in school, that school has been a curse to him II
it's influence has been to make him unhappy In
his place, and to fill him with futile ambitions.
Thousands seek to become "somebodies through
the avenues Of professional life, and so profess.
1ional life is full Of nobodies.' The pulpit is
crowded with goodish nobodies; they strain their
brains 10 write commonplace, and wear them
selves out repeating the rant OF their sect and the
cant OF their schools. The bar is cursed with
'nobodies rs much as the pulpit. The LAWYERS
are few, the pettifoggers are many. The bar more
than any other medium is that through which the
ambitious youth OIL the country seek to attain poti-
al eminence An ambitious boy who has taken il
into his head TO be somebody" always studies
law and as soon he is admitted to the bar he is
ready TO commence his political scheming Null
titudes Of lawyers are disgrace to their profess
sion, and a curse to the country. They lack the
brains necessary to make them respectable, and
morals requisite for good neighborhood. They
live on quarrels, and breed them that they may
live They have spoiled themselves for privateliie
for the medical profession, trembe TO think how
many enter 1t because they have neither piety
enough TO preach, nor brains enough 10 practice
law. When ! think Of the great army of little
men that are yearly commissioned to go forth into
the world with a case OF sharp knives In one hand
and magazine Of drugs and poison In the other,
heave sigh for the human race, Boys and
girls are bred to discomfort. Everybody Is after
high place, and nearly everybody fails to get
one; and, falling, loses heart, temper aud con-
tent The multitudes dress beyond their neces-
stiles to keep up show Of being what they are
not. Our children need to be- educated TO III in
Christian humility the subordinate Offices OF life
which they must I'LL, and taught TO respect hum
BILE callngs, and TO beautify and glorify them by
lives OF content and glad industry, When public
schools accomplish an end 30 desirable as this,
they will fulfill their mission and they will not
before.
At the close OF the address the quartette sang
"The Two Roses" after which Professor Sanborn
continued his talk Of the afternoon. lie argued
eloquenty In favor OF the east as more preferable
for farming than the west, and gave many inter
esting facts In support OF his opinion. Dr.
| Spaulding was then introduced and gave an in
teresting account OF his experience In fancy
farming" and the success attending his expert
iments with snperphosphate OF lime. Supern-
tendent Mead made few closing remarks and
after a story by Brother Tinkham, which brought
down the house, and selection by the quartette,
the meeting was declared adjourned