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ON A TASTE FOR POETRY.

431.

Heber, of Watts, and many, many others that I might name
all men whose lives fulfill the idea of success. Sir, let us make
ourselves worthy of mingling in the illustrious company of the
poets of understanding their thoughts, and becoming sharers
in their joys. They (the true poets) shall withhold us from
unworthy pleasures and contaminating influences. Through life
they shall be to us a solace, and their sweet consolations shall
not be wanting in the solemn hour of death.

"Blessings be with them, and eternal praise,
Who gave us nobler loves and nobler cares
The poets who on earth have made us heirs
Of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays.
O! might my name be numbered among theirs,
Then gladly would I end my mortal days!"

Chairman. If no other gentleman is disposed to speak, I will briefly state the views to which this discussion has brought me. It is not fair to attribute to the poetical element in character the faults which may be often charged against poets. It may have been in spite of their poetry, rather than in consequence of it, that their lives were failures. We may resist the influence of our good angels, and yield to our bad. So the poet may give way to passions and tendencies, against which all that is truly poetical in his nature may rebel.

No one will deny that Byron was a man of extraordinary genius, but that he is always a true poet in his verses it would be ridiculous to assert. Well would it be for his fame. - well would it be for humanity - if two thirds of what he has written could pass into annihilation; for, however it may exhibit a certain cleverness, and wear the metrical form of poetry, poetry it is not. True poetry is never the ally of a moody unbelief, of a puerile affectation of misanthropy, of impurity and malignity. Had Byron lived twenty years longer, he would probably have wept over those perversions of genius to be found in his works. He would have wept even as Moore wept (according to Rogers) in his latter years, over his own printed follies and indelicacies. Gentlemen, the poetry which says not unto Zion "Thy God reigneth," is not poetry in the high sense of that word.

The

I do not believe that the cultivation of a taste for poetry is unfavorable to success in life. On the contrary, I believe it must prove an element of strength, of joy, and of good cheer. Opener quoted Shakspeare, as if he, the great, many-sided poet, had spoken slightingly of his own vocation. But, gentlemen, there is another passage in Shakspeare more appropriate to the present discussion. What," he asks, —

66

"What is a man,

If his chief good and market of his time

Be but to sleep and feed?—a beast, no more!
Sure, He that made us with such large discourse,
Looking before and after, gave us not

That capability and godlike reason
To rust in us unused."

We may cultivate a poetical taste, and yet be faithful and diligent in our business,good clerks, accurate accountants, ready and profound lawyers, useful citizens, good men. We sometimes see men whose business faculties have been goaded to an intense activity, ending their days in an insane hospital, or becoming miserable, confirmed invalids. Well would it have been for their true success in life, if there had been a taste for poetry and for art to keep their grosser faculties in check, and direct them in the path of a rational happiness.

Gentlemen, I will put the question. Those who assert the AFFIRMATIVE, namely, that the cultivation of a taste for poetry is prejudicial to success in life, will say ay. (Three or four "ays' are heard.) Those who assert the NEGATIVE will say no. (An almost unanimous “no!" is heard.)

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IN PREPARATION:

OVID: interlinear translation by Hamilton and Clark.

XENOPHON'S ANABASIS: interlinear translation by Hamilton and Clark.

HOMER'S ILIAD: interlinear translation by Hamilton and Clark.

To be followed by School Editions of the other Classic Writers, on the same plan. The plan of these works is not new. It is merely the adaptation of the experience of many of the best and most inquiring minds in educational pursuits-methodizing what was vague and loose. When the Latin tongue was the only language of diplomacy and scientific international communication, to acquire a knowledge of it was considered of more importance than now. This method was then recom mended by Cardinal Wolsey, John Ascham, Latin Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, and by the best Latin scholar and writer of his time, John Milton; and in testimony of it John Locke says:-"When, by this way of interlining Latin and English one with another, he has got a moderate knowledge of the Latin tongue, he may then be advanced a little further. Nor let the objection that he will then know it only by ROTE fright any one. This, when well considered, is not of any moment against, but plainly for, this way of learning a language. The languages are only to be learned by ROTE; and he that speaks them well has no other rule but that." In teaching classes by oral dictation, these works present advantages that no others do.

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ABSTRACTS

From Reviews, Notices, and Recommendations of the Interlinear Series of Latin Classics, published by CHAS. DESILVER, No. 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

From the New York Daily Times

The use of interlinear translations of the Classics has the sanction of common sense, and has been warmly recommended by such men as Cardinal Wolsey, Erasmus, Roger Ascham, John Milton, John Locke, and Sidney Smith.

We believe, with Sidney Smith, that this system, "the time being given, will make better scholars; and, the degree of scholarship being given, a much shorter time will be needed."

Charles Desilver, the Philadelphia publisher, has commenced issuing a series of Greek and Latin Classics, with interlinear translations, greatly superior to any we have yet seen.

From Eliza D. Willard, New York, Correspondent of the Boston Atlas. Permit me to propose to all amateur students of the Greek and Latin Classics, from Maine to California, a vote of thanks to Mr. Charles Desilver, of Philadelphia, for the interlinear translations, which he is now issuing.

Having myself spent five weary years at Greek and Latin, I think I may pretend to venture an opinion in favour of the new system, that is, to the general class of students, but with teachers, quite old enough.

CESAR.

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From the Daily Della, New Orleans.

-A more admirable literal translation of every word in Cæsar's great work, it would be impossible to meet with.

It must serve as the best possible work for the Latin student. HORACE. A new edition, carefully revised and collated by Thomas Clark. Too much praise cannot be given for the conscientious manner in which the task has been performed.

From the Bulletin, New Orleans.

VIRGIL AND HORACE, INTERLINEAR. - These two books should be in the hands of every scholar. They are gotten up in superior style, and would adorn any library.

C. DESILVER, PUBLISHER, PHILADELPHIA.

From J. S. Strickler, Youngstown, Pa.

I have been using the interlinear translations of the Classics, pubished by you, and am so well pleased with them, that I would like to have the translations of all the classic authors you may hereafter publish.

From E. C. Simonds, Greenwood, Abbeville District, S. C.

I have recently obtained a copy of Virgil Interlinear, published by you. I am very much pleased with it; for, since I am studying the language by myself, it renders me all the assistance to be had from an experienced teacher.

From T. Walter Leach, M. D., Newmarket, N. II.

I learn that you have published a series of the Greek and Latin Classics, with interlinear translations.

The idea strikes me as being a good one, and calculated to render the study of the Greek and Latin vastly less irksome, by obviating the necessity for continual reference to the lexicon.

I promise to use my influence to bring them into notice here.

From J. B. Howard, Ann Arbor, Mich.

I am now using the interlinears, that you have already published, and I find them of immense value to me.

From H. R. Perry, Green Mount College, Richmond, Ind. We are using your interlinear translations, and would be pleased to know what other Classics you have published.

Please let us know soon.

From D. L. Quin, Williston, S. C.

I use your interlinear Virgil and Cæsar in my academy, and wish Horace, Sallust, and Cicero, if arranged on the same plan.

From D. U. Ramsaun, Statesville, N. C.

I recently saw a copy of your interlinear Horace, with which I was extremely pleased.

I find from examination of it, that it will greatly alleviate my labors as an instructor, and I am therefore anxious to procure it, as well as all other Latin and Greek works on the same plan.

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