Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-17


Gellemeh-You say, in your last paper that you
do not agree with the rhetorcians in calling the word
purnlur the finest word in the English language.
You seem TO prefer the word ma5d although that you
Say, is not your favorite sound.
As amongst men there is a great diversity of pre-
ference as well in matter of sound as in that of vision
it would be at least difficult, if not impossible, to fix
upon any one word which all shall agree to call the
finest in the language One man will declare that
the finest musical sounds produced from the vio-
lin, another will insist that the sounds of the flute
cell and third will tell you that music is equal to
that of the bagpipe
Particular sounds are more or less agreeable ac-
cording to the circumstances with which they are
connected Dibdin puts into the mouth of coachman
the following couplet-
.Next to the smack of sweet girls lip,
The music for me is the smack Of Z whip"
Here we have the coachman's first and second
choice in the matter of sound and heartily concur
with Jehu in his first and would freely award TO him
the need of praise for excellent taste, while dissent
from his second But the circumstances which incline
the coachnah prefer the smack of whip above all
other sounds except one naturally arise from his
cupation
Sounds of eNeerfulness are generally agreeable vet
Solomon, who is esteemed TO have been wise in
his day, and no mean metaphysician, says, GAS he
that taketh away a garment In cold weather, and as
vinegar upon nitre, is he that singeth songs to
heavy heart" And his majesty Of Judea is right !;
exhibition of mirth gaiety to one who is in
row does but aggravate the SORROW Tones of melan-
choly would be more consonant with his feelings.
But to return to words, which contend are es-
teemed more less beautiful according to the cir
cumsances in which they stand and the feeling which
they create. The word pay is which is not re-
markable for elegance otherwise yet the connec-
ton in which it stands often renders it extremely
pleasant dlsagreeable. For instance, tradesman
&c ouchn cd for -afb andb Oxp 10
raise it, when old customer, whom he never ex-
pected to see again, calls in and says 'sir, have
called to pay you that five hundred dollars which
owe you" Would any word in Johnson's dictionary
sound so well as the word pay in that mans ears
But the Instead of have called to pay,
let it be 81 have called to ask YOU to pay me-" &C.
the word would lose all its ehartis
You gave us lately, in an extract picture of a
recently married young (evidently) man whose fair
spouse had just presented him with twins, In which
the oy the ecsacy of the (f0r the first time in his
life) father well drawn, and his anxiety to see
his loved when the business of the day closed
atch key IN hand SIX squares off, hurnorously and
naturally described To such one, as soon as his
little twins were able to pronounce it, doubt the
word would be the finest word in the world no
other sound could equal it Handel Beethoven and
all the best composers that ever lived might scratch
their heads for months and then fail in producing
composition equal to IT, Perhaps indeed, as the
sound might be preferred.
But let us Supposed Gaze let us suppose that the
lady, seeing how well her husband was pleased with
her premier essai, presents him with twins annually
for six or seven years fear that the mamaS and
the dedadadaS and the pdpaS would from their fire.
quent iteration lose much of their beauty, and the
happy father might, even amidst the pratte of his
lively and Interesting children, be disposed sometimes
to reflect upon
"Doctors and nurses
Combining their curses"
and with heavy sigh exclaim
"Adieu to full purses,' &c.
Thus, gentlemen, have endeavored to show, that
although words possess, Independent of combination
real and intrinsic beauty yet their combination with
other circumstances have much to do with the appre-
Citation of the beauty which they possess.
BOB LOGIC.
| We might have something to say to our friend Bob
but we confess we have not been at ali in sentiment
tai mood this week.