E 5. A man 444. There are also three great divisions Maxims. 1. Want of punctuality is a & pecies in POETRY, which is closely allied to music; of falsehood. 2. Pay as you go, and keep from and both of them originate in the WILL, or small scores. 3. He, that has his heart in his affections: and hence, the words of the learning, will soon have his learning in his heart. psalm, hymn, poem, and the music in which 4. The empty stomach has no ears. they are sung, chanted, or played, constitute may talk like a wise man, and yet act like a fool. the forms, or mediums, through which the 6. Rather improve by the errors of others, than affections and sentiments are bodied forth. Is find fault with them. 7. The devil turns his not genuine music from heaven? and does it back, when he finds the door shut against him. not lead there if not perverted? May not the with abundance. 9. The value of things, is never 8. Better be upright, with poverty, than depraved same be said of poetry? Woe betide the per- so strongly realized, as when we are deprived of son, that converts them into occasions of evil! them. 10. None are so deaf as those who will How blind is pride; what eagles are we still not hear. In matters that belong to other men ; What beetles-in our own. Who fights Nature-to each-allots his proper sphere; Reform. He, that looks back to the history of mankind, will often see, that in politics, jurisprudence, religion, and all the great concerns of society, reform-has usually been the work of reason, slowly awakenally acquiring confidence in her own strength, ing from the lethargy of ignorance, graduand ultimately triumphing over the dominion of prejudice and custom. uses? 2. Individuals and nations, fail in Varieties. 1. What is mercy and its nothing they boldly attempt, when sustained by virtuous purpose, and determined resolu tion. 3. Some persons' heads are like beehives: not because they are all in a buzz, but that they have separate cells for every kind of store. 4. What nature offers, with a smiling face, fruit, herb, and grain-are just what man's pure instinct would choose for food. 5. The majority-ought never to trample on the feelings, or violate the just rights-of the minority; they should not triumph over the fallen, nor make any but 445. THE USES OF ELOQUENCE. In every situation, in all the pursuits of life, may be seen the usefulness and benefits of eloquence. In whatever light we view this subject, it is evident that oratory is not a mere castle in the air: a fairy palace of frost-work; destitute of substance and support. It is like a magnificent temple of Parian marble, exhibiting the most exact and admirable sym-temperate and equitable use of their power metry, and combining all the orders, varieties, and beauties of architecture. Habits of Industry. It is highly important, that children should be taught to acquire habits of industry; for whatever be their habits while young, such, for the most part, must they continue to be in after life. Children-are apt to think it a great hardship, to be obliged to devote so much time to occupations, at present perhaps, disagreeable to them; but they ought to be made to believe, that their tasks are not only intended for the informing of their minds, but for the bending of their wills. Good habits are as easily acquired as bad ones; with the great advantage of being the only true way to prosperity and happiness. Anecdote. Conciseness. Louis XIV. who Argues an impotence of mind, that says,— 6. Death is the enacted penalty of nature's And when the soul-is fullest, the hushed tongue, There's beauty—in the deep; famous, even in a prince; and virtue, honorable, even in a peasant. 3. Prefer loss-to unjust gain, and solid sense-to wit. 4. He, that would be well spoken of himself, must speak well of others. be mended. 6. A sound mind is not to be shaken 5. If every one would mend himself, we should all with popular applause. 7. The best way to see divine light, is to put out our own 8. Some blame themselves for the purpose of being praised. 9. Nothing needs a trick, but a trick; sincerity loathes one. 10. As virtue has its own reward, so vice has its own punishment. 446. OUR FIELD. The orator's field is the Maxims. 1. Poverty of mind is often com universe of mind and matter, and his sub-cealed under the garb of splendor. 2. Vice-is injects, all that is known of God and man. Study the principles of things, and never rest satisfied with the results and applications. All distinguished speakers, whether they ever paid any systematic attention to the principles of elocution or not, in their most successful efforts, conform to them; and their imperfections are the results of deviations from these principles. Think correctly-rather than finely; sound conclusions are much better than beautiful conceptions. Be useful, rather than showy; and speak to the purpose, or not speak at all. Persons become eminent, by the force of mind-the power of thinking comprehensively, deeply, closely, usefully. Rest more on the thought, feeling, and expression, than on the style; for language is like the atmosphere-a medium of vision, intended not to be seen itself, but to make other objects seen; the more transparent however, the better. Hast thou, in feverish, and unquiet sleep,— Adown the black descent; that then, the hand And jagged ridge above, that seems as sand, What is Worth? The spirit of the age says,-" Worth- -means wealth; and wiSDOM-the art of getting it." To be rich is considered, by most persons—a merit; to be poor, an offence. By this false standard, it is not so important to be wise and good, as to be rich in worldly wealth; thus it is, every thing, as well as every person, has its price, and may be bought or sold; and thus-do we coin our hearts into gold, and exchange our souls-for earthly gain. Hence, it is said, "a man is worth so much;"-i. e. worth just as much as his property or money, amount to, and no more. Thus, wealth, worth, or gain, is not applied to science, to knowledge, virtue, or happiness; but to pecuniary acquisition; as if nothing but gold were gain, and everything else were dross. Thus the body-is Dives, clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day; while the mind—is Lazarus, lying in rugs al the gate, and fed with the crumbs, that fall from the tables of Time and Sense. Varieties. 1. Instead of dividing man447. VOCAL MUSIC. In vocal music, there a union of music and language-the lan- kind into the wise and foolish, the good and uage of affection and thought; which in- wicked, would it not be better to divide them dudes the whole man. Poetry and music into more or less wise and foolish, more or are sister arts; their relationship being one less good or wicked? 2. It was a proof of of heaven-like intimacy. The essence of low origin, among the ancient Romans, to poetry consists in fine perceptions, and vivid make mistakes in pronouncing words; for it expressions, of that subtle and mysterious indicated that one had not been instructed by analogy, that exists between the physical and a nursury maid: what is the inference? moral world; and it derives its power from That those maids were well educated; parthe correspondence of natural things with ticularly, in the pronunciation of the Latin spiritual. Its effect is to elevate the thoughts language, and were treated by families as and affections toward a higher state of ex-favorites. How many nursery maids of our istence. Anecdote. A powerful Stimulous. When Lord Erskine made his debut, at the bar, his agitation almost overcame him, and he was just about to sit down. "At that moment," said he, "I thought I felt my little children tugging at my gown, and the idea roused me to an exertion, of which I did not think myself capable." Tis not enough—your counsel still be true; day enjoy such a reputation, and exert such The seas-are quiet, when the winds are o'er; 448. THE HUMAN VOICE. Among all Maxims. 1. Blind men must not undertake to the wonderful varieties of artificial instru-judge of colors. 2. Gamesters and race horses nevments, which discourse excellent music, er last long. 3. Forgiveness and smiles are the where shall we find one that can be compared to the human voice? And where can we find an instrument comparable to the human mind? upon whose stops the real musician, the poet, and the orator, sometimes lays his hands, and avails himself of the entire compass of its magnificent capacities! Oh! the length, the breadth, the height, and the depth of music and eloquence! They are high as heaven, deep as hell, and broad as the uni verse. THE POWER OF IMAGINATION. The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen, best revenge. 4. They, are not our best friends, who praise us to our faces. 5. An honest man's word is as good as his bond. 6. Never fish for praise; it is not worth the bait. 7. None but a good man can become a perfect orator. 8. Cultiheart. 9. Female delicacy is the best prezervative vate a love of truth, and cleave to it wit all your of female honor. 10. Idleness is the refuge of weak minds, and the holliday of fools. The Trine in Man. There are three things of which human beings consist, the soul, the mind and the body; the inmost is the soul, the mediate is the mind, and the ultimate the body: the first is that which receives life from Him, who is life itself; the second, is the sphere of the activities of that life; and the third, is the medium through which those activities are manifested: but it should be remembered, that there is, as the apostle says, a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 66 Varieties. 1. Nature-makes no em-ndations; she labors for all: her's is not mosaic work. 2. The more there is prosaic iu 449. CICERO AND DEMOSTHENES. An orator, addressing himself more to the pas-orators, poets and artists, the less are they sions, naturally has much passionate ardor; natural; the less do they resemble the copiwhilst another, possessing an elevation of ous streams of the fountain. 3. The more style and majestic gravity, is never cold, there is of progression, the more there is of though he has not the same vehemence: truth, and nature; and the more extensive, in this respect do these great orators differ. general, durable, and noble is the effect: Demosthenes-abounds in concise sublimity; thus is formed the least plant, and the most Cicero,-in diffuseness: the former, on ac- exalted man. 4. Nature is everywhere simcount of his destroying, and consuming ev- | ilar to herself; she never acts arbitrarily, erything by his violence, rapidity, strength, never contrary to her laws: the same wis and vehemence, may be compared to a hurri-dom and power produce all varieties, agree cane, or thunderbolt: the latter, to a wide ble to one law, one will. Either all thing extended conflagration, spreading in every are subject to the law of order, or nothing is direction, with a great, constant, and irre- Home! how that blessed word-thrills the ear' sistible flame. Anecdote. Envy and Jealousy. Colonel Thornton, of the British army, could not bear to hear the Americans praised. When he was at Charleston, S. C., some ladies were eulogising Washington; to which he replied, with a scornful air, "I should be very glad to get a sight of your Col. Washington; I have heard much talk about him, but have never seen him." "Had you looked behind you, at the battle of Cowpens," rejoined one of the ladies, "you might easily have enjoyed that pleasure." With illustration simple, yet profound, and with unfaltering zeal Impassioned fervor of a mind, deep fraught With native energy, when soul, and sense It tells of childhood's scenes so dear, In it-what recollections blend! O! through the world, where'er we roam, The bird, that soars to yonder skies, Though nigh to heaven, still seems unblessed; Downward-to its own much-loved nest. When given by those of "home, sweet home.” Maxims. 1. It is better to do and not promise, than to promise and not perform. 2. A benefit is a common tie between the giver and receiver. 3. The consciousness of well doing is an ample reward. 4. As benevolence is the most sociable of all virtues, so it is the most extensive. 5. Do not postpone until tomorrow, what ought to be done 450. POETRY-may be written in rhyme, or lank verse. Rhyme is the correspondence of sounds, in the ending of two (or mere successive or alternate words or syllales of two or more lines, forming a couplet triplet: see the various examples given. Rythmus, in the poetic art, means the relative duration of the time occupied in pro-to-day. 6. Without a friend, the world is but a nouncing the syllables; in the art of music it signifies the relative duration of the sound, that enters into the musical composition: see measures of speech and song. Lo! the poor Indian,—whose untutored mind, oratory. Even age itself-is cheered with music; Hath been to me-a more familiar face wilderness. 7. The more we know our hearts, the less shall we be disposed to trust in ourselves. 8. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and is insepera bly wedded to happiness. 9. We should not run out of the path of duty, lest we run into the path of danger. 10. He doeth much, that doeth a thing well. Anecdote. Moro, duke of Milan, having displayed before the foreign embassadors his magnificence and his riches, which excelled those of every other prince, said to them: "Has a man, possessed of so much wealth and prosperity, anything to desire in this world?" One thing only," said one of them, a nail to fix the wheel of fortune.” disgraced society, that of swearing admits of Swearing. Of all the crimes, that ever the least palliation. No possible benefit can be derived from it; and nothing but perverse. ness and depravity of human nature, would valence, that by many, it is mistaken for a ever have suggested it; yet such is its prefashionable acquirement, and considered, by unreflecting persons, as indicative of energy and decision of character. those who are in the love, and under the inVarieties. 1. Duty sounds sweetly, to fluence of truth and goodness: its path does not lead thro' thorny places, and over cheerless wastes; but winds pleasantly, amid green meadows and shady groves. 2. A new truth is, to some, as impossible of discovery, as the new world was to the faithless cotemporaries of Columbus; they do not believe in such a thing; and more than this, they will not believe in it: yet they will sit in judg ment on those who do believe in such a contraband article, and condemn them without mercy. THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. The thoughts are strange that crowd into my brain, I learned the language-of another world. Enough to live in tempest; die in port. From war's vain trumpet, by thy thundering side' Say, that can Chloe want? she wants a heart 452. OBSERVATIONS. Ne one can ever Maxims. 1. A people's education—is a na become a good reader, or speaker, by reading tion's best defence. 2. Let not the sun go down in a book; because what is thus acquired upon your wrath. 3. Who aims at excellence, is more from thought than from feeling; will be above mediocrity; and who aims at meand of course, has less of freedom in it; diocrity, will fall short of it. 4. Forbearance is and we are, from the necessity of the case, a domnestic jewel. 5. The affection of parents in more or less constrained and mechanical. best shown to their children, by teaching them What we hear, enters more directly into the what is good and true. 6. Feeble are the efforts in which the heart has no share. 7. By taking affectuous part of the mind, than what we see, and becomes more readily a part of ourselves, revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; bat i.e. becomes conjoined instead of being ad- needs not the aid of ornament; but is, when unin passing it over-he is superior. 8. Loveliness joined: relatively, as the food which we eat, adorned, adorned the most. 9. No one ever did, digests and is appropriated, and a plaster nor ever can, do any one an injury, without dothat is merely stuck on the body. Thus, we ing a greater injury to himself. 10. It is better can see a philosophic reason why faith is not to know the truth, than to know it, and not said to come by hearing, and that we walk do it. by faith, and not by sight: i. e. from love, that casts out the fear that hath torment; that fear which enslaves body and mind, instead of making both free. Ever distinguish substances-from sound; Pursuit of Knowledge. He, that enlarges his curiosity after the works of nature, demonstrably multiplies the inlets to happiness; therefore, we should cherish ardor in the pursuit of useful knowledge, and remember, that a blighted spring makes a barren year, and that the vernal flowers, however beautiful and gay, are only intended by nature as preparatives to autumnal fruits. Varieties. 1. Business letters should always be written with great clearness and perspicuity: every paragraph should be so plain, that the dullest fellow cannot mistake it, nor be obliged to read it twice, to under stand it. 2. Lawyers and their clients remind one of two rows of persons at a fire; His peace-branch--o'er a flood of sorrow. one-passing full buckets, the other return453. CONQUERING-LOVE. To learn al- ing empty ones. 3. The bump of self-esteem most any art, or science, appears arduous, or is so prominent on some men's heads, that difficult, at first; but if we have a heart for they can't keep their hats on in a windy day, any work, it soon becomes comparatively 4. A crow will fly at the rate of 20 miles an easy. To make a common watch, or a watch hour; a hawk, 40; and an eagle 80. 5. worn in a ring; to sail over the vast ocean, The heaviest fetter, that ever weighed down &c., seems at first, almost impossible; yet the limbs of a captive, is as the robe of the they are constantly practiced. The grand gossamer, compared with the pledge of a secret of simplifying a science is analyzing man of honor. 6. An envious person, waxit; in beginning with what is easy, and pro- eth lean with the fatness of his neighbor. 7. ceeding to the combinations, difficult, most | Nature-supplies the raw material, and edu difficult: by this method, miracles may be cation-is the manufacturer. wrought: the hill of science must be ascended step by step. Conceptions. Would it not be well for metaphysicians -to distinguish between the conception of abstract truth, and the conception of past perception, by calling the latter-mental perception, as contradistinguished from all other 1 Anecdote. Rouge. A female, praising the beautiful color, used by the artist on her miniature, was told by him, that he did not doubt she was a woman of good taste; for they both bought their rouge at the same shop. True philosophy discerns A ray of heavenly light-gilding all forms And wheels his throne, upon the rolling worlds. The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego, Slander-meets no regards from noble minds ; I shall not look upon his like again. |