LITERARY CULTURE. 83 



to conquest. Many subjects which were matters of speculation to our pro- 

 genitors have become estabhshed truths under the guidance of the discov- 

 ering minds of the nineteenth century; and it has been well said that our 

 children ha\e more correct notions of nature and natural phenomena than 

 had Plato. And this is but the legitimate outcome of our common schools 

 — the peoples colleges — th? perfection of which is the grandest tribute to 

 man's wise ambition. They are, indeed, the glory of our nation, and 

 when they cease to be its glory, this nation will cease to be the glory of the 

 world. 



To secure so g-and a result has cost not only infinite labor but vast 

 treasures. The fathers recognized education as our only political safety; 

 that outside of this ark all was deluge. That the people must spend 

 money to educate their children, or they must pay taxes to build prisons to 

 punish crime. That good government means the acts of wise and good 

 men organized for the general good. That honesty and intelligence must 

 go hand in hand. It is said that when President Lincoln was urged to 

 appoint an ignorant ofiice-seeker becnuse he was "honest," remarked "I 

 don't see any difference between an honest blank fool and any other blank 

 fool," and he refused to make the appointment. It is sometimes suggested 

 that if our intelligence were measured by our votes, we might not be 

 pleased with the standard which justice would designate. Yet it is no less 

 true, that suffrage should practically exemplify our knowledge and justify 

 our claim to be the most enlightened people under heaven. 



And this reminds me that once many of the worthy followers of the 

 Wesleys, thought to interpret the Bible demanded inspiration and no 

 worldly knowledge. It is said that a local preacher, speaking in the pres- 

 ence of Bishop Simpson, thanked God for his ignorance. To which the 

 Bishop remarked, "you have a great deal to thank God for." Now in 

 every hamlet, we find a church spire pointing to heaven; and in each temple 

 of the Father there is a clergyman whose pure and holy life is adorned bv 

 the learning of the schools and the culture which exemplifies the highest 

 evidences of education. 



Turning from our schools to their graduates and to the people of our 

 County, we find fitting illustrations of that progress which marks the English 

 speaking race in its highest attainments. In Art, our country will not 

 forget Suffolk's sons, William S. Mount and Shepard A. Mount — men of 

 genius whose works made them known throughout the civilized world. 

 In History, Wood, Prime and Thompson form a trio who will not be 

 forgotten. In Poetry, Terry, Gardiner and Tooker, hold no mean place; 

 and in Journalism, the editors of the county are the peers of their brethren 

 throughout the State. In the Law, Buftett, Strong, Wickham, Sanford, 

 stand like stars in the night — the lesson of their lives being their best 

 monuments. In forensic oratory, Judge Rose is remembered with pride 

 while recalling the Hoffmans, Emmetts, Grahams, VanBu'en, Jordan, and 

 equal celebrities, who charmed jurors and delighted audiences in other 

 parts of the State — our Orator not suffering by the comparison. In our 

 churches, the eminent divines are legion. 



With this passing glance at the select few, let us remember the thous- 

 ands who are the sons and daughters of Suffolk. It will be conceded that 

 we are a prosperous people, and Macauley has well said that the progress 

 of elegant lit'^nture and th'^ fin? arts is proportionate to that of the public 

 prosperity. We cannot be intelligent, happy or useful, if we lack the 



