Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1881-06-09
DR.. FOrd'S Lecture.

One of the finest lectures lately heard in
Towanda was delivered on Tuesday evening
lest. before the societies of the Institute by
the Rev. ID. r. Ford, Professor in Elmira Fe
male College. The subject, Books and
Travel" was, of course, interesting, and one
on which DR.. Ford is thoroughly posted.
The lecturer commenced by speaking of that
mysterious person termed 1.-THE man of the
future" This man is to do wonderful things,
and much speculation is rife in regard to his
color, language, politics and other character
istics. All men, however, are agreed that he
will read and travel. If this is true of the
men who are to be it should be equally so of
the present generations. for books and travel
are the great sources of knowledge.
Books may be called mirrors, as they reflect
The actions of men in all parts of the world.
They compel all countries and ages to pass
before US in review. They rouse the magin-
alton and tend to make the Judgment fair, for
in literature all men rest upon their own
merits. People, however, do not always
recognize this, but devour all kinds of books.
But as rule, standard works only should be
read, as these have lived throughout the ages,
and cannot be allowed to die. A person
should choose his literary friends with the
lme care as he does his social companions.
In general, books should be divided into two
classes. those read for rest and those read for
instruction.
For rest. books should be selected which
rouse the Imagination and kindle pure feel
ings. Among these, the works of Homer, of
Virgil, of Shakespeare. and of Scott. Gulli-
ver's Travels. Pilgrims Progress, Robinson
Crusoe and the Arabian Nights stand preem
ent. A great advantage Of these works is
that they please alike old and young. Many
of them would richly repay frequent perusal.
But books should be read not only for
amusement and rest, but also for instruction.
For this purpose The work of anv of the
sandn d poets. historians or scientists are
.,,hl Ia l-S Shn
be read too Young in lfe, but should be saved
until thp intellect has been sufficiently trained
20 understand and enjoy them.
TIE second division Of the lecture. travel.
should he used 10 aid The study of books. It's
principal uses are five; First, it serves 10 ver-
ify The impress on obtained from books, or if
they are wrong. 70 correct them. No person
can have correct idea of Niagara Falls or of
The Ocean. until he has actually seen them.
Secondly, it wakes up The mind. Many men
have been intellectually asleep, until some
haDpy chnnce iiaS reused them, This is true
OF The Earl of Clarendon, Adam Clarke, and
John Ericsson. One OF the best ways to wake
up slpenv boys is by having them travel.
The thrd Use of travel is to increase fra
ternuv and humanity. by making men better
acquainted with one another. BY obtaining
gre. trr knowledge of men in different parts
Of the world. prejudices are lten overcome.
The last great advantage of travel is that it
gives men confidence. Many persons SO lack
this quality, that they have not confidence
enough n themselves to do any important
thing. BY travel confidence is increased by
giving IA man true knowledge Of his own
powers. In The same way it tends 10 take the
conceio out OF vain pereonS
The lecturer conclude q by saying that i'll all
this reading and journeyng, we should not
forget the Being who gives the power to do
these things. If the duty toward God is full
filled. our undertakings Will be abundantly
blessed. q. Il. b.