Laconics. 1. To devolve on science the du 506. COMMENDATION-is the expression of the approbation we have for any object, in which ties of religion, or on religion the duties of science, we find any congruity to our ideas of excellence, is to bind together the lining and the dead. 2. The natural, or moral, so as to communicate pleasure: as it generally supposes superiority in the person prevailing error of our times is, the cultivation of commending, it assumes the aspect of love (but the intellectual faculties, to the neglect of the morwithout desire and respect,) and expresses itself al faculties; when the former alone are develop'd, in a mild tone of voice, with a small degree of the child has acquired the means of doing good or confidence; the arms are gently spread, the hands open, with the palms upwards, directed toward the evil-to himself, to society, to his country, or to the person approved, and sometimes lifted up and world; but practical goodness alone, can preserve down, as if pronouncing praise. the equilibrium. 3. Many persons have an unfortunate passion for inventing fictions, merely for the purpose of exciting amazement in their hearers. 4. Those who, without having sufficient knowledge of us, form an unfavorable opinion respect ing us, do not injure us; they reflect on a pha n tom of their own imagination. You have done our pleasures very much grace, fair O good old man, how well in thee-appears 507. OBSERVATION. Nothing appears easier than to observe, yet few things are more uncommon. By observe-is meant to consider a subject in all its various parts; first, each part separately; then to examine its analogy with contiguous, or other possible subjects; to conceive and retain the various proportions which delineate, define and constitute the essence of the thing under consideration; to have clear ideas of these proportions, individually and collectively, as contributing to form a whole, so as not to confound them with other properties or things, however great the resemblance. The OBSERVER will often see where the unobservant is blind. To observe, is to be attentive, so as to fix the mind on a particular object, which it selects for consideration from a number of surrounding objects. To be attentive-is to consider some one particular object, exclusively of all others, and to analyze and distinguish its peculiarities. Anecdote. During the mock trial of Louis XVI., he was asked, what he had done with a certain sum of money, a few thousand pounds. His voice failed him, and the tears came into his eyes at the question; at length he replied "I LOVED TO MAKE THE PEOPLE HAPPY." He had given the money away in charity. Sr-was the sound, when oft, at evening's close, The heart, like a tendril, accustomed to cling, Let it go where it will, cannot flourish alone; Of doing Injuries to Others. Propitious conscience, thou equitable and ready judge, be never absent from me? Tell me, constantly, that I cannot do the least injury to another, without receiving the counter-stroke: that I must necessarily wound myself, when I wound another. NATURE ALWAYS TRUE. Nature-never did betray 508. THE PASSIONS. Plato calls the passions, story of his loss, and when he had finished the wings of the soul. According to this meta-You are welcome," said he, "my son here phor, a bird may be considered as the type of it; and, in applying this figure to the several charac- will show you where it is; no hand has ters of men, some are eagles, others are bats and touched it, but the one that covered it, that owls; a few are swans, and many are geese; no pha-you might receive what you had lost." nix among them all. In another place, he styles the passions the chariot-horses of the soul; by which is implied, that though strong and fleet, they should be under command. COMPLAINING OF EXTREME PAIN. Search, there; nay, probe me; search my wounded Oh! I am shot! A forked burning arrow-- Laconics. 1. Owe nothing to your advancement, save your own unassisted exertions, if you would retain what you acquire. 2. When passion rules us, it deprives of reason, suspends the faculty of reflection, blinds the judgment, and precipitates us into acts of violence, or excesses; the consequences of which we may forever deplore 3. With those who are of a gloomy turn of mind, be reserved; with the old, he serious; and with the young, be merry. 4. In forming matrimonial alliances, undue effort is made to reconcile every thing relating to fortune, and family; but very little is paid to congeniality of dispositions, or ac cordance of hearts. 5. Moral knowledge is to be sought from the WORD of God; scientific know! edge from the works of God. 6. By union-the most trifling beginnings thrive and increase; by disunion-the most flourishing-fall to the ground 7. Is not the union of CAPITAL, TALENT and LA BOR, the SALVATION of the WORLD, temporally and spiritually? Why turnest thou from me? I'm alone Already, and to the seas complaining. What can thy imag'ry of sorrow mean? Secluded from the world, and all its care, Hast thou to grieve, or joy; to hope, or fear? Why should we anticipate our sorrows? 'Tis like those, who die-for fear of death. 509. CURIOSITY-opens the eyes and mouth, lengthens the neck, bends the body forward and fixes it in one posture, with the hands nearly as in admiration with astonishment: when it speaks, the voice, tone and gesture are nearly as in inquier-lame, were called to a distant place; but ry, which see; also Desire, Attention, Hope and Perplexity. CURIOSITY AT FIRST SEEING A FINE OBJECT. Varieties. 1. Good neighborhoods supply all wants; which may be thus illustrated. Two neighbors, one-blind and the oth how could they obey? The blind man carried the lame one, who directed the carrier where to go. Is not this a good illustration, Pros. The fringed curtains of thine eye advance, of faith and charity? Charity-acts, and And say what thou seest yonder. Mir. What! is't a spirit? Lo, how it looks about! believe, sir, It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit. Mir. I migh: call him A thing divine, for nothing natural, [such senses 510. DENYING--what is affirmed, is but an affirmation of the contrary, and is expressed like affirmation, pushing the open right hand from one, and turning the face another way. Denying a favor--see refusing, denying an accusation. "If I in act consent, or sin of thought, Be guilty-of stealing that sweet breath, Which was embounded in that beauteous clay, Let hell--want pains enough to torture me! I left him well. Anecdote. The Os-ti-ack Boy. A Russian faith-guides; i. e. the will-impels, and Trifles make the sum of human things, How beautiful is night! A dewy freshness fills the silent air, In full-orbed glory yonder moon divine The desert circle spreads, How beautiful is night! No station is in view, was traveling from Tobalsk to Reresow; and, Like the round ocean, girdled with the sky; on the road, stopped a night at the hut of an Ostiack. In the morning, on continuing his Journey, he found he had lost his purse. The son of the Ostiack, about fourteen, had found the purse; but, instead of taking it up, he went and told his father; who was equally unwilling to touch it, and ordered the boy to cover with some bushes. On the Russian's return, he stopped at the same hut; the Ostrack did not recognize him. He related the Delay--leads to impotent and snail pac'd beggary Nor palm-grove islanded amid the wasto. The widowed mother and the fatherless boy 511. DISMISSING-with approbation, is done with a kind aspect and tone of voice; the right hand open and palm upward, gently raised towards the person: with displeasure-besides the look and tone of voice that suit displeasure, the hand is hastily thrown out towards the person dismissed, the back part of the hand towards him, and the countenance, at the sanie time, turned away from him.' Chatillon says to king John: Then take my king's defiance from my mouth, K.J. Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace: ING-in sentiment, mav be expressed nearly as Refusing, which see; and Agreeing in opinion, or being convinced, is expressed nearly as granting, which also see.DISTRACTION-Opens the eyes to a frightful wideness, rolls them hastily and wildly from object to object, distorts every feature; gnashes with the teeth; agitates all parts of the body; rolls in the dust; foams at the mouth; utters hideous bellowings-execrations-blasphemies, and all that is fierce and outrageous; rushes furiously on all who approach, and, if restrained, tears its own flesh and destroys itself. See the engraving, indicating dread, abhorrence, &c. DOTAGE, or infirm old age, shows itself by talkativeness; boasting of the past; hollowness of the cheeks; dimness of sight; deafness; tremor of voice; the accents, through default of the teeth, scarcely intelligible; knees tottering; hard wheez ing; laborious groaning; the body stooping under the insupportable weight of years, which will soon crush it into the dust, whence it had its or igin. What folly can be ranker? like our shadows, Varieties. 1. The..ost disgusting vices-aroften concealed under the fairest exterior. 2. A knowledge of the human heart, is, by no means detrimental to the love of all mankind. 3. O person cannot render another-indispensable; no can one supply the place of another. 4. The leas. failing of an individual often incites a great out cry; his character is at once darkened, tramplea on, destroyed; but treat that person in the right way, and you will be astonished at what he was able and willing to perform. 5. He who cannot listen, can perform nothing, that deserves the name of wisdom and justice. 6. He had respectable talents and connections; but was formidable to the people, from his want of principle, and his readiness to truckle to men in power. 7. Every vicious act, weakens a right judgment, and defiles the life. These, and a thousand mixed emotions more, For my past crimes-my forfeit life receive. For soon, the winter of the year, It is the secret sympathy, The silver link, the silken tie, Which, HEART to HEART, and, MIND to MIND, Anecdote. Stan-is-laus, king of Poland, was driven from his dominion by Charles XII. of Sweden; he took refuge in Paris, where he was supported at the expense of the court of France. Some person complained to the duke of Orleans, (then regent,) of the great expense of the exiled monarch, and wished that he should be desired to leave. The duke nobly replied: "Sir, France has ever been, and I trust ever will be, the refuge of unfortunate princes; and I shall not permit it to be violated, when so excellent a prince as the king of Poland comes to claim it." The winds And rolling waves, the sun's unwearied course, The elements-and seasons, all declareFor what-the eternal MAKER-has ordained The powers of man; we feel. within ourselves, His energy divine. He tells the heart, He meant, he made us-to behold, and love, What HE beholds and loves, the GENERAL orb Of life--and being; to be great-like him. Beneficent, and active. Thus, the men. Whom nature's works can charm, with God himself Hold converse; grow familiar, day by day; With his conceptions; act upon his plan, And form to his-the relish of their souls. An honest soul-is like a ship at sea, That sleeps at anchor-upon the ocean's calm; But, when it rages, and the wind blows high She cuts her way with skill-and majesty. 513. EXHORTING, OF ENCOURAGING, is earnest persuasion, attended with confidence of success; the voice has the softness of love, intermixed with the firmness of courage; the arms are sometimes spread, with the hands open, as entreating; occasionally the right hand is lifted up, and struck rapidly down, as enforcing what is said. In a general, at the head his army, it requires a kind, complacent look, unless matters of offence have passed, as neglect of duty, &c. But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad Be stirring with the time; be fire—with fire ; Extremes. The subline of nature is the sky, sun, moon, stars, &c. The profound o nature, is, gold, pearls, precious stones, and the treasures of the deep, which are inestima ble as unknown. But all that lies between these, as corn, flowers, fruits, animals, and things for the mere use of man, are of mean price, and so common, as not to be greatly esteemed by the curious; it being certain, that any thing of which we know the true use cannot be invaluable: which affords a solution, why common sense hath either been totally despised, or held in small repute, by the greatest modern critics and authors. Varieties. 1. The arts are livided into the useful, and the polite, the fine, and the elegant; some are for use, and others for pleasure; Elocution is of a mixed nature, in which use and beauty are of nearly co-equal influence; manner being as important as matter, or more so. 2. Our government, is a government of laws, not of men; but it will lose this character, if the laws furnish no remedy for the violation of vested rights. 3. Nature has given us two eyes and two ears, and but one tongue; that we should see and hear more than we speak. 4. The weariness of study is re moved by loving it, and valuing the results for 5. The three kingdoms of nature, their uses. are the Mineral, the Vegetable, and the Animal. minerals are destitute of organization and life, 514. FAINTING-produces a sudden relaxation of all that holds the liuman frame together-every sinew and ligament unstrung; the color flics from the vermillion cheek, the sparkling eye grows dim; down the body drops, as helpless and senseless as a mass of clay, to which it seems hasten-vegetables, or plants, are endowed with organizaing to resolve itself. And lo! sad partner of the genial care, Weary and faint-I drive my goats afar. WearinessCan snore upon the flint, when rusty sloth, Finds the downy pillow-hard. Anecdote. A poor priest came one day, Louis XI. of France, when this monarch was at his devotions, in the church, and told him, the bailiffs were about to arrest him for a sum, he was unable to pay. The king ordered him the money; saying-"You have chosen your time to address me very luckily. It is but just that I should show some compassion to the distressed,when I have been entreating God to have compassion on myself." ADDRESSED TO AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY. OH, that the muse might call, without offence, tion and life, but are destitute of voluntary motion 515. FATIGUE-from severe or hard labor, gives a general languor to the body; the counteance is dejected, the arms hang listless; the body, (if not sitting, or lying along.) stoops as in old age; the legs, if walking, drag heavily along, and seem, at every step, to bend under the weight of the body; the voice is weak, and hardly articulate enough to be understood. I see a man's life is a tedious one: Laconics. 1. We too often form hasty opinions, from external appearances, assumed merely for deception, by the wolf in sheep's clothing. 2. While prosperity gilds your days, you may reckon many friends; but, if the clouds of adversity descend upon you, behold, they flee away. 3. Cow ards boast of their fancied prowess, and assume an appearance of courage, which they do not possess. 4. The life of the true christian, is not one of melancholy, and gloominess; for he only resigns the pleasure of sin, to enjoy the pleasure of heat I've tir'd myself, and for two nights, together- 516. GRAVITY,-seriousness, as when the mind is fixed, or deliberating on some important subject, smooths the countenance, and gives it an air of melancholy; the eye-brows are lowered, the eyes cast downwards, and partially closed, or raised to heaven: the mouth shut, the lips composed, and Sometimes a little contracted: the postures of the body and limbs composed, and without much mo.on; the speech, if any, slow and solemn, and the voice without much variety. Fathers! we once again are met in council: highly prized, nor the horrors of war too earnestly deprecated; unless the former is obtained, and the latter-averted, by a sacrifice of principle. 6. The conqueror is regarded with awe, and the learned man commands our esteem; but the good man aine is beloved. Thy words-had such a melting flow, And spoke of truth, so sweetly well, They dropp'd-like heaven's serenest snow, And all was brightness-where they fell. Can gold-gain friendship? Impulence of hope! As well mere man-an ange might beget; Love, and love only, is the loan for love. Lorenzo! pride repress; nor hope to find A friend, but who has found a friend in thee. All-like the purchase; few—the price will pay; And this makes friends-such miracles below Honor and Virtue. Honor is unstable, and seldom the same; for she feeds upon opinion, and is as fickle as her food. She builds a lofty structure on the sandy foundation of the esteem of those who are of all be Fathers, pronounce your thoughts; are they stillings the most subject to change. But virtue To hold it out, and fight it to the last? Or, are your hearts subdued at length, and wrought, By time and ill success, to a submission? Sempro nious-speak. Anecdote. How to prize good Fortune. In the year preceding the French revolution, a servant girl, in Paris, drew a prize of fifteen hundred pounds. She immediately called on the parish priest, and generously put two hundred louisd'ors into his hands, for the relief of the most indigent and industrious poor ir. the district; accompanying the donation with this admirable and just observation, "Fortune could only have been kind to me, in order that I might be kind to others." True Eloquence, is good sense, delivered in a natural and unaffected way, without the artificial ornament of tropes and figures. Our common eloquence is usually a cheat upon the understanding; it deceives us with appearances, instead of things, and makes us think we sce reason, whilst it is only tickling our sense. Essential honor must be in a friend, Not such as every breath fans to and fro; But born within, is its own judge and end, (know. And dares not sin, though sure that none should Where friendship's spoke, honesty 's understood; For none can be a friend that is not good. 14 BRONSON. is uniform and fixed, because she looks for approbation only from Him, who is the same yesterday-to-day-and forever. Honor is the most capricious in her rewards. She feeds us with air, and often pulls down our house, to build our monument. She is contracted in her views, inasmuch as her hopes are rooted in earth, bounded by time, and terminated by death. But virtue is enlarged and infinite in her hopes, inasmuch as they extend beyond present things, even to eternal; this is their proper sphere, and they will cease only in the reality of deathless enjoyment. In the storms, and in the tempests of lite, honor is not to be depended on, because she herself partakes of the tumult; she also is buffeted by the wave, and borne along by the whirlwind. But virtue is above the storm, and has an anchor sure and steadfast, because it is cast into heaven. The noble Brutus worshiped honor, and in his zeal mistook her for virtue. In the day of trial he found her a shadow and a name. But no man can purchase his virtue too dear; for it is the only thing whose value must ever increase with the price it has cost us. Our integrity is never worth so much as when we have parted with our all to keep it. Similitudes-are like songs in love, They much describe, tho' nothing prove. |