613 



culture the business of life. Our University, disenthralled, as we hope 

 it is, of the biggots that were a mill-stone around its neck, extends its 

 free invitation to all, and gratuitously opens the higher walks of science 

 and learning to the youthful aspirant. Every child of the State should 

 be educated; and it is our boa.st to know, that to all, a wise and munif- 

 icent State policy has afforded the means of education almost free — 

 free enough for any who will boldly endeavor to make their way to the 

 honorable distinctions of life and society. "There is a tide in the affairs 

 of men (says Shakspearo,) that taken at the flood, leads on to fortune ; 

 omitted, all the voyage of their life is spent in shallows and in misery." 

 Youth is that flood-time, and if then, education, the high road to fortune 

 is not obtained, in nine cases out of ten their lives are literally spent 

 "in shallows and in misery." 



In this countiy, the future holds out inducements to all. A general 

 and wide spreading excellence is the consequence. The front ranks are 

 constantly filling up with new recruit«, drawn from every rank in socie- 

 ty. The sons of the distinguished and wealthy are constantly put aside 

 by the keener ambition and hardier energy of the humble unknown, 

 that set their mark high, and fearlcv^sly pi-ess on to the goal. In this 

 countiy, as a general rule, it is such that win the race. In other coun- 

 tiies, occasionally, one whose boundless powers, unextinguishable ardor, 

 restless ambition and desperate boldness, enable their possessor to break 

 the chains that bind him down, and rise to the highest eminence. He 

 is one of millions — a Brougham, perhaps, that forces open the peerage 

 by his labors — that one concession made to plebeian talents, and the 

 doors are shut u]X)n a whole generation of aspirants. Here the broad 

 avenues are open to all, and the blighting curse of caste, is not upon us. 

 An exhortation to youth is unavailing, unless the mothers of the 

 land do their duty. " They mould the character of our race." " What- 

 ever be the face of man, one stamp he always wears upon his brow — 

 that which the mother hand impressed upon the soul of her child." 

 The women of this land must catch the prevailing spirit of progress. 

 The events of the future, and an important control of its development, 

 is largely dependent upon them. The youth of the west have a spirit 

 of enterprise and go-ahead that is not equalled anywhere ; and was it 

 not because their hours of infancy, when their minds were impressible 



