433. STYLE. The numerous examples | Maxims. 1. Punctuality begets confidence, given throughout this work, afford the neces- and is the sure road to honor and respect. 2. A sary means for illustrating all the principles picture is a porm, without words. 3. Sensible men of elocution: let the taste, and judgment, as show their sense, by saying much in few words well as the abilities of the student-be test-4. He, who thinks to cheat another, cheats himed by a proper selection and application of them. He must not expect too much from others, nor take it unkindly, when thrown upon his own resources: the best way to increase our strength, is to have it often tested. All who become orators, must make them-10. He, who serves God, has the best master in selves orators. the world. 11. One love drives another out. Health is better than wealth. 434. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. If we do well, shall we not be accepted? 2. Which is more useful, fire, or water? 3. Ought cir cumstantial evidence to be admitted in crim inal cases? 4. Can we be too zealous in rightly promoting a good cause? 5. Which is worse, a bad education, or no education? 6. Are not bigotry and intolerance-as dos. tructive to morality, as they are to common sense? 7. Are we not apt to be proud of that which is not our own? 8. Ought there not to be duties on imported goods, to encourage domestic manufactures? 9. Is slavery right? 10. Have steamboats been the cause of more good than evil? 435. IGNORANCE AND ERROR. It is almost as difficult to make one unlearn his erMul-inforrors, as to acquire knowledge. self. 5. Pride is easily seen in others; but we rarely see it in ourselves. 6. Wealth is not his who gets it, but his who enjoys it. 7. A bad book is one of the worst of thieves. 8. Toleration should spring from charity, not from indifference. 9. Too much prosperity makes most men fools. 12. Influence. Few are aware of the full ex tent of meaning contained in this word. If we can measure the kind and quantity of influence, that every variety of heat and cold has on the world of matter; if we can tell the influence, that one individual has on another, one society on another, and one nation on another, both for fine and eternity; if we can estimate the influence, that spir itual beings have on one another, and on the human race, collectively, and separately; also the influence of the Great Spirit on all creation, then, we are able to see and realize the mighty meaning of this important word. Contemplate and weigh the influence, that different kinds of food and drink have on the human system, by being appropriated to its mation is more hopeless than non-informa- innumerable parts; the influence on body tion; for error is always more busy than ig- and mind of keeping and violating the laws norance. Ignorance-is a blank sheet, on of life, by thinking, feeling, and acting; the which we may urile; but error-is a scrib-influence, which a good or bad person has on bled one, from which we must first erase. his associates and also their influence on othIgnorance is contented to stand still, withers, through all coming time, as well as in the her back to the truth; but error-is more presumptuous, and proceeds in the same direction. Ignorance has no light, but error follows a false one. The consequence is, that error, when she retraces her footsteps, has farther to go, before she can arrive at the truth, than ignorance. Anecdote. Virtue before Riches. The-lowing, which he religiously observed; "Six mistocles-had a daughter, to whom two men were wishing to make love; one-was very rich, but a simpleton, and the other-poor, but a very wise man: the father preferred the latter, saying, "I would rather have a man without riches, than riches without a man." The primal duties-shine aloft, like stars; The charities, that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man, like flowers; The generous inclination, the just rule. Kind wishes, and good actions, and pure thoughts. No mystery is here; no special boon For high, and not for low; for proudly graced, And not for meek of heart. The smoke ascends To heaven as lightly from the cottage hearth, As from the haughty palace. He, whose soul Ponders this true equality, may walk The fields of earth-with gratitude and hope. Our wishes lengthen-as our sun declines. ני eternal world, and you will perceive something of the importance of ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well; of living and practicing what is good and true, and thereby being saved from all that is evil and false. Varieties. 1. Lord Coke-wrote the fol hours to sleep, to law's great study six, Four 436. STYLE, &c. To accomplish your object, study the true meaning and character of the subject, so as to express the whole, in such a way as to be perfectly understood and felt thus, you will transport your hearers to the scene you describe, and your earnestress raise them on the tiptoe of expectation, and your just arguments sweep everything Maxims. 1. Revenge, however sweet, is dearly bought. 2. Life is half spent, before we know what it is to live. 3. The world is a workshop, and the wise only know how to use its tools. 4. A man is valued, as he makes himself valuable. 5. Heaven is not to be had, merely by wishing for it. 6. As often as we do good, we sacrifice. 7. Be careful to keep your word, even in the most trifling 8. Hearts may agree, tho' heads may dif fer. 9. Honest men are easily bound; but you can never bind a knave. 10. Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn in no other. matter. Anecdote. Curious Patriotism. Some years ago, one of the convicts at Botany Bay, wrote a FARCE, which was acted with much applause in some of the theatres. Barring ton, the notorious pick-pocket, wrote the prologue; which ended with these lines: before them like a MOUNTAIN torrent: to exdte, to agitate, and delight, are among the most powerful arts of persuasion: but the impressions must be enforced on the mind by command of all the sensibilities and sympathies of the soul. That your course may be ever upward and onward, remember, none but a GOOD man can be a perfect orator; uncorrupted and incorruptible integrity is one of the most powerful engines of persuasion. Truc patriots we; for, be it understood, 437. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. Is any We left our country-for our country's good. government-as important as the principles Ignorance-Willfulness. The ignorit should protect and extend? 2. Should we ant-oppose without discrimination. Harremain passive, when our country, or politi-vey, for asserting the circulation of the blood, cal rights are invaded? 3. Are banks bene- was styled a vagabond, a quack; and perseficial! 4. Have the crusaders been the cause cuted, through life, by the medical profession. of more evil than good? 5. Was the war' In the time of Francis I., Ambrose Pare-inwaged against the Seminoles of Florida, just? | troduced the ligament, to staunch the blood 6. Which is the more important acquisition, wealth, or knowledge? 7. Is there any neutral ground between good and evil, truth and falsehood? 8. Which should we fear most, the commission of a crime, or the fear of punishment? 9. By binding the understanding, and forcing the judgment, can we mend the heart? 10. When proud people meet together, are they not always unhappy? 11. Is not common sense a very rare and valuable article? 12. What is the use of a body, with out a soul? 438. MANNER AND MATTER. The secret of success in Music, as well as in Elocution, is, to adapt the manner perfectly to the matter: if the subject be simple, such must be the manner: if it be gay and lively, or solemn and dignified, such, or such must be the manner in addition to which, the performer must forget himself, or rather lose himself in the subject, body and soul, and show his regard to his audience, by devoting himself to the subject: and hence he must never try to show himself off: but hide behind the thought and feeling, and depend upon them to produce the effect: if there is any affectation, the hold on the heart is in that proportion relinquished. Oh, when shall we take our appropriate place and regard USE as the grand object! But sure to foreign climes-we need not range, But spare, O Tone! whate'er of mental grace, of candor, love, or sympathy divine; bate'er of fancy's ray, or friendship's flame is mine. BRONSON. 11 of an amputated limb, instead of boiling hot pitch, in which the bleeding stump had formerly been dipped; and he was persecuted, with the most relentless rancour, by the Faculty, who ridiculed the idea-of risking a man's life upon a thread, when boiling pitch had stood the test for centuries. Medicines have been proscribed as poison, and then prescribed in great quantities; the proscriptions and prescriptions being both adopted with equal ignorance and credulity. There is no hope for man, but a thorough and correct education in the school of truth and goodness. Varieties. 1. Does the nature of things depend on the matter, of which they are formed; or on the laws of constitution, by which matter is arranged? 2. Is not regelable matter formed from oxygen and hydro gen; and animal matter from these two and carbon ? But what are their constituent parts? Were their essences created, or are they eternal? 3. What large portions of the world there are of which we know compara. tively nothing! and although we are familiar with our bodies, externally, yet how little of their internals do even the best physiologists know? 4. How much is really known of the nature of mind? and yet there is presumption enough in some, to decide at once, upon all the phenomena of the mind, and prescribe its limits. 5. Thus, man clothes himself with his fanciful knowledge, and plays such insane tricks before the world, as make the angels weep. The fisher-is out on the sunny sea, And the reindeer-bounds o'er the pasture free; And the moss-locks bright, where my foct hath been. portance. 5. Our states of mind differ as much as our spirits and temper. 6. Death-cannot kill what never dies,-mutual love. 7. If you will les. 8. Open rebuke is better than secret love. 9. not hear reason, she will rap you over your knurle Good counsel is thrown away on the arrogant and self-conceited. 10. He, who resolves to amend, has God, and all good beings on his side. 439. EFFECTIVE STYLE. The more your Maxims. 1. Happiness is the shadow reading and speaking partake of the freedom contentment, and rests, or moves forever with its and ease of common discourse, (provided original 2. A drop of wisdom is worth a sun of you sustain the object and life of the compo- riches. 3. Whatever does not stand with credis, sition) the more just, natural, and effective will not stand long. 4. Business must be attendwill be your style of delivery: hence the ne-ed to, at the expense of every thing else of less im cessity of studying nature, of avoiding all affectation, and of never attempting that in public, which is beyond your ability. Some mar, or spoil what they are going to say, by making so much ado over it, thinking they must do some great thing; when it isal most as simple as-wash and be clean: whatever is not natural is not agreeable or persuasive. 440. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. Were any beings ever created angels? 2. Is it right ever to do wrong? 3. Why was a revelation necessary? 4. May we not protect our person and character from assault? 5. Does civilization increase happiness? 6. Which excites more curiosity, the works of nature, or the works of art? 7. Ought a Anecdote. Vanity Reproved. "I am very thankful, that my mouth has been opened to preach without any learning,”—said an illiterate preacher, in speaking against educating ministers, to preach the gospel. A gentleman present replied, "Sir, a similar event took place in Baalam's time." Education-should give us command of witness to be questioned with regard to his every faculty of body, and mind—call out all our powers of observation and rejection, religious opinions, or belief? 8. Was the change the creatures of impulse, prejudice general bankrupt law a benefit to the coun- and passion, to thinking, reasoning, and lov try? 9. Why are we disposed to laugh, evening beings; lead to objects of pursuits, and when our best friend falls down? 10. Which is the greatest, faith, hope, or charity? 11. Should controversy interrupt our friendship and esteem for each other! 12. Have christians any right to persecute each other for their opinions? 441. It is much to be regretted, that our t'achers are so illy qualified to instruct their pupils even in the first rudiments of reading: and they are all so much inclined to fall into bad habits, and the imitation of faulty speak ers, that it requires constant watchfulness to keep clear of the influences of a wrong bias, and false, and merely arbitrary rules. We never can succeed in this important art, until we take elementary instruction out of the hands of ignoramuses, and insist upon having persons fully competent to take charge of the cause. Away then with the idea, that any one can teach reading and speaking, merely because he can call the letters, and speak the words so as to be understood. Operating Circumstances. We are too apt, in estimating a law, passed at a remote period, to combine in our consideration, all the subsequent events, which have had an influence upon ; instead of conforming ourselves, as we ought, to the circumstances, existing at the time of its passage. So live, that, when thy summons comes-to join To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take habits of conduct, favorable to the happiness of every individual, and to the whole world, and multiply all the means of enjoyment, and diminish every temptation to vice and sensuality; and true education will do all this, Varieties. 1. What is moral virtue? 2. The greatest danger to public liberty, is from Why have those banished and forbidden Inga Comest thou because the anointed king is hence? ger. 6. When thought is agitated, truth rises. 7. A child requires books, as much as the merchant does goods. 8. Learn by the vices of others, how detestable your own are. 9. Judge not of men or things, at first sight. 10. Reprove thy friend pri vately, and commend him publicly. 442 ELOQUENCE. What were all the Maxims. 1. Old age and faded flowers, no attributes of man, his personal accomplish-remedies can revive. 2. Something should be ments, and his boasted reason, without the learned every time a Look is opened. 3. A truy faculty of SPEECH? To excel in its use is great man never puts away the simplicity of the the highest of human arts. It enables man child. 4. The gem cannot be polished withou to govern whole nations, and to enchant, friction, nor man-perfected, without adversity. 5 while he governs. The aristocracy of Elo-The full stomach cannot realize the evils of hunquence is supreme, and, in a free country, can never be subdued. It is the pride of peace, and the glory of war: it rides upon The zephyr's wings, or thunders in the storm. But there is in eloquence, in painting, the life of the canvas, which breathes, moves, speaks, and is full of action: so is there in the dance, the poetry and music of motion, attorneys overtaking a wagoner, with two Anecdote. Sharp Reply. Two country the eloquence of action; whose power con- span of horses, and, thinking to be witty at sists in the wonderful adaptation of the gra- his expense, asked him, "How it happened, ces of the body to the harmonies of mind. that his forward horses were so fat, and the There is eloquence in every object of taste, both in art and nature; in sculpture, garing them, answered, "That his fore span rear ones so lean?" The wagoner, knowdening, architecture, poetry and music; all of which come within the scope and plan of the orator, that he may comprehend that intellectual relation, that secret clause in the liberal professions, which, connecting one with another, combines the influence of all. Virtue, alone, ennobles human kind, And power--should on her glorious footsteps wait. You pride you-on your golden hue; Tis good, and lovely, to be kind; A little learning-is a dangerous thing; were lawyers, and the other-clients." Selfishness-seems to be the complex of all vices. The love of self, when predominant, excludes all goodness, and perverts all truth. It is the great enemy of individuals, societies, and communities. It is the cause of all irritation, the source of all evil. Peo ple, who are always thinking of themselves, have no time to be concerned about others; their own pleasure or profit, is the pivot, on which everything turns. They cannot even conceive of disinterestedness, and will laugh to scorn all, who appear to love others, as well as themselves. Selfishness-is the very essence of the first original sin, and it must be corrected, or we are lost. Varieties. 1. The wind, the falling of water, humming of bees, a sweet voice reading monotonously, tend to produce sleep; this is not so much the case with musical tones. 2. The trilling and quivering of the voice, which please so much, correspond to the glittering of light: as the moonbeams playing on the waves. 3. Falling from a dixcord to a concord, which produces so much sweetness in music, correspond to the affections, when brought out of a state of dislike; and also with the taste; which is soon cloyed with what is sweet alone. 4. Music has great effect on mind and body, making us warlike or the reverse, soft and effeminate, grave and light, gentle, kind and pitiful, &c., according to its nature, and performance; the reason is, because hearing is more closely associated with feeling or spirits, than the other senses. Observe the effect of Yankee Doodle, God save the King, Marseilles Hymn, &c. 5. When music speaks to the affection, affection obeys; as when na Ah me! the laureled wreath, that murder wears, Ambition-is like love,-impatient-- Let gratitude-in acts of goodness flow; 5. A man 444. There are also three great divisions Maxims. 1. Want of punctuality is a species in POETRY, which is closely allied to music; of falsehood. 2. Pay as you go, and keep from 3. He, that has his heart in his and both of them originate in the WILL, or small scores. affections: and hence, the words of the learning, will soon have his learning in his hears 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. 8. Better be upright, with poverty, than depraved not lead there if not perverted? May not the with abundance. 9. The value of things, is never 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 With passions, and overcomes them, is endued Nature-to each-allots his proper sphere; Reform. He, that looks back to the history of mankind, will often see, that in poli tics, jurisprudence, religion, and all the great concerns of society, reform-has usually been the work of reason, slowly awakening from the lethargy of ignorance, gradually acquiring confidence in her own strength and ultimately triumphing over the dominion of prejudice and custom. Varieties. 1. What is mercy and its uses? 2. Individuals and nations, fail in 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 445. THE USES OF ELOQUENCE. In every that they have separate cells for every kind situation, in all the pursuits of life, may be of store. 4. What nature offers, with a smilseen the usefulness and benefits of eloquence. ing face, fruit, herb, and grain-are just In whatever light we view this subject, it is what man's pure instinct would choose for evident that oratory is not a mere castle in food. 5. The majority-ought never to the air a fairy palace of frost-work; desti- trample on the feelings, or violate the just tute of substance and support. It is like a rights-of the minority; they should not magnificent temple of Parian marble, ex- triumph over the fullen, nor make any but hibiting the most exact and admirable sym-temperate and equitable use of their power metry, and combining all the orders, varieties, 6. Death is the enacted penalty of nature's and beauties of architecture. violated laws. 7. Was it causeless, that a religious Habits of Industry. It is highly impor-washing-was introduced, as tant, that children should be taught to acquire rile, seeing that its observance is so essential habits of industry; for whatever be their habits to the preservation of health? 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 loved a concise style, one day met a priest on the round, whom he asked hastily-"Whence come you? where are you going? what do you want 2" The other immediately replied, From Bruges,-To Paris,-A Benefice." "You shall have it," replied the king. Servile doubt Argues an impotence of mind, that says, We fear because we dare not meet misfortune. And when the soul-is fullest, the hushed tongue, There's beauty-in the deep; |