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EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS.

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the idea of any sufficient system of morals for the world we live in, except that which rests on the truth of the Bible, respecting the life that now is, and that which is to come.

We wish also to keep distinctly before the mind of the religious reader this thought, that education is not worth the name, if it does not reach and mould the moral, as well as the intellectual nature.

W. B. Calhoun. Systems of education that aimed simply at improving the intellect, showed ignorance of the laws of Providence, or impious contempt of those laws. [See 673.]

277. EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS.

Ed. The following, from the Chicago Cavalier, is very important, where it applies.

The course of female education, at the present day, is radically defective; the great end being, not to make intelligent, useful, and agreeable members of society, but fine ladies. The cultivation of the affections, the discipline of the mental powers, and a practical and thorough preparation for actual duties, are too generally esteemed of secondary importance, compared with the external graces which are to make a figure in society. If the world in which young ladies are afterwards to move were an ideal world; if womanhood brought with it no cares; if friends were always to smile, and flatter, and caress, and life had no stern realities, all this might be well enough. But it is

not so.

The silliest of all notions is, that it is disreputable to be acquainted with any habits of useful industry. In this country, at least, where few parents can bequeath their daughters large fortunes, and where few husbands can support them in idleness, this, of all others, is the most ridiculous phantasy. There is certainly no reason in the nature of things, why young ladies should not be trained to industrious habits, in such duties as are fittingly theirs, than there is that young men should not.

If daughters are left without supporters, will this tender nurturing avail to feed, and clothe, and protect them? Or, in a more fortunate event, will it give the foresight, the prudence, the skill, which the duties of maturer life demand? Depend

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EDUCATION, EGOTISM.

upon it, fair readers, however much accomplishments may commend to the admiration of flatterers, yet few sensible men want wives merely as ornaments to their household establishments; but as companions and help-mates, in the duties and cares which inevitably devolve upon them.

What is there in the habits of industry, that need necessarily affect unfavorably the accomplishments of a young lady? Anything that should make them think meanly or act unworthy? Anything that should produce rudeness of conversation, or awkwardness of manners? Anything that should, in any degree, blunt their perceptions of what is correct in taste, or becoming in conduct? No, nothing. Let them, then, learn to knit and sew, to bake and wash, and cook dinners, and darn stockings, and all other arts of accomplished housewifery. It will impart to them a vigor of constitution, an elasticity and grace of movement, and a bloom of health, that are a thousand times more endearing, than the soft and sickly delicacy which is nurtured in luxurious idleness. Ed. If these things are so, it ceases to be a marvel, that wise young men of the city, go into the country to take them wives.

278. EGOTISM.

Landon. Our very sympathy is often egotism.

Lavater. The degree of egotism should be the measure of confidence.

As the impudence of flattery, so the impudence of egotism. Cushman. Let a man mark some men's talk, stories, and discourses, and he shall see their whole drift is to extol and set out themselves, and get the praise of men.

It is easy to conceive why egotists find the world so ugly,they see only themselves. Ed. And why panegyrists find it so free from defects, they see not themselves.

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To speak well of yourself is vanity; to speak ill, affectation. Talking much about one's self tends to produce an intellectual famine.

Sh. There is not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.

ELEVATION, ELOCUTION, ELOQUENCE.

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Paul. We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.

Ed. Whether posthumous autobiographies are more or less common now, than heretofore, I know not; but they seem to be less and less needful, since it has become the fashion to publish them in advance of the appointed time, in public addresses prepared for the platform and the newspapers.

969.]

279. ELEVATION.

High regions are never without storms.

[See 81, 666,

There is no distinction without its accompanying danger. Ed. Those who are raised high, must first stoop low. 280. ELOCUTION.

66

Wms., T. The human voice, when not corrupted by false taste, nor perverted by false art, is a perfect instrument; and most wisely suited to the great and good end for which it was given. To ministers of the Gospel it is given, to convey to the human mind a thorough and practical knowledge of the sentiments, affections, and designs of God himself, that he may be glorified. So important and beautiful is the proper expression of proper sentiments and affections by the human voice, it is divinely said, "the tongue of the just is as choice silver;" a wholesome tongue is a tree of life; a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." What, then, would be the effect of human speech, when used as it ought to be, in teaching the most instructive doctrines, by the most instructive sermons! If the preachers of the Gospel had such wisdom as agrees with the nature and design of their office, they would speak with such power as their adversaries could neither gainsay nor resist.

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Ed. Elocution consists partly in speaking and acting positively appropriate and natural; and partly, in not being unnatural, stiff, and inappropriate.

Ib. It requires an acute observer, to make a good elocutionist. 281. ELOQUENCE.

Ed. Speech is the body; thought, the soul, and suitable action the life of eloquence.

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ELOQUENCE, INDESCRIBABLE.

Lavater. He has oratory, who ravishes his hearers while he forgets himself.

Ib. He, who can express a great meaning by silence, when a common man would have been prolix, will speak like an oracle. Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.

Eloquence is the language of nature.

The vividness with which truth is seen and felt, gives an invisible and mighty effect to its utterance.

Em. Let your eloquence flow from your heart to your hands, and not force it the other way.

Clericus. Why is it, that we who preach truth, produce so little effect, while you, who deal in fiction, excite such emotions? Garrick. Because you preach truth as if it were fiction, and we exhibit fiction as if it were truth. Ed. Another and more cogent reason is, because hearers generally delight in fiction, and hate reproving truths.

Labor to speak last thoughts in first expressions.

Eloquence, the art of conveying your own feelings to others, without deterioration. "I believe, therefore do I speak,” said an apostle, — and herein lies the power of apostolic preaching. Earnestness, perspicuity, directness, simplicity and force, are the natural products of the inward convictions and emotions. Cecil. Eloquence is vehement simplicity. [See 662, 822.] 282. ELOQUENCE INDESCRIBABLE.

R. Hall. It is impossible to paint eloquence.

Nelson. In a large circle of clergymen, the question once came up, whether, since people are better informed, and more intellectual than in the days of Whitefield, he would be able to excite as much interest and attention again, as he did excite, were he, or another like him, to come again? The younger class were unanimous in the negative. But Dr. Emmons and the late Rev. D. Sanford, of Medway, both of whom had heard Whitefield, were of a different opinion; and said that he would interest people now as much as he ever did. Dr. Emmons added, to this effect, that there was an indescribable something in Mr. Whitefield's preaching, that affected him differently from any other preaching he ever heard.'

EMPLOYMENT, EMULATION, END.

283. EMPLOYMENT.

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An honest employment is a most excellent patrimony. Landon. Occupation is one great source of enjoyment. No man, properly occupied, was ever miserable.

Omit no opportunity to do good, and you will find no opportunity to do evil.

Ed.

God provides constant employment, and great rewards, for all who love to labor for him.

Ib. Give your children useful employment, if you wish them to have character, respectability, or fortune.

Ib. Multitudes are anxiously inquiring after lucrative employment, in serving themselves; and many who say otherwise, mean themselves. There is a more noble and delightful employment in serving God that pays better here, and avoids disappointment hereafter. [See 656.]

284. EMULATION.

Emulation is one of the greatest incitements to application. Ed. Self, or pelf, is too commonly the steam-power to emulation. But when a person can and ought to excel others, and does it from love to truth, knowledge, and duty, his emulation is praiseworthy.

Ib. Emulation, encouraged and cherished on benevolent principles, is most effectual, without being prejudicial to virtue. 285. END, ENDS.

Who noble ends by noble means obtains,

Or, failing, smiles in exile or in chains,

Like good Aurelius, let him reign, or bleed

Like Socrates, that man is great indeed.

Persons most surely rise to eminence, not by seeking distinction, but by seeking a worthy end.

When a man is his own end, he is in the way to come to a bad end.

Em. Studious and pious divines move in a higher sphere than mathematicians, astronomers, or natural and moral philosophers. These study the science of means, but divines study the science of moral ends, which is the highest science in nature.

G. Tennent. The end of wisdom is design; the end of power

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