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is applied to every branch of human intelligence. Mr. 

 Parton considered the New England habit of picnics a 

 public blessing and made some remarks on the advantage 

 of such field days as the Essex Institute is in the habit of 

 holding, saying, that it made people good-natured and 

 amiable to be brought together in a sensible out-door 

 ramble. There is too much ill temper in the country. 

 An Irish orator in Boston, a few evenings since, had flung 

 about some opprobrious epithets in a very reckless man- 

 ner, but it was not alone Kearney and the frantic idiots 

 that are guilty. In a late number of the "North Ameri- 

 can Review," Francis Parkman has an article and indulges 

 in gross abuse of those who don't think as he does. He 

 saj^s : "they bray." Wendell Phillips also indulges in a 

 great deal of abuse. One reason is because these gentle- 

 men do not go to picnics and become acquainted with 

 each other. Mr. Parton thought speech making a new 

 species of torture. In speaking of this subject to a young 

 lady, a day or two since, she had found him a book enti- 

 tled "The Speech Maker's own Book to assist those called 

 upon to make a few remarks on public occasions or to 

 propose a sentiment." From this book Mr. Parton read 

 a number of selections, one of which he thought would 

 apply to Dennis Kearney : "Here's to the man who never 

 lets his tongue cut his own throat." Mr. Parton closed 

 by expressing his great satisfaction at being able to be 

 present at this meeting. 



Mr. James H. Emerton described several insects that 

 had been presented at the meeting, and replied to several 

 questions that were proposed in reference to the same. 



Prof. George Dixon, of Hampton Normal and Agri- 

 cultural Institute, Hampton, Va., formerly of England, 



