  Our American Peripatetics—that is, travelling lecturers—are now, and have been since last October, in full voice among us. To number the amount of "good sentences and well pronounced" uttered by these popular instructors during the season, would require the assistance of a calculating machine. Let us hope the effect of all this speechifying may be salutary. At any rate, none will deny that the general tendency of this mode of evening entertainments is innocent, and if the knowledge thus acquired is not of great amount, the love of knowledge is warmed into new life, and the desire to improve awakened; and then, women are admitted to these lessons of literature and philosophy, a vital improvement on the Aristotelian platform. Let the educator be rightly instructed—woman is the educator of the race—and who shall set bounds to the progress of humanity? But the lectures—among those we have heard or read, as reported for the press, none pleased us better than one on Poetry, by Mr. Saxe; one on "Books," by Mr. Giles; and the series on "The Poetry of Poets," by Dr. Holmes. The lecture on "Books" was, perhaps, the most original, and a few paragraphs we will select as illustrative of the style and tone of thought. The Power of Books.—"Fragments of divine biography swept away the bloody power of the CÆsars, and books may set in action the most resistless natures—overturn and obliterate empires. The elements, even, are weak to what a book may be. The most accessible, the most manageable, it may possess that which will change nations, and make empires disappear. * * * * * * "When we inquire what it is that causes the words of men to live upon the earth after they have departed, we may say, Truth; but that is undefinable: but if we could arrive at the greatest cause, we would say, Humanity—those attributes which constitute man's universal nature. Of Books, good and bad.—"A good book is among the best of good things, and its contents are embalmed and treasured up 'to life above life.' Good is not alone that which is fact, but that which gives impulse—which does not flatter into content, but quickens into inspiration; and while a good book is the best of good things, a bad book is the worst of bad things. But we must take a free literature with its imperfections as well as its advantages, for an inquisition of literature would be no more tolerable than an inquisition of religion. Preaching, even, on bad books is worse than vain—it only advertises them, and makes the hearer eager to read and examine their contents, for how can the preacher know that it is a bad book unless he reads it? and why are his hearers not as capable to judge as well as himself? The true guard against them is education, and the next step is to treat them with silence and contempt. There are those who desire a book as a living companion of the mind; and to such, a good work is society to his loneliness—a balm to his troubles—a friend to the friendless—wealth to the poor, and moreover, can keep the mind in action though the body dies. The Pleasures of Books.—"There is a joy in books which those alone can know who read them with desire and with enthusiasm; as from time to time there were books which created order out of disorder, and made states, and shaped empires. By books we can accompany the traveller, and take a voyage with the navigator, see what they have seen, and thus go back to other days, and other times; can listen to eloquence which was not so much the thought, of man as of nations, and read speeches of men who incarnate whole civilized nations in their views—whose impulse was the common heart. There is a genius for reading as well as for writing, and there are probably as few successful readers as writers—that is, those who come in material relation to the meaning of the author; for, without imbibing the spirit of the writer, there can be no criticism." Among the books of interest lately published, we must place the last work The Ideal of Man and Woman in America.—"The ideal of the men of America seems to me to be, purity of intention, decision in will, energy in action, simplicity and gentleness in demeanor. Hence it is that there is something tender and chivalric in his behavior to women, which is infinitely becoming to him. In every woman he respects his own mother. "In the same way it appeared to me that the ideal of the women of America, of the women of the New World, is independence in character, gentleness of demeanor and manner. The American's ideal of happiness seems to me to be, marriage and home, combined with public activity. "Of the American home, I have seen enough and heard enough for me to be able to say that the women have, in general, all the rule there that they wish to have. Woman is the centre and lawgiver in the homes of the New World, and the American man loves that it should be so. I must, however, say, that in the happy homes in which I lived, I saw the wife equally careful to guide herself by the wishes of her husband, as he was to indulge her; affection and sound reason make all things equal." Female Education in America.—"The educational institutions for women are, in general, much superior to those of Europe, and perhaps the most important work which America is doing for the future of humanity, consists in her treatment and education of woman. Woman's increasing value as a teacher, and the employment of her as such in public schools, even in those for boys, is a public fact in these States; which greatly delights me. Seminaries * * * * * * "In the old times, the physician was also the priest, and consecrated to holy mysteries. The descendants of Æsculapius were considered a holy race, and among them were also women; the daughter of Æsculapius Hygeia, one of them, was called the Goddess of Health. Of this race came Hippocrates. We now talk about Hygeia, but we only talk. She must be recalled to earth, she must have room given her, and justice done her, if she is to present the earth with a new Hippocrates."—Vol. i. pp. 143, 144. Family Affections in America.—"The family relationship between parents and children seems to me particularly beautiful, especially as regards the parents towards the children. The beautiful maternal instinct is inborn in the American woman, at least, in all its fervent, heart-felt sentiment; and better and more affectionate family-fathers than the men of America, I have seen no where in the world. They have in particular a charming weakness for—daughters, and God bless them for it! I hope the daughters may know how to return it with interest."—Vol. i. p. 337. The American Thanksgiving.—"After breakfast, we went to church, for this day (Thanksgiving) is as sacred throughout the country. * * * * * * "Why have not we, why have not all people such a festival in the year? It has grown here out of the necessities of the nobler popular heart; it is the ascribing of our highest earthly blessings to their heavenly Giver. We, in Sweden, have many publicly appointed days for prayer, but none for Thanksgiving; it is not right and noble." Such was Miss Bremer's appreciation of our Thanksgiving Festival, and thus it will be approved and followed in all Christendom, when the popular heart and voice shall bear sway. A national Thanksgiving Day!—If this could once be established in our own land, Americans would soon introduce its observance and cheerful festivities into every part of the world where they are found, and thus, our American Thanksgiving would be the example for all people. The last Thursday in November has these advantages—harvests of all kinds are then gathered in—summer travellers have returned to their homes—the diseases that, during summer and early autumn, often afflict some portions of our country, have ceased, and all are prepared to enjoy a day of Thanksgiving. The unanimity was nearly perfect last November; still it would be better to have the day so fixed by the expression of public sentiment that no discord would be possible, but, from Maine to Mexico, from Plymouth Rock to Sunset Sea, the hymn of thanksgiving should be simultaneously raised, as the pledge of brotherhood in the enjoyment of God's blessings during the year. How this national festival can be made sure, we must leave to those who have the guidance of public affairs; but we do earnestly desire to see the last Thursday in November become the fixed time for this American jubilee. A True Heroine.—Margaret of Valois, sister of Francis I. of France, was the most celebrated woman of the seventeenth century, and deservedly esteemed for her piety as well as great talents. Theodore de BÈze thus eulogizes Margaret: "Her name is worthy of perpetual honor, on account of her piety and the holy zeal she manifested for the advancement and preservation of the Church of God, so that to her we owe the life of many a good man." To Margaret, also, is due the glory of elucidating the true principles of royal government, which no man of that age understood or taught. She says: "Kings and princes are not the masters and lords of the multitude, but only ministers whom God has established to serve and protect them." An Excellent Example.—A school for street children has recently been established in Brooklyn, N. Y., by an association of ladies, which is supported entirely by voluntary contribution. In order to induce the children to attend regularly, a good dinner is provided every day. The number of scholars—all girls—at the present time, is thirty. This plan might be adopted in every city, and thus the saddest sorrow of humanity, the sufferings of childhood from the want, ignorance, or wickedness of their parents be greatly alleviated. Christian ladies of Philadelphia, will you not enter on this good work? To Correspondents.—The following articles are accepted, and will appear as we have room: "Vesuvius," "Niagara," "Little Effie," "The Maniac's Parting Salute," "The Lady Doctor," "A Patient of the Insane Hospital," "The Last Banquet of the Girondists," "The Wanderer's Return," "The Was, and the Is," "I was robbed of my Spirit's Love," "Mary," and "Home, Sister, Home." The following articles are declined: "Idylls," "The Venetian Girl," "I'm Sad," "Woman's Heart," "AndrÉ's Prayer to Washington," "The Angel's Whisper," "Lines to a Bride," "True Love for True Love," "Cui Bono?" "The Future," "A Tradition of Sicily," and "Morning Dreams." A number of articles on hand have not been examined, for want of time. The writers will, we trust, wait patiently another month. |
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