Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-21
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Richmond, October Of. 1915.
FOR q'HE Argus.
L III 4 RI STRU M.


from which we sprang I; in country which stands
Ipre-snnent for the freedom and the wisdom of
its political institutions, and has rendered itself
so remarkable for its rapid progress and improve
nent in the arts of civil life, it. is very strange
and nnaccountable that the correct and elegant
use of our native language should be so little cul
ltivated. However untounded and malicious may
be the most of the sarcasms which our kindred
nation are in The habit of bestowing upon us, it
must be acknowledged that their ridicule of our
writing and speaking the common language, is
not altogether misappled.
| This neglect of what should be the chief orna-
nent of the American Republic, as it was of
| Greece and R@me, is occasioned probably, by the
truth of an assertion which we are told, is often
made on the other side of the Atlantic, respect
ng the Americans; &c that their minds are, for
the most part, entirely absorbed with considera-
| tons OF broff, and devoted to the accumulation
of wealth." If this be the case, the time may
soon arrive, when nothing but wealth vii confer
honor and distinctions; when the principles of
our government viii be despised and subverted ;
and we shall present the extraordinary specta-
Gle Of a nation laborng in its infancy, under the
decripitude of old age"
| Although the improvement of our language,
and the study Of eloquence are much neglected
among us, yet it must be confessed that our mode
of education is calculated TO have very unfavor-
able effect upon those who are designed either by
l
suits. Instead Of commencing with boy, IN
chiidhood, to prepare hun for the Rostrunl, he is
| carried through mechanical course, i'll which he
IS taught something ofthe theory of his own Ian
Suage, the Latin the Greek, &c. Then, if he
can practically make himself master of The use of
our ianSuage,-If by the strength of his own
mind, and by laborious nntatored industry, he can
bring himselft to speak and write correctly and
elegantly, 1t IS the only chance he has.
What mistaken notion IT IS, that boy has
become grammaran, as soon as he can readil,
apply the rules of grammar to the writings OF o.
her nen Whereas, many persons can do that
without being able 10 write correctly much less
10 compose elegantly. The application OF the
rules, instead of being the last, is only the first
| tep towards correct speaking and writing. To
attain this useful accomplishment, nothing is so
conducive as the frequent pract ce of composing;
which contributes very much to correctness, flu
ency, and elegancy of speech But then, there
should be a competent person to point out every
error of grammar, and every case in which the
| pupil might have used better language; and how,
| IN ambiguous, harsh sentence would, by a differ
leht arrangement of the same words, be rendered
oerspicuouS, harmonious and elegant
| Another very necessary school exercise is the
delivery ofspeeches with proper instruction in re-
gard To clear, distinct articulation, audible pro-
inoImciatlon, emphasis, pauses, time, cadence Sc
with the use OF appropriate action, shifting the
gestures TO the words, and the words to the ges
lures, according TO hesprlt and meaning of The
speech. Blythe want of these exercises, when our
young men, who may be learned IN other respects
make their appear ance III the forum, they feel as
awkward as clown would do in a Ballroom, who
mad never been taught to dance, ard keep time
with music And however they may have stored
then minds with useful knowledge; II must be
4 kept locked up in ther heads, because iTev are
ldeStnuteOfa any avenue OF Accommodation. Those
who are accustomed TO speaking in their youth.
witl acquire IN due time, the necessary degree of
confidence IN themselves: and the pracuce of
composing VIII enable them to express them
selves with iuency; and to arrange their IDEAS as
well as argument, IN the most graceful, forcIb
and perspicuouS manner
/ The celebrated Mr.. Ogilve has in the most elo
quept manner, inculcated and enforced the pro
prety and necessity OF the study of elouueuce
&" The old Bachelor" loo, a work which should he
n the hands of evory American has recommend
ed 1t III the most ingenious and mastery manner
He complains Ofour defective system of ednca, !
On, and shews the education OF an orator at Rome.
was peculiar and began at five years old and
was sach as hes been already explained. He SAYS
Thai, besides the management of the voice in the
articles OF ume, emphasis, cadence and artcala l.
cuiation, the Roman crater was attentvely formed
n ms early years, 10 all tina, easy and gracefu,
ieS,bihty oftrame on which altitude and gesture
II depend, &c. Many OF Our youth are destined f,r
n
4 Payments What n favor then, would Their
friends render them by having hem instructed
IN composition, and taught the elemen S of elo.
cutiOn and gesture! We have schools for dane.
ing, for ainglng, and for fiddllng but none for
his elegant and useful branch of education
! The ent republics ilourshed as learning var.
tue and eloquence prevailed; but when, as Cato
sad, wealth brought grerter dignity and honor
than every other consideration the republican
virtues were abandoned IN the pursuit of riches
} The consequence we'll known. The cultivat
on and encouragement of this science will tend
much TO retard ,he final catastrophe 20 VIII oh our
republic IS tending, and in which all d coed u,s
ones have ended; slavery Those who feel. m
stead OF mixing empty and ignorant professions
lot republican principles, ought 20 be alarmed.
when 1t has been pronounced from high author,tv'
that g. Our legislative Halls are no longer schools
for wisdom and eloquence
/ To use Comparison, which / think is appIi
cable, although drawn from a different profess.
on VIII say that aInan may be taught 10 ,ueass,re
the work OF another, according to the rule. The
compass and the square, and m ght, nevertheless
De utterly incompetent 10 erect a similar strql.-
ture In acquiring knowledge of any arr or
profession, rules are necessary but 1t IS mos
prepostefous notion, that person who can roere.
analize the works OF others, is, therefor. a
workman. So few are acquainted with the rule,
OF competition, that It IS unnecessary to draw any
inference from tina. source; buj, MANY of us. are
taught to abpy the RUE, Of grammar TO the writ.
ingS OF others. He, who can do tbts ;e ,byurJ l.,