The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-18

| thropy teaches that I'm many home
! whore with difficulty "thc wolf Is kept
from the door natural mental powers
/ lie dormant, which. II touched by the
magic wand OF the teacher, would spring
into vigorous and robust life. and that
they should be aroused and developed for
| tho benefit OF mankind.
THK OBJECTS or THE ISsTiTUTIoS
Mr. President, read the objects Of the
| Virginia Mechanics Institute each gilt
| tcring as II written I'm letters of gold:
"The promotion and announcement OF
manufactures. the mechanic and useful
arts. and the mental and social improve
ment OF the industrial classes
What vast field Of thought Is here pre-
scented. How it grows on you. broadens
and expands as you view and contem-
plate e.. 's'
What constitute the strength Of ma
ton? Its agriculture. manufactures. and
| commerce. These arc the landmarks OF
| national prosperity and plenty, wealth,
ana power. 10 have manufactures. the
mechanic and useful arts must be brought
into play. and upon them nation must
/ depend II she hopes to possess this ele-
ment Of strength and independence. she
may boast of her bclle-lettres. liberal and
/ fine arts. craftsmanship. and military
! rcnOwn. but they viii count for nothing
when IL comes TO the building Of fac
tory, furnace forge, foundry, or rolling
mill.
TIE farmer may Til his soil until it
blossoms with all The fruits OF the earth.
! the merchant may dispose OF his wares
aud fabrics until his pockets are plethoric
/ with profits. the banker may run his dis
| count line until he has cnyironcd all
/ classes, and discuss with signal ability
/ the financial problem of imitation and
! contraction sound money and deprecated
/ currency. the statesman may enchain
| scnatcs with his logic, and hold as by
| enchaniment listening multitudes, the
/ lawyer may awaken the echoes in behalf
/ Of injured innocence and in the redress
/ OF wrongs and the physician may relieve
| human misery and save human life. but
| they will all stand as If paralyzod In
| limb and dazed IN mind; palsied, help
less, weak as infants, lmpotent for good
I II required 10 lay and cement the foun-
| dalton stones Of a mighty structure or
/ place In position The machinery which
makes the merry music Of industrial en-
| terprisc. f*'
MUST HAVE SKILLED MECHANICS
AS l have already indicated, nation
! is inherently weak without skilled and
! enlightened artisans and mechanics. Di-
! Nersity of attachments of her people is
| essential to the formation of a strong,
! formidable, and Independent country. The
! Athenlans presented high examples Of al
most every variety OF greatness, and
were mighty people. the Spartans point
cd only to Lycurgus and Lycurgan dis
| ciplne. and dwindled into a powerful
! class. but a weak nation.
am one Of that numbor-hOw many. l
| 10 not knOw-Who believe that the aver
| age human life is too short for any man
! 10 become skilled or learned in very many
-f.sTr
! ing FOR the advantage Of his lellOwm
l think it was Enmons, the eminent theo-
Logan. who said II was rather easy 10
! become smattercr I'm eveIR branch of
| learning. or cObbler in every Arade, but an
| Horculean task TO become thoroughly
! learned in any study on skilled in any me
| chanic art.
believe further, that the man who
| does nothing but pore over books on all
| subjects, la the desire to learn every
| Thing is rarely of any benefit 20 the
| world. lie may absorb. like a sponge,
but ne viii have no time 10 impart. He
may admit the rays into his own mind
| but ne viii have no time if he has the
! inclination, TO throw open the window
| and let the reflex illumine other minds.
| For these reasons, ] think Oliver Wen
| dell Holmes uttered "a truth when ne
| declared that "thc worlds great men
| have not commonly been great scholars.
nor its great scholars, great men,
BE PERFECT IN FEW THINGS.
would rather be perfect IN one thing
/ than smattcrcr i'm many things.
would rather cultivate one talent 10 its
fullest extent than many talents poorly.
] would rather become a master Of one
/ study than devote all my mental encr-
! giles 10 the making of my mind vast
st0rehOuse of knowledge for my own self
! ism qualification. In a word | favor
| spccialism, for. i'm my opinion. the spe-
| ciallst. whether I'm science art, mechan-
| isms, literature. craftsmanship, or one
| of the professions serves his God better.
and Us of more value 10 mankind. than
| am army of men who burn the midnight
! lamp. and mn the solitudes OF their own
! sclhshness seek, for their own pleasure
| and enjoyment TO garner wisdom. and
hoard 10 like the miser boards his gold.
Let me not Doe misunderstood. however.
Let IL not be inferred from what | have
said that ] do not regard education es-
sential In Learning trade. lust the i,-
verse IT YOU ind mechanic who is
good workman without odlcaiion. he
would De Il letter one With f.. What
have endcayorcd 10 say is hat The suc
ccssful and useful man is the nan WITH
n purpose. and that purpose oure AMI no
bic and useful, for ne who is without a
purpose is Ike ship without a rudder-
selfish and he lives for himself alone
when he comes TO die he will be his
only mourner.
THF DEEDS or INVENTORS.
Mr. President. when ! contemplate the
work of inventors. my gratitude towards
them knows no bounds and my admira-
tion Of them knows no limit Ff'
What have they done? / should rather
say what have they not done? They have
unfolded to us the grandcurs Of the
skies sounded the depths. and presented
I'm panoramic view the myteres of the
caverns of the sea: they have united
distant countries. until the heartbeats OF
the one can be felt by the other.
They have seized the lightnings of heav-
en-. and harnessed the winds. and made
them obey the viii Of man; they have
confined and condensed the vapor. and
converted IL into a power before which
iron-bound mountains crumbe, and under
its tread the earth itself trcmbes.
They have lighted the dark and drcary
avenues Of the city as bright as day.
that the stranger may not stumble nor
lose his way, nor the assassin drive his
blade they have gone into the field of
the husbandman. and frightened his face.
relieved him Of his burdens. and unbended
his back, they have crossed the thres hold
go. 81.