401. TRANSITION-means, in speech, the Proverbs. 1. Be just to others, that you may changes of pitch, from one note to another; be just to yourself. 2. The mind of the idleras from the eighth to the third: or from the never knows what it wishes for. 3. Every rose sixth to the first; and vice versa; to corres- has its thorn. 4. There is nothing good, that pond in variety and character, to the senti- may not be converted to evil purposes. 5. Few ment and emotion. In singing, it means persons are aware--of the importance of rigid changing the place of the key-note, so as to economy. 6. Do not suffer yourself to be deceived keep the tune within the scale of twenty-two-by outward appearances. 7. Never take advantage of another man's ignorance. 8. The degrees. In transition-the pitches of voice word, that has gone forth-can never be recalled. are not only changed, but its qualities, agreea-9. A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush. bly to the nature and object of the composi- 10. That load appears light, which is borne with tion; however, there must never be any sac- cheerfulness. 11. Virtue is the forerunner o rifice of other principles-all the proportions happiness. 12. Foresight-is the eye of prudence. must be preserved. Example: Anecdote. Obey Orders. A brave veteran officer, reconnoitering a battery, which was considered impregnable, and which it was necessary to storm, laconically answered the engineers, who were endeavoring to dissuade him from the attempt;-" Gentlemen, you may think and say what you please: all I know, is, that the American flagmust be hoisted on the ramparts to-morrow morning; for I have the order in my pocket.” An hour passed on; the Turk awoke, (8) Strike! till the last armed foe expires; Effects of Perseverance. All the performances of human art, at which we look with praise or wonder, are instances of the resistless force of perseverance; it is by this that the quarry becomes a pyramid, and that 402. To succeed in these higher parts of distant countries are united with canals and oratory, one must throw himself into the con-rail-roads. If a man was to compare the efdition, and shape, he wishes to fill, or be, and bring the body into perfect subjection: by assuming the appropriate language of action and earnestness, he may work himself into frame of mind, that the subject demands. He must be sure to keep up the life, spirit, and energy of the composition; and let there be a light and glow in his style. He must also cultivate a bold and determined manner; for if he takes no special interest in what he is reading or speaking, he may rest assured others will not. any [brave? Lo! from the regions of the north, (8) Burst the storm-on Phoci's walls; THE BIBLE. Behold the Book, whose leaves display fect of a single stroke of a pickaxe, or of one impression of the spade, with the general design and last result, he would be overwhelm ed by the sense of their disproportion; yet those petty operations, incessantly continued, in time, surmount the greatest difficulties, and mountains are levelled, and oceans bounded by the slender force of human beings. Varieties. 1. Can Omnipotence do things God-scatters love-on every side, 5. 403. MALE AND FEMALE VOICES. The Maxims. 1. Bad counsel confounds the ad voices of men--are generally an octave lower viser. 2. No one can do wrong, without suffering than those of women; or, comparatively, wrong. 3. He is greatest, who is most useful. 4. men's voices are like the bass viol, and wo- Love-and you shall be loved. 5 A great manmen's voices like the violin. The voice is is willing to be little. 6. Blame-is safer than made grave, that is, to run on lower pitches, praise. 7. All the devils respect virtue. 8. A by elongating, and enlarging the vocal sincere word was never lost. 9. Curses-always chords; and it is made acute, that is, to run recoil upon the head of him, who imprecates them. on higher pitches, by shortening and dimin- 10. God-will not make himself manifest to cowishing them; in connection, however, with ards. 11. The love of society is natural. the size of the chest, which always has its influence. Few are aware of the extent to which the voice is capable of being cultivated; and hence, we should beware of setting limits to it. If every one's internal care Were written on his brow, Who raise our envy now! Of every aching breast, Would fully prove, that while concealed, Their lot appears the best. How calm, how beautiful, comes on 404. To acquire the ability to change, at will, your pitch of voice, so as to be able o adapt the manner to the matter, prac ice throwing the voice on different pitches, varying from one to five, five to eight, eight to one, and in other ways; also, recite such pieces as have a number and variety of speakers, as found in dialogues; and imitate the voice and manner of each, as far as possible. But remember, no one can accomplish much, without committing the examples to memory; thus, after long practice in this way, you may make the book talk and speak. All developments are from within-out, not from without-in. Miscellaneous. 1. Two things are incumbent on the historian; to avoid stating what is false, and fully and fairly to place before us the truth. 2. One of the greatest blunders an orator can commit is, to deviate into abstruse expressions, and out of the beaten track. 3. Man-was created for a state of order, and he was in order, till he fell, or became depraved; or, what is the same thing, disordered-i. e. the reverse of order. 4. Man is in order, when he acts from supreme love to the Lord, and charity towards his neighbor, in obedience to the Divine Will; but he is depraved, and disordered, in the degree he acts from the love of self, and the love of the world. 5. No man is compelled to evil; his consent only makes it his. A dia.nond, Anecdote. An old alderman, after having lived for fifty years on the fat of the land, and losing his great toe with a mortification, insisted, to his dying day, that he owed it to two grapes, which he ate one day, after dinner; he said, he felt them lie cold at his stomach the moment they were eaten. Education. The time, which we usually bestow on the instruction of our children-in principles, the reasons of which they do not understand, is worse than lost, it is teaching them to resign their faculties to authority; it is improving their memories, instead of their understandings; it is giving them credulity instead of knowledge, and it is preparing them for any kind of slavery which can be imposed on them. Whereas, if we assisted them in making experiments on themselves, induced them to attend to the consequence of every action, to adjust their little deviations, and fairly and freely to exercise their powers, they would collect facts which nothing could controvert. These facts they would deposit in their memories, as secure and eternal treasures; they would be materials for reflection, and, in time, be formed into principles of conduct, which no circumstances or temptations could remove. This would be a method of forming a man, who would answer the end of his being, and make himself and others happy. Varieties. 1. Did not the Greek philosophy--corrupt the simplicity of the christian religion? 2. There are two sorts of popular corruption; one, when the people do not observe the laws; the other, when they are corrupted by the laws. 3. Cesar--added the punishment of confiscation, for this reason; lest the rich, by preserving their estates, should become bolder in the perpetration of crime. 4. No localities can bound the dominion, or the superiority of man. 5. What constitutes a church? Divine goodness and truth, conjoined by love, and exemplified in the life. 6. Madame de Stael's idea, that architecture is like frozen music, must have been suggested on a cold day. 7. We are often made to feel, that there is another youth and age than that which is measured from the year of our natural birth; some thoughts always find us young, and keep us so; such a thought is the love of the Universal and Eternal Beauty. 405. STYLE-comprehends all the princi- | ples of elocution, and denotes the manner in which different kinds of composition should be read, or spoken: of course, there are as many kinds of style, as there are of composition; and unless a person has command of body and mind, he cannot harmonize his manner and matter. If in writing, stylemeans proper words, in proper places; in speaking, it must signify, proper sounds in proper places. Ex. What is wit? a meteor, bright and rare, Th't comes and goes, we know not whence, or where; O the eye's eloquence, 406. What causeth the earth to bring forth and yield her increase? Is it not the light and heat of the sun, that unlocks her native energies and gives them their power? In an analogous manner should the light of the thought, and the heat of its accompanying affection, act upon the mind, which will communicate the influence received to the whole body, and the body to the voice and actions. This is what is meant by imbibing the author's feelings, and bringing before you all the circumstances, and plunging amid the living scenes, and feeling that whatever you describe, is actually present, and passing before your mind. Proverbs. 1. A good word for a bad one worth much, and costs little. 2. He, who knows not when to be silent, knows not when to speak. 3. Oppression-causes rebellion. 4. Where content is, there is a feast. 5. The drunkard continually assaults his own life. 6. Show me a liar, and I will show you a thief. 7. That which helps tion is the foundation of happiness. 9. Most follies one man, may hinder another. 8. A good educa owe their origin to self-love. 10. No tree--takes so deep a root as prejudice. 11. Inform yourself, and instruct others. 12. Truth-is the only bond of friendship. Learning. We have been often told, that "a little learning is a dangerous thing," and we may be just as well assured, that a little bread is not the safest of all things; it would be far better to have plenty of both but the sophism of those who use this argument, is, that they represent the choice between little and much; whereas our election must be made between little-and none at all; if the choice is to be-between a small portion of information, or of food, and absolute igno decision in the homely proverb-" half a loaf rance, or starvation, common sense gives itr is better than no bread." is Varieties. 1. The best and surest course never to have recourse to deception, but prove ourselves, in every circumstance of life, equally upright and sincere. 2. The most consummate hypocrite cannot, at all times, conceal the workings of his mind. 3. When we employ money-to good purposes, it is a great blessing; but when we use it for evsi and wicked ends, or become so devoted to к, as to endeavor to acquire it by dishones means, it is a great curse. 4. None are so fond of secrets, as those who do not mean to 407. Lyceums and Debating societies, are keep them: such persons covet them, as admirable associations for the improvement spendthrifts do mony, for the purpose of cir of mind, and cultivation of talent, for pub-culation. 5. Burke-called the French revlic or private speaking. Franklin and Roger Sherman, (the one a printer, and the oth-olutionists, "the ablest architects of ruin, that the world ever saw." 6. Trifles—always er a shoe-maker,) rose from obscurity to great require exuberance of ornament; the build eminence, and usefulness, by their own ef- ing that has no strength, can be valued only forts: so may we, by using the proper for the grace of its decorations. 7. We canmeans. It was in a debating society, that not part with our heart-friends: we cannot Lord Brougham first displayed his superior let our angels go. talents and unrivaled eloquence; and there, also, HENRY CLAY, the greatest American orator, commenced his brilliant career. A word to those who would be wise is enough. Anecdote. An appropriate Sign. A man who had established a tippling-house, being about to erect his sign, requested his neigh-And follow still where fortune leads the way; Or, if no basis-bear my rising name, bor's advice-what inscription to put upon But the fall'n ruins of another's fame; it. His friend replied, “I advise you to write Then, teach me, heaven, to scorn the guilty bays; on it-Drunkards and Beggars made here." | Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise Honor's-a sacred tie, the law of kings, The noble mind's-distinguishing perfection, That aids and strengthens virtue, when it meets her, And imitates her actions, where she is not: It ought not to be spated with Nor fame I slight, nor for her favors call; As soothing folly, or exalting vice ; Unblemish'd let me live, or die—unknown: O, grant me honest fame, or grant me none, The song and oar-of Adria's gondoliet the point you are to aim at, is, the greatest possible degree of usefulness. 7. He who only aims at little, will accomplish but little. Anecdote. A silly, but very pretty woman, complained to the celebrated and beautiful Sophia Arnold, of the number of her admirers, and wished to know how she should get rid of them. "Oh, my dear," 108. Public speakers ought to live longer, and enjoy better health, than other persons; and if they conform to the principles here taught, and the laws of life and health generally, this will be the result. Pulmonary diseases may be thrown off by these exercises; the author being a living witness, having been given over at three different times with consumption. The celebrated Cuvier and Dr.(was the satiric reply,) "it is very easy for Brown, the metaphysician, and many others that might be mentioned, are also witnesses of this truth. One reason is, that natural speaking induces one to use a very large quantity of air, whereby the capacity of the lungs is much enlarged, the quantity of air increased, and the blood more perfectly puri-importance, is to show our own unimportance. 5. fied; the use of the whole body insures a free circulation, and, of course, contributes to universal health. Think'st thou there are no serpents in the world, Do bask their spotted skins, in fortune's sun, per you to do it: you have only to speak." Proverbs. 1. Those, who possess any real excellence, think and say, the least about it. 2 The active only, have the true relish of life. 3. Many there are, who are everything by turns, and nothing-long. 4. To treat trifles-as matters of Grief, cherished unseen, is genuine; while that, which has witnesses, may be affected. 6. Errordoes not so often arise from our ignorance of the truth, as an unwillingness to receive it. 7. Somemistake the love-for the practice of virtue, and are not so much good themselves, as they are the friends of goodness. 8. To love any oue, and not do him good, when there is ability and opportunity, is a contradiction. 9. Pity-will always be his portion in adversity, who acted with kindness in prosperity. 10. The best mode of proving any science, is by exhibiting it. The brave, 'tis sure, do never shun the light; A Good Example. Mr. Clay, in a deJust are their thoughts, and open are their tempers; bate upon the Loan Bill, remarked, that, for Still are they found-in the fair face of day, twenty or thirty years, neither he nor his And heaven, and men—are judges of their actions. wife, had owed any man a dollar. Both of 409. DISEASES OF THE THROAT-are con- them, many years gone by, had come to the nected, particularly, with those parts of the conclusion, that the best principle of economy body, which are involved in breathing, and was this,-"never to go in debt. To indulge relate to the understanding, or reasoning fa- your wants when you were able to do so, and culties of the mind: thus, thinking and to repress them when you are not able to inbreathing are inseparably connected toge-dulge them." The example is not only an ther; as are feeling and acting; hence, the excellent one for itself, but comes from a high predominance of thought, in the exercise of source. To repress a want-is one of the the voice, or in any kind of action, and zeal wisest, safest, and most necessary principles without knowledge, tend directly to such of political economy. It prevents, not only versions of mind and body, as induce, not only the dangerous practice of living beyond our diseases of the throat, but even pulmonary means, but encourages the safe precedent of diseases: if, then, we will to be free, in any re-living within them. If all who could, would spect, we must return to truth and nature; for they will guide the obedient in the right way. Miscellaneous. 1. Whatever one possesses, becomes doubly valuable, by having the happiness of dividing it with a friend. 2. He who loves riches more than his friend, does not deserve to be loved. 3. He who would pass the latter part of his life with Amor, and usefulness, must, when he is unung, consider that he shall one day be old; and when he is old, remember that he has once been young. 4. The rolling planets, and the glorious sun, Still keen that order, which they first begun; But wretched man, alone, has gone astray, swerved from his God, and walks another way. 5. The oldlive in the past, as the young do-in the future. 6. Fix upon a high standard of character: to be thought well of—is not sufficient: live within their means, the world would be much happier and much better than it is. Henry Clay and his noble housewife—give us an example worthy of all imitation. Varieties. 1. Is pride-a mark of talent? 2. Byron says, of Jack Bunting, "He know not what to do, and so he swore:" so we may say of many a one's preposterous use of books -He knew not what to do, and so ho read. Wit's-a feather-Pope nas said, And ladies-do not doubt it: For those, who've ieus—within the head, They sin, who tell us love can die; From heaven it came, to heaven returneth. Proverbs. 1. Constant occupation-shut out temptation. 2. A flatterer-is a most danger ous enemy. 3. Unless we aim at perfection, we shall never attain it. 4. They who love the long est, love the best. 5. Pleasure-is not the rule for rest, but for health. 6. The President is but the head-servant of the people. 7. Knowledge-is not truly ours, till we have given it away. 8. Our 41. DELIVERY addresses itself to the mind rough two mediums, the eye and the ear: hence, it naturally divides itself into two parts, voice and gesture; both of which must be sedulously cultivated, under the guidance of proper feeling, and correct thought. That style is the best, which is the most transparent; hence the grand aim of the elocutionist should be-perfect transpa-debts, and our sins, are generally greater than we rency; and when this part is attained, he will be listened to with pleasure, be perfectly understood, and do justice to his subject, his powers, and his audience. suppose. 9. Some folks are like snakes in the grass. 10. He-injuries the good, who spares the bad. 11. Beauty will neither feed or clothe us. 12. Woman's work is never done. Anecdote. What for? After the close 411. YOUNG GENTLEMEN, (said Wil- of the Revolutionary war, the king of Great liam Wirt,) you do not, I hope, expect from Britain--ordered a thanksgiving to be kept me, an oration for display. At my time of throughout the kingdom. A minister of the life, and worn down, as I am, by the toils of gospel inquired of him, "For what are we a laborious profession, you can no longer to give thanks? that your majesty has lost look for the spirit and buoyancy of youth. thirteen of your best provinces?" The king SPRING is the season for flowers; but I-am answered, "No." "Is it then, that your main the autumn of life, and you will, I hope,jesty has lost one hundred thousand lives of accept from me, the fruits of my EXPERI- your best subjects?" "No, no!" said the ENCE, in lieu of the more showy, but less substantial blossoms of SPRING. could king. "Is it then, that we have expended, and lost, a hundred millions of money, and for the defeat and tarnishing of your majesty's arms ?" "No such thing," said the king pleasantly. "What then, is the object of the thanksgiving?" "Oh, give thanks that it is no worse." not have been tempted hither, for the puerile purpose of DISPLAY. My visit has a much graver motive and object. It is the hope of making some suggestions, that may be serviceable in the journey of life, that is before you; of calling into action some dorVarieties. 1. Who does not see, in Ce. mant energy; of pointing your exertions to sar's Commentaries, the radical elements of some attainable end of practical utility; in the present French character? 2. "A man," short, the hope of contributing, in some says Oliver Cromwell, "never rises so high, small degree, towards making you happier as when he knows not whither he is going." in yourselves, and more useful to your 3. The virtue, that vain persons affect to descountry. pise, might have saved them; while the beau412. The conversational-must be deliv-ty, they so highly prized, is the cause of their ered in the most natural, easy, familiar, dis-ruin. 4. He, who flatters, without design. tinct, and agreeable manner; the narrative and didactive, with a clear and distinct articulation, correct emphasis, proper inflections, and appropriate modulations; because, it is not so much your object to excite the affections, as to inform the understanding: the argumentative, and reasoning, demand great deliberation, slowness, distinctness, frequent pauses, candor, strong emphasis and occasional vehemence. No one can become a good reader and speaker, without much practice and many failures. Pioneers. The " eccentric" man--is generally the pioneer of mankind, cutting his way the first-into the gloomy depths of unexplored science, orcoming difficulties, that would check meaner spirits, and then--holding up the light of his knowledge-to guide thousands, who, but for him, would be wan dering about in all the uncertainty of ignorance, or be held in ne fetters of some selfish policy, which they had not, of themselves -the energy to throw off. Tis not in folly-not to scorn a fool, And scarce in human wisdom-to do more. ing to benefit by it, is a fool; and whoever encourages that flattery, that has sense enough to see through, is a vain coxcomb. 5. The business of the teacher-is not so much to communicate knowledge to the pupil, as to set him to thinking, and show him how to educate himself; that is, he must rather teach him the way to the fountain, than carry him to the water. 6. Many buy cheap, and sell dear; i. e. make as good bargains as they can; which is a trial of skill, between two knaves, to see which shall overreach the other; but honest men set their price and adhere to it. 7. If you put a chain round the neck of a slave, the other end fastens it self around your own. Would you then learn to dissipate the band Of these huge threatening difficulties dire, Here to mankind indulged: control desire; |