in a convivial party he overindulged. On his way home, as he passed along the street, he ran into a tree and immediately drew back and start ed again. The second time he ran into the oth er side of the tree. He drew back and started a third time, and again he ran into the tree. Then, in utter despair, he sat down upon the curl), bur ied his face in his hands, and was heard to exclaim, 'Lost in an impenetrable forest ! "I feel very much under other conditions, as Mr. Watterson's fellow-citizen. I cannot, how ever, omit at this time to congratulate the trus tees, the members of the faculty, the students and the citizens of Pennsylvania upon the comple tto'n of the building for Civil, Mechanical and Mining Engineering. When two years ago, the appropriation was made, we all looked forward in anticipation of what we to-day realize. From this building will go out. influences for the dis semination of practical knowledge which will more than compensate for the hours of anxiety, care and expenditure in its construction. "The subject which has been assigned to me, or suggested, is 'The State and Higher Educa tion.' I feel that it is one which requires more skillful treatment than am able to give ; but of one thing you can rest assured, and that is that what I fail in treatment of the subject I will more than make up in enthusiasm for the cause of high er education. "This embarrassment is somewhat increased when I consider that almost under the walls of this institution resides one who, with his distin guished ability and great power, gave the energy of his young manhood as Superintendent of Instruction in Pennsylvania—Andrew G. Cur tin. (Applause.) And again I had the pleasure of meeting here one of the oldest Superinten dents in the Commonwealth and the successor of Governor Curtin, and the first Superintendent under the Act of 1 85 7 , which created the office of State Superintendent, Hon. Henry C. Hickok. "In the close of his administration—and this day suggests it, the birthday of the illustrious THE FREE LANCE. Washington—in the month of December, 3 796, three months after he had written his farewell ad dress; he sent a message to Congress, and possibly like other messages even of our day they are soon forgotten, if read, and in many cases not read at all. (Laughter.) But in this address he appealed to Congress for the institution of a National Uni versity for Public Education. He said : have therefore proposed to the consideration of Con gress the expediency of establishing a National University and also a Military Academy. The desirableness of both these institutions has so constantly increased with every view I have taken onthe subject, that I cannot omit the opportu nity of once for all calling your attention to them.' fhe Military Academy at West Point was established, and from its walls have gone out not only soldiers, but scientists, learned and skilled men, to bless and benefit their country. While his recommendation of a popular National University has not as yet been adopted, we feel that if in the beginning of our country such an institution had been established, its history would have been a record for good equal to the Military Academy. • "In order to ascertain the relations which the State holds to the question of public education, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the opinions which the founders of our institutions held upon the question. We must turn to them and examine their views expressed from time to time, as the mariner out upon the broad sea con sults his chart. They laid the foundations of our government. They thoroughly understood the nature of the work they had in hand. They rep resented, as has been well said, a collection of Wisdom such as never before assembled in the his tory of the world, ani in that collected wisdom are to be found the purposes as to the State, the Nation and Education. The first President was very decided in his opinion upon the question of the relation of the National Government to our system of public education. He never lost an opportunity to express his views upon this impor•
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