The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-21
WHAT is A BLOCKHEAD?
a 1.-Two Question Answered last
Night by Row. T. D. Power.
He WALKS THE STREETS EVERY DAY
A Large Audience Entertained mt tho
Disciples Church last Night-.-h
Dlocishcad, Ono Who has Sense, but
Don't Know How TO Use 1t.

An entertaining lecture was delivered
yesterday evening by Rev. +. D. Power
ut the Disciples church. The church
was comfortably iilled, and the audience
laughed heartily at the witty sallics OF
the lecturer Mr.. Power has iino plat.
form presence and an effective voice,
which he uses TO good advantage. The
subject OF the lecture was "Bloclihcads."
Mr.. Power remarked that every lecturer
must address himself to subject. In
conformity with this rule he would nd.
dress himself to blockheads, not intend
ing the word ms personal allusion to
his audience. Men arc four in kind.
He who knows not and knows not that
he knows not, is fool. He who knows
not, and knows that he knows not, is
simple. He who knows and knows that
he knows, Is wise: and he who knows,
and knows not that he knows, is n
blockhcad. A blockhead, continued
tho lecturer, is one who has every fac
ulty, except the faculty OF applying his
faculties III the right direction.
Mr.. Power disagreed with tho ordin-
airy definition OF blockhcad rs being q
timber head, a wooden head, man
with no sense. 4 hlockhcad was
sleeping giant, doing Hercules, M
undcvC!opcd genius, an undirccted vol
cano A blockhcad was man out OF
his place. q lawyer who would be better
employed rs carpenter or n bootbl0ck,
one who needs rs Il reminder the motto,
"Know Thyself." The now prevalent
knowledge OF electricity and steam
means simply that the old blockhcad is
aroused and applying his faculties.
The TACT Of so many men having chosen
the wrong occupation was evidence. the
lecturer thought, that the blockhcad
WIS around. Many, he said, failed to
get OF because they didn't know what
they were fit for, and many thought
they were lit for what they wcr. unfit.
in illustration OF this he related n pa
t:irtic story VI al Old minister Nllo,
when too old 10 preach, retired to the
country and took charge OF the cduca-
ton OF several children. The force OF
his example and the strength of his
teaching was such that his pupils grew
IN 20 be noble men and women. The
minister did not think his talent lay in
the direction OF educating children, but
spent Ill his spare time in writing on
mathematics. After his death great
piles OF manuscript we're examined by
mathematician, only 10 be pronounced
as faulty.
No man, the lecturer continued, was
blOckhcad who concentrated his pow
crs upon his occupation, whether it
be driving n nail, making speech, or
doing anything he was called upon to
do. In thirty days, said he, there
wouldn't be blockheal in Wheeling,
il every man in the city were to direct
his energies properly. He mentioned
three who kew their powers and APP
piled them in the right direction: Leo
nardo da Ninci, who invented tho
wheclbarrow, and yet was a painter, n
sculptor and an architect: Jenny Lind,
who knew her powers as q songstcr,
though the instructor to whom she first
went on her visit to Paris, told her that
she would never be 4 success as sing
cr, and Abraham Lincoln, who, not
withstanding the difficulties that beset
the beginning OF his career, continued
in it and made success OF it.
Mr.. Powers lecture was filled with
comic stories illustrating the actions OF
blocSheads, and was accompanied by
the laughter OF the audience through
out.