A Great Mistake. The sons of the rich so often die poor-and the sons of the poor so often die rich, that it has grown into a proverb; and yet, how many parents are laboring and toiling to accumulate wealth for their children, and, at the same time, raising them up in habits of indolence and extravagance. Their sons will scatter their property much sooner than they can gather it together. Let them have their heads well stored with 563. GESTURE, or a just and elegant adaptation of every part of the body to the subject, is an essential part of oratory; and its power is much greater than that of words: for it is the language of nature, and makes its way to the heart, without the utterance of a single word: it affects the eye, (which is the quickest of all our senses,) and of course, conveys impressions more speedily to the mind, than that of the voice, which affects the ear only. Nature, having given to every senti-useful knowledge, and their hearts with sound and ment and feeling its proper outward expres- virtuous principles, and they will ordinarily take sion, what we often mean, does not depend care of themselves. However affluent may be his so much on our words, as on our manner of speaking them. Art-only adds ease and circumstances, yet every parent inflicts upon his gracefulness, to what nature and reason dic-son a lasting injury, who does not train him up to tate. Study the Gesture Engravings thoroughly. All natural objects have An echo in the heart. This flesh doth thrill, With the mysterious mind and breathing mould, MADNESS AND TERROR. Stretch of Thought. A fellow-student, in consequence of too close application to study, and neglect of proper diet and exercise, became partially deranged; but being very harmless, it was thought best that he should go and come when, and where he pleased; in hope of facilitating his restoration. One Saturday afternoon, he went out through the gardens and fields, and gathered every variety of flowers, from the modest violet to the gaudy sunflower, with which he adorned himself from head to foot, in the most fantastical manner; in which condition he was displaying his imaginary kingly power, on a hillock in the college green, just as the president and one of the professors were going up to attend chapel prayers; when the former observed to the latter-what a great pity that such a noble mind should be thus in ruins! the maniac hearing what he said, rose majestically upon his throne, and with a most piercing look and voice, exclaimed; "What is that you say, old president? you presume to talk thus about me? Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed as I am. You old sinner, come here; and I will tear you limb from limb,-and scatter you through infinite space; where Omniscience cannot find you, nor Omnipotence put you together again. habits of virtue, industry and economy. Anecdote. Francis I., king of France, (opponent and rival of Charles V., of Germany,) consulting with his generals, how to lead his army over the Alps into Italy, his fool, Amarel, sprung from a corner, and advised him to consult how to bring them back again. A child is born. Now take the germ, and make it Of knowledge. and the light of virtue, wake it power to charm; but, if that lonely flower For virtue-leaves its sweets wherever tasted, Varieties. 1. All those, who have pre- More cautious of wisdom, and fair virtue, Where flowers are hope, its fruits—are bliss, 564. VEHEMENCE OF ACTION. Cicero- Three Modes of Forming Theories. very judiciously observes, that a speaker One-to imagine them, and then search for facts must remit, occasionally, the vehemence of to sustain, prove and confirm them; one—to colhis actions, and not utter every passage with all the force, of which he is capable; so as to lect facts, which are only effects, and out of them set off, more strongly, the emphatical parts; to form theories; and one-to observe all these as painters make their figures stand out bold- facts, and look through them to their causes; which cr, by means of light and shades: there are causes constitute the only true theories: then, all always strong points, as they may be called, known or probable effects, will not only confirm in every well written piece, which must al- such theories, but they can be explained by these ways be attended to, thus hill and dale, theories. Hence, the true theories of all things, mountain and precipice, cataract and gulph: will explain and demonstrate all things, so far as always keep some resources, and never utter the weaker with all your energy; for if they can be seen and understood; i. e. rationally you do, there will be a failing in the strong perceived, according to the state and capacity of the points the most pathetic parts. human mind. That which enables one to explain a thing, analytically and synthetically, is the true cause or theory of that thing; thus, true theories are the causes of things, and facts are the legitimate effects of those things. The ENDS OF THINGS. There is one step higher, which must be taken, and then we shall have all, that the human mind can conceive of, or think about; which is the end of things: thus we have ends, causes, and effects; In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man, As modest stillness, and humility: But, when the blast of war blows in our ears, Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it, beyond which sphere, man cannot go; for every As fearfully, as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, thing, object or subject, concerning which we can feel, think or act, is either an end, a cause, or an effect; the latter only, are accessible to our senses: the other must be seen intellectually: i. e. in a region of mind above our senses. Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide; Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit To his full height!-On, on! you noblest English. Varieties. 1. Can what is incomprehen465. THE FOREHEAD. TO WHAT specta-sible, be an object of thought? 2. Humani tor can the forehead appear uninteresting? Here, appear LIGHT and GLOOM; JOY and ANXIETY, STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE, and VICE. On this brazen tablet are engraved MANY Combinations of SENSE and of SOUL. Here, all the GRACES revel, and all the CYCLOPS thunder. Nature has left it bare, that by it, the countenance may be ENLIGHTENED and DARKENED. At its lowest extremities, THOUGHTS--appear changed into ACTS; the mind HERE collects the powers of RESISTANCE; and HERE headlong OBSTINACY, or wise PERSEVERANCE take up their fixed abode. That brow, which was, to me, A blooming heaven (it was a heaven, for there Shone forth twin stars of excellence, so brightly, As though the winds of paradise had fann'd Their orbed lustre, till they beam'd with love ;) That brow-was as the sleep-imprison'd lake, Treasuring the beauty-of the deep blue skies, Whose charm'd slumber, one small breath will ruffle. Anecdote. A commonwealth's man, in England, on his way to the scaffold, for truth's sake, saw his wife, looking at him from the tower window, and standing up, the cart he waved his hat, and cried, To HEAVEN, my love, to HEAVEN, and I leave you in the storm awhile." in Well might Lord Herbert write his love- O, colder than the wind, that freezes ty, justice, and patriotism--are qualities-of universal benefit to mankind. 3. The only way to expel what is false from the mind, is to receive the opposite truth. 4. Faith-is saving, when we learn truths from the Bible, and live according to them. 5. A man is said to be square, when he does not, from injustice, incline to this or that party. 6 The power of the muscles, is derived through the nerves, as the power of good is from truth. 7. Nothing remains with us, that is not received in freedom. [night Look nature through; 'tis revolution all: And then, alone, would Ila mourn; 566. DEMOSTHENES, the most eminent of Grecian crators, was born 385 years before the christian era, and died by poison, self-administered, to escape the vengeance of Antipater, 322 B. C. He was celebrated on account of the fire, strength, and vehemence of his eloquence, which was excited in rousing the Athenians to ད་ war with the Macedonians, and in defeating his rivals, who were bribed by the latter. The characteristics of his oratory were, strength, sublimity, piercing energy and force, aided by an emphatic, and vehement elocution; he sometimes, however, degenerated into severity. In reading his orations, we do not meet with any sentiments that are very exalted; they are generally bounded by self-love and a love of the world. His father died when he was seven years old; and his guardians having wasted his property, at the age of seventeen, he appeared against them at the court, and plead his own cause successfully; which encouraged him to speak before the assembly of the people; but he made a perfect failure: after which, he retired, studied and practiced in secret, until he was twenty-five, when he came forward again, and com menced his brilliant career. An honest statesman-to a prince-is like His hand, who feels the strongest, paints the best. and in elocution he was taught by A-pol-lo-ni-us Molo of Rhodes; after which he visited Athens, and on his return was made quaestor, and then consul; when he rendered the greatest service to the state, by the suppression of the conspiracy of Catiline: he was afterwards banished, and voluntarily retired to Greece, but was soon honorably recalled; after which, he undertook the prætorship of Cilicia. In the civil wars of Casar and Pompey, he adhered to the party of the latter; and after the battle of Pharsalia, was reconciled to Cesar, but was soon slain by Pompilius, at the instigation of Marc Antony. 568. EVE. Are not good sense, and good humor of more advantage than beauty? When Adam is introduced by Milton, describing Eve, in parudise, and relating to the angel, the impressions he felt on seeing her, at her first creation, he does not represent her-like a Grecian Venus, by her shape, or features, but by the lustre of her mind, which shone in them; and gave them their power of charming: Grace--was in all her steps, heaven—in her eye, Anecdote. A Humane Driver Rewarded. A Macedonian soldier, was one day leading before Alexander a mule laden with gold for the king's use; and the beast being so tired, that he could not go, or sustain the load, his driver took it off, and, with great difficulty, carried it himself a considerable way. Alexander, seeing him just sinking under the burden, and about to throw it on the ground, cried out, "Do not be weary yet; try and carry it through to the tent, for it is all thy own." Faint not, heart of man! though years wane slow! QUALITIES-SURPASSING LOVELINESS. Her father's well-filled library-with profit, The wise man, said the Bible, walks with God, 569. RHETORICAL ACTION-respects the atti- | correspond. An erect attitude, and a firmness tude, gesture, and expression of the countenance. of position, denote majesty, activity, strength; Words cannot represent certain peculiarities; the leaning-affection, respect, earnestness of they depend on the actor. Simplicity, or a strict entreaty, dignity of composure, indifference, disadherence to the modesty of nature-correct- ease. The air of a person expresses a language ness-or adaption to the word-and beauty, as easily understood. The husbandman, dandy, opposed to awkwardness-are the principal gentleman and military chief bespeak the habits marks of good action. Beauty belongs to objects and qual t es of each. The head gently reclined, of sight. Action should be easy, natural, varied, denotes grief, shame; erect-courage, firmness; and directed by passion. Avoid affectation and thrown back or shaken-dissent; forward--asdisplay; for they disgust. The best artists are sent. The hand raised and inverted-repels, famous for simplicity, which has an enchanting more elevated and extended-surprise, astonisheffect. Profuse decorations indicate a wish to ment; placed on the mouth--silence; on the supply the want of genius by multiplying inferi-head. pain; on the breast-affection, or appeal to or beauties. There is in every one an indis- conscience elevated-defiance; both raised and cribable something, which we call nature, that palms united -- supplication; gently clasped perceives and recognizes the inspirations of na- thankfulness; wrung-agony. ture; therefore, after bringing your voice under your control, if you enter fully into the spirit of the composition, and let your feelings prompt and govern your action, you cannot greatly err. The victory is half won when you fully feel and realize what you read or speak. Resolve to acquire the power, the witchery, the soul of elocution-that lightning of ancient times which poured a blaze of light on the darkest understanding, and that thunder which awakens the dead. They never fail-who die In a great cause: the block-may soak their gore: 570. This system teaches you to harmonize matter and manner, to imbibe the author's feelings, to bring before you all the circumstances, and plunge amid the living scenes, and feel that what you describe is present, and actually passing before you. Speak of truths as truths, not as fictions. Give the strongest, freest, truest expression of the natural blendings of thought and emotion; break thro' all arbitrary restraint, and submit, after proper trainings, to the suggestions of reason and nature. Let your manner be earnest, collected, vigorous, self-balanced. In the introduction, be respectful, modest, conciliatory, winning, rather mild and slow; in the discussion, clear, energetic; in the application, animated, pathetic, persuasive. All--some force obey! The flaming forge o'ercomes well-temper'd steel; 571. Look your hearers in the face--give yourself, body and soul, to the subject-let not the attention be divided between the manner and matter. Practice in private to establish correct habis of voice and gesture, and become so familiar with all rules as not to think of them when exercising. The head, face eyes, hands, and upper part of the body are principally employed in oratorical action. The soul speaks most intelligibly in 'he muscles of the face, and through the eye, which is the chief seat of expression; let the internal man, and the external Anecdote. Tyrolese Songs. In the children-come out, at bed-time, and sing mountains of Tyrol, hundreds of women and their national songs, until they hear their husbands, fathers, and brothers, answer them from the hills on their return home. Upon the shore of the Adriatic, the wives of the fishermen come down, about sunset, and sing one of their melodies. They sing the first verse, and then listen-for sometime: then they sing a second; and so on, till they hear the answer from the fishermen, who are thus guided to their homes. Hail memory, hail! in thy exhaustless mine, Varieties. 1. Costume, when once regulated by true science, and art, remains in unchangable good taste; comfortable, convenient, as well as picturesque and becoming. 2. In 1756, a white headed old woman-died in London, whose hair sold for 244 dollars to a ladies' periwig maker. 3. In some countries, intellect has sway; in some-wealth; and in others beauty and rank; but the most powerful influence in the best societies, is goodness combined with truth in practice. 4. Merit-in the inheritor, alone makes valid an inheritance of glory in ancestry. 5. Why does new sweet milk become sour-during a thunder storm? 6. Why can no other nation make a Chinese gong? 7. Is not the American government founded upon the true principles of human nature? 8. How prone many are, to worship the creature more than the Creator! 9. When apparent truths are taken, and confirmed for real ones, they become fallacies. 10. Actions-show best the nature of the law of life; and deedsshow the man. In all thy humors, whether grave or mellow, Thou'rt such a touchy. testy, pleasant fellow: [thee, Hast so much wit, and mirth, and spleen about That there's no living with thee, or without thee. 572. The emphatic strokes of the hand accompany emphasis; its elevated termination suits high passion; horizontal-decision; downward movement-disapprobation. Avoid excess, violence and constancy of action; gentleness, tranquillity and dignity prevail more. What is the appropriate gesture in this? "Light are the outward signs of evil thought; within, within-'twas there the spirit wrought." Middle finger of the right hand points to the body-its fore-finger gently laid in the palm of the left, in deliberation, proof, or argumentation-sometimes it is pressed hard on the alm. The left hand often acts with great significancy with the right; rarely used alone in the principal gestures, except when something on the left hand is spoken of, as contradistinguished from something on the right, and when two things are contrasted. Motion of the hands should correspond with those of the eyes. Rules say, "Do not raise the hands above the head;" but if natural passion prompts them-it will be well done; for passion knows more than art. Our thoughts are boundless, tho' our frames are frail, In man or woman, but far most in man, Who handles things divine; and all-besides, And turns it, by degrees, to the soul's essence, Varieties. 1. Children learn but little from what they read, while the attention is divided between the sense and making out the words. 2. Few parents and teachers are aware of the pre-eminent importance of oral over book instruction. 3. Truths, inculcated without any sense of delight, are like seeds, whose living germ has been destroyed; and which, therefore, when sown, can never come to anything. 4. The idea of the Lord, coming into the world, to instruct us, and make us good, is an idea particularly delightful to young children, as well as to those of riper years. 5. We were not created-to live on the earth, one moment in vain; every moment has a commission, connected with eternity; and each minute, improved, gives power to the next minute, to proceed with an accelerated ratio and impulse. The Muse of inspiration-plays Of those few fools who with ill stars are curst, Let conquerors--boast |