CHAPTER XXIII.

RHETORIC.-CRITICISM.-COMPOSITION.

THE tudies of rhetoric and criticism are more espealy tested for the cultivation of those faculties of mind, called tuste, and imagination. Taste, by many wrters, has been termed a simple, independent power, or sense. By Dr. Brown, it is considered as a complex state of mind, which may be analyzed into judgement, and nation. The human mind is formed with a susceptibility of certain emotions, as beauty, sublimity, and ludicrousness; these are the emotions on which taste chiefly depends, or which, in conjunction with judgement, constitute taste. Thus, a painter, having experienced the emotion of beauty, exercises his judgement in forming sach combinations as may produce, in others, the same emrin. A poet must have experienced emotions, befra by an effort of art, produce them in others; exeres his judgement, in the selection and comnges, no less than the chemist, who puts in order to produce a certain result. et and chemist judge of the fitness of produce their determinate effects. ing explanation of the elements of

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essential qualities, refinement, I would refer to you "Newsung and useful work, in which e subject in a philosophical and ace informs the student, that to be obtained by a set of use of the mind must be well hcommand over his treasures, Seward, whenever the ocul. a. een accumulated for future the necessity of

ltivation of

the reasoning powers; and observes, that "the student, who, in the course of his education, is called to search for truth, in the labyrinth of metaphysical and moral reasonings, and to toil in the wearisome study of the long and intricate solutions of mathematical principles, is acquiring that discipline of the mind, which fits him to distinguish himself as an able writer.”

The different branches of knowledge, which we have already considered, are all conductive to one great end,— that of enabling a person to compose with elegance and facility. And is this an object of little importance, even to our sex? We use the pen, as our tastes, genius, or mental acquirements, direct. Even the composition of a simple note of ceremony attests the fact of mental cultivation, or the want of it; and a letter, on the most common subject, plainly indicates what has been the writer's education. Higher efforts of mind, such as stories for children, religious tracts, and works in the various departments connected with education, are now considered as within the scope of female talents. But it must be remembered, that these talents should be cultivated, with the most assiduous care; that the various fields of knowledge should be explored, as far as possible, in order to become a successful candidate for literary distinction. The time has gone by, when a publication meets with indulgence, because its author is a woman. We must now expect to be judged by our real merits, and titles to approbation.

Grammar and rhetoric bear to each other an intimate relation. The former teaches the method of speaking and writing with accuracy; the latter, of arranging thoughts with propriety and elegance. The science of rhetoric is founded upon observations of the nature and operations of the human mind, and by a critical analysis of the style, and an examination of the methods of arrangement, of those authors whose works have been most generally approved. The chapter on literary taste, in Newman's Rhetoric,' is well written, and calculated to give just ideas of the peculiar merits of different authors; it also happily illustrates the proper use of rhetorical figures. The chap

explain every thing by numbers, and even thought that an accurate knowledge of these would conduct man to the fountain of divinity,-to God himself.

It is unnecessary to urge the importance of this study, as a branch of female education, since this is universally admitted; but it cannot be unnecessary to recommend a more practical use of it, than is generally made. No young girl should be ignorant of the proper method of keeping an account, or of making out a bill. The practical object of arithmetic is, to teach you to do those things. It should also have a moral influence on the conduct, by teaching you to regulate your expenses according to your income. Many a man has been ruined, because his wife and daughters have not practised arithmetic; and there are those, who, resorting to dishonest methods for procuring wealth, have dragged out, in a state's prison, a miserable existence, which, by economy in their family, might have been rendered virtuous and happy. Suppose that a man in business earns a thousand dollars a year; which is probably as large an income, as, upon an average, is received by clergymen, lawyers, physicians, and merchants, in this country. In many cases, from this income, houserent is to be paid, fuel and provisions are to be furnished, children to be educated, and a family clothed. What, in such a situation, should be the management of a wife and daughters? Perhaps some may reason something in this way my husband, or father, has an income of a thousand dollars; now, I want this shawl, which costs only thirty dollars, or this bonnet, which costs only twenty, and this will be but very little part of the yearly income. I am sure it can be easily spared. But, if the calculation were first made, how much of this sum must be expended in necessaries, it would be at once seen, that very little could be afforded for superfluities.

But, if the yearly income should be no more than four or five hundred dollars, as is the case with many respectable clergymen, professors, and teachers in literary institutions, and others in our country, who are considered as holding a station, in society, above the lower classes, how very important, that the wives and daughters of such men should

be well versed in practical arithmetic. They should understand, that a hundred cents make a dollar; and that ten dollars, ten times repeated, make one hundred dollars; which is a large share of what their husbands, or fathers, have to spend for three hundred and sixty-five days. How absurd, then, for them to attempt to vie, in expense, with those who have an income four times greater! Nor is it a good calculation for women to attempt, by abridging themselves or their families of useful articles, to afford luxuries; for, so far from a slender income being concealed in this way, the contrast which must somewhere exist, in the wardrobe, furniture, or mode of living, only renders the want of means, to carry out ambitious desires, the more striking. The necessaries of life are alike essential to all; the conveniences are certainly desirable, but the luxuries may be dispensed with, and it is here that economy must begin.

The want of wealth is not mean, nor vulgar. Many of the most refined and gifted of our race have been subjected to the inconveniences of poverty. When we consider, that the emoluments of a dancing-master are often greater than the salary of a judge upon the bench, we must cease to regard money as a badge of dignity. But we often see a woman, who, though she may have sufficient elevation of mind to prefer, for a husband, the intellectual man, without wealth, to the richer but ignorant one, yet who evidently betrays great uneasiness at being obliged to live in a plainer way, than the wife of him, whom she would not herself have married. The female mind naturally loves elegance, and elegance easily becomes associated with the idea of expense. Plain and simple dress and furniture seem inelegant; and thus comes the longing for such things as may gratify delicacy and refinement of taste. Men, in general, have more just notions, than women have, of what constitutes real dignity. I lately met, in an English paper, with a paragraph, describing the eloquence of Lord Chancellor Brougham, on a certain occasion, and the enthusiasm with which he was greeted by the vast concourse of people who were assembled to hear him ;-but it was added, in conclusion, "his

lordship was ill-dressed.” How many well-dressed persons, in that crowd, are destined to live unnoticed, and to die unknown, while the name of Brougham has become associated with the literature and the laws of his country!

Does the venerable clergyman, the eminent jurist, or the distinguished man who has advanced the cause of literature and science, though clad in garments somewhat "the worse for wear, "shrink abashed before the fop, whose elegant and recherché* costume constitutes his only claim to notice? Or, do we feel, in the presence of the wise and good, any the less respect for them, in consequence of plainness of apparel? It is the character, and not the dress, to which the mind pays its homage.

Let females, then, consider, that it is not the want of wealth, but a timid shrinking from the appearance of economy, that is really mean and vulgar. There are many women, who set a noble example of a dignified economy; who show the correctness of their judgement, by a strict attention to practical arithmetic. They can say, without a blush, "I cannot afford such an expense." Among these, is a lady, whose family name is distinguished in our country. Her paternal home was a princely abode, where reigned luxury, elegance, and a profuse liberality; the resort of foreigners of distinction, and the polished of our own country. All found a ready and magnificent hospitality, with splendid equipages at command, whenever they wished for an excursion through the beautiful and picturesque scenes, which surrounded the mansion. But the statesman, the politician, the man who had held the first office in the Republic, and had represented it in foreign courts, died, and left to his daughter no other inheritance, than the gratitude of his country. But never, in her elevation, did this daughter appear with so much dignity, as in the manner with which she submitted to her change of circumstances. She adopted a strict system of economy, and, without avoiding society, was contented to appear in it, at proper times, in a manner suitable to her altered condition. Calling, one day, to see a stranger, to whom she wished to pay attention, she apologized for having

* Rare, scarce, affected, stiff, formal, far-fetched.