532 Dedication of Polytechnic Hall — Address. [November, 



the proper prerogatives of mind. They can not write the name of 

 their maker, yet the child of seven can. The sun and moon and stars 

 shall cease to number seasons, days and months and years, and wax 

 old as a garment — shall finally perish; but the thinking, reasoning 

 soul, never. 'Tis this same mind expanded by knowledge, elevated 

 by thought, its energies directed aright, that must substantially dig- 

 nify any calling or pursuit — nothing else can. 



'Tis the directing then of the mind in the channel of this great, 

 this necessary, this all important pursuit, that we appear here at this, 

 time to perform the interesting services of this hour — of this occasion; 

 and present to your minds something of the manner in which this so 

 desirable an end appears to us attainable. 



Education then in general gives one a knowledge of his powers; 

 and the very excitation of thought is the revelation of the soul to 

 itself. The power of thought, inactive, dormant in the mind, is as the 

 germ in the acorn, unsubjected to its own appropriate excitants 

 wrapped in tripple folds. For the want of such excitants, thousands 

 of really talented men, with true native energy, have frittered away 

 their lives in obscurity. 



Education again gives its possessor the fullest use of his faculties, 

 and fits the mind successfully to grapple with difiiculties, and surmount 

 obstacles, whether it be on sea or land; prepares him to scale the 

 mountain's summit, or dive deep in ocean depths ; it enlarges and 

 ennobles the faculties ; it is the divining rod that points unerringly 

 to subterranean mines — the all powerful key that unlocks the treas- 

 ures of darkness, and renders the peasant, with this diadem, more 

 noble oft than crowned kings ; for it gives eyes to plan and hands 

 to execute. 



Many, indeed most, are ready to admit all this in the abstract, and 

 concede that to some, education — a liberal education — is proper, is in- 

 deed necessary, but to me, and mine, it would be a waste of time and 

 what is to me more valuable, money. "We have gotten along very 

 well without it, especially so much as you would urge as necessary, 

 much better than many that have enjoyed superior advantages." "It 

 is well enough for the Laivyer, the Doctor and the Preacher, and per- 

 haps the Teacher; but as to the Farmer, while it may be well enough, 

 it is a work of supererogation, and may very well be dispensed with." 

 It is all important that he should read, write and cipher; this prepares 

 him for the current literature of his studio, the Almanac and News- 

 paper, and tnis is quite sufiicient ; while, comparing himself with 



