The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-18

wELtss fEMALE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Observation-Disclosures Br Ex. GOVERNOR SER

SVWne, mosRuu' he nau heretofore given
100000 to the institution; his wife had
also put up q building Tor its use which cost
s2s,eo0, and to-day he added $4,000 to his
oencfactions. Ex-Governor Seymour then
made his address. he spoke as follows:
THE vALuE OF fSrtLLioENcE.
1 come before YOU full OF sympathy with
the hopes oil those who this day enter upon
The duties OF life. l trust may be able to
say some Thugs which may be OF use to you
who now graduate from this college. MY
theme Will he intelligence as an aid to the
virtues, as q protection against vice, and as
means to give healthy and cheerful minds.
There Is what call a general intelligence
with regard to varied topics within the
reach OF all, and which can be acquired in
the midst OF other duties. This can be
gained by habits OF thought. by methods
OF observation and the practice OF learning
what you can with regard TO all objects or
subjects which may be brought to your mo-
tice. These will help in the performance OF
the duties OF every station. The quality Of
knowledge is like that Of gold, which, al
though IL Is reduced TO the thnnest leaf,
yet makes all things glitter that II touches
Surface knowledge is lightly spoken Of by
the learned. but 1t Is information worked
out in the past by toll and study until ii Is
brought within the reach OF all. Ii Is like
coined gold. might call my theme "The
Ar; OF SEEING" Ii is an art. The greater
our intelligence the more we shall see in
all objects. Ignorance wells them from
our perceptions. All the fables invented
by eastern imagination never conceived Of
magician's power which could so change
or invest with charms as intelligence can
give 10 all objects in the world about US.
Things are viewed by Us in the light OF our
intelligence with regard 10 them. Ii deeply
concerns US, then. that we shall be able to
look upon every object In ways that will tell
us.oi their full value.
PLEASURES OF THE INTELLECT.
So strong are the enjoyments OF looking
upon famous objects, or OF treading upon
ground made sacred by events, that men
cross broad oceans TO visit them, and
through after life they are wiser and hap
pier for the knowledge thus gained. But IL
is not necessary for our happiness 10 be able
to make long and costly VOYAGES TO gain the
enjoyment which flows from intelligence.
Everywhere YOU will ever be in the
midst OF Gods great museum OF won
ders, aud in His goodness be allows
us TO see and feel them all at
the slight cost OF habits Of Gtten-
ton and study. 1t follows from what
has been shown that men do not live in the
same world. IL we could look into the
minds OF Others we should find the contrast
more striking than that presented by their
outward condition. Some, who have all the
privileges of wealth, may live in a world
poor and barren, while those of humble for
tunes may dwell among objects OF more
beauty, wonder. and magniticence than
wealth and art can produce. We make the
world in which we live. The virtues or
vices OF men most give shape and hue to
their different spheres OF existence; but
nv theme to-day is more material in its as
poets. 1t is to present general intelligence rs a
source OF happiness, as an aid 10 10 the yir
tues, without which lives are failures as a
help in the performance OF the labOrs OF
life. | do not demand deep learning as es-
! sential, but only those habits OF thought
and observation, which il practiced through
life, enables us without interference with
any duties, TO gather up stores OF
knowledge. Ignorance hides things from
the physical sight almost as much as ii
closes minds against perception OF all the
truths OF morals and wisdom.
TASTE.
Some OF you may feel that certain subjects
do not suit your tastes. wish to warn you
against this word taste. 1t may be that some
are gifted with aptitudes in certain d.
rections beyond others. But think, from
nv knowledge OF men, that this is Overesti-
mated. As a rule, God dispenses His favors
in an impartial way. In most cases the SUI
periorities OF persons in their pursuits,
which are attributed TO natural endow-
ments, are due TO acquired knowledge. |
When am visited at my farm by those who
feel no sympathy with nature, and say that
hot,a NnnpfrV life | max 70
up my mind that they do not like 1t be-
cause they do not know enough about the
world around them TO enjoy us beauties.
But see that they not only feel that they
have justified their dislike by saying that 1t is
not 10 their taste, but that there Is CLEAN
OF self-satisfacton i'm the idea they cherish
that there is something I'm their makeup
which lifted them up above tDat KIND OF
life We find, then, that this word taste is
not ONLY used to excuse ignorance. but,
worse than ali, to hide our own defects from
our eyes. AS a rule, indifference shows ig-
norance. We must be honest in sef-dealing.
Self.cheating is the most common form OF
fraud. Do not gloss over your defects by
charging them 10 your taste, 10 your men,
tai makeup, when they are owing TO your
neglect. The mind demands range OF
thought. 1t never rests. Take care, then,
that you give ~ tndl vanity vi "''hiS"' '""'
its nature needs, or it may feed upon un-
healthy food, or it may, by too much con.
centration, lose vig0r and hcalthlulness.
Insanity is usually an unnatural absorption
of the intellect by few Ideas, which take
possession and shut out all other thoughts
and sentiments.
ERROR.
While | urge upon your attention habits
which will add to your happiness through
life, must not withhold the fact that all OF
you will fall into errors Of thought or ac- |
tom all will suffer sorrows. There is no |
sorrow endured in>the right spirit which |
YOU may not make the source OF the virtues |
OF patience. gentleness, and kindness to
others; no mistakes OF Judgment, IL YOU
will but learn their lessons, which will not
make YOU more wise; no errors, il |
earnestly regretted, which will not
lit YOU up to higher planes OF viz |
tue. You all have the marvellous power |
OF converting evil into good. Some may |
fear that science may unsettle our convic- |
ton. with regard TO the creation and gov |
eminent Of the world. But religion has no. |
thing to fear from any discoveries which |
multiplies the wonders OF the world. Let
men of science reason as they will, every |
truth they unfold, every light they throw
upon the past, all that they teach us,
viii make deeper and stronger the
conviction that worlds were created by
supreme power; that they are gov
erned by unlimited wisdom; that changes
mean Immortality, not destruction. we VIII
,1.e the facts displayed not to teach us
aounuord lint inward 10 reason |