The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-21
A SOLID FOUNDATION

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and what we most need is solility in MI
things. We require moro solid mon. All
over the land are brilliant men, who scintil-
late like the stars, corruscate like comets aud
dazzle like the will.o'-the.wisp, but what we
need is more men who shine with steady,
fixed light, like the planets. We are always
being given electric lights, but none Of them
yet have overcome the prosaic radiance OF
gas. All over tho country are colleges, male
and female, tho catalogues Of which set forth
elaborate lists of text books used by the varl-
Gus classes, and they have professors and ad-
junct professors without end, but
is there any solidi;y to their
courses of education Fortunately
the country being hundred yeers older than
it was this time in the last century, and
having progressed and developed no little in
that one hundred years, wo arc just now
beginning to have some soIidity to the eduea'
ton received by our young men and women
who attend our colleges, We have been
going along so fast that we have not had
time to pay much attention towards attain
ing perfection in anything, that is to say
", have not madehasto slowly. Looking over
Europe, and travelling through tho old
countries of that continent, where villzston
and intelligence have for centuries been grow
ing brighter and brighter, and ascending
higher and higher towards.al lane OF perfect
ability, and We SEQ that that civilization and
enlightenment have been based upon II
solid foundation. 1t is apparent
in the architecture Of tho country; IN the
material improvements in the way Of roads,
in the ships that 90 down to the sea in the
courses, systems and manner of education
in nil business ventures. Heidelberg, Ger
many, is a fine old university town, the chief
attraction of which Is Heidelberg Castle.
The walls of this building are more than
twenty feet in thickness and built with IN
eve single to stability. Shot nor shell could
not effect it and when the French years sgo
laid within it mine, the explosion did not
effect tho destruction 50 desired, merely bro X
ing the tower in twain, tho half that dropped
of standing as monument TO the skill and
solidity which marked the architecture of
those days and which is an earnest of the
system of learning that characterizes the
rand schools of tho place. Our country
has reached that point in its development
when we can afford to DO less in hurry and
become moro solid in all things. This is
still a new land, it is true, but we may now
begin TO live more for futurity and less for
the mere present. We can afford to build
houses in which our children can live, TO
erect churches in which posterity can wor-
ship, to construct railroads over which com
ing generations may travel and transport
their commerce, Fifty years ago wc were
impatient 10 get on rs people. We had
cities to build up; canals to Dig forests to
lavel; f, ms - open up, aud we he'd not the
time 70, do these things in that deliberate man
ner that ked more 10 the future than to
the present, but we pre- not In that condition
now. The present has achieved enough and
although II may DO rs the old fptmer said,
that posterity has done nothing for ~, We
can still do something fer posteity, to be re-
membercd by; We can wife all over
the land in language that tho
people in the coming cent? es may
read end judge of us BY And it is patriotic
ase ice TO our country, when We convey to
its people to I've ,er US, m idea Of pelha-
nency. This character of solidty can be
CT i into GU" commerce. life with great
advantage. We should dspel that idea
which too generally prevails that our rc,
troesere daily chrHging han 81 that fami,
f'' o pei peIually balancing between the
extremes of penrry and wealth, We
have too much speculation aiming at speedy
fortune a, and we should change Il for the
slower aud surer processes of steady
competence. 1t is n old adsge that the
shoemaker snor'd stick to bis Loot, and theI
is vast dcol of wisdom in the ide
for we have too much changing
of occupations pNd svocations ~
lito for peImsncnt prospe. 'ty. Doctors
quit the MEDICINE for mining; Law era Nban,
don ther books and briefs for journalism;
merchs hts forssho weir wares End ledger;
and corryn., rooms fof ysjlroadiug minis,
ters 1--we behind them their pulpits and
books on theology TO peddlein politics. The
prosperity Of tho county because of this I'm.
rest is moro fictitious than lasting, more eva.
nescent than permanent. Let us educate
our children more solidly let us live under 4
lightsr pressr'e Of s'eam lot us 90 slower
aud srrer in all things and we will attain 4
higher degree of perfection in all things ard
| live hereafter rs we'll as now.
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