Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-10
A CHAPTER ON ToAsTs.

independence day is alone remarkable bones and
llumnanons, ringing bells, and firing cannon, shouts and
huzzas dinners and oaonsbut is also the great season
OF t0aSts those short speeches Of the people which fre
queny fill columns of the largest newspapers for weeks az
forwards.
But, alas and aack how few there are even among the
men OF learning and talent who capable of connecting
good toast A man may be a scholar and a gentleman
graduate OF college professor, able to write book as
large Baser Bible and yet when Fourth of July comes
he may lack the brains write decent sentiment He nav
be entirely competent to write novel; poem, tale play
an essay, an Grafton, Government despatch yea he
may be equal TO the task Of ndng leader for the
editorial columns OF newspaper and, after ah prove the
meres bunger at the apparently easy task of writing toast
There is depend it. in this species of composition won
deru amount of tact necessary Every body describe
without difficulty what toast ought be- and yet not one
man in fifty knows how to execute Breviy and point
the two great ends TO be attained good toast is al
ways embodied in single sentence Two are sure 10 spoil
It, 1t should be spontaneous too, not labored Midnight oil
Is as fatal to II as midew to delicate plant II must strike
some vital chord in the inner man, that will the whole
animal and mental economy to vbrae touched by cleo
tricity
Such have been produced and can be again. re-
member Some years since that prince of wits ERAs
Tus RooT, present celebration in New York. Wine
ana wit maintained rivalry BY the side OF Gen. Roor sat
noted militia captain who in due discovered himself
toasted and called OUT for response The honor was
unexpected but the recipient much soldier finch
True to his "ung passion, he proposed g The militia of
me United Aates-raay they nerer acant-and-anG-
teacherous He could have found words to complete
what he had begun, had empire depended it, Calling
spirits from the vastly deep e in comparison with the
poor captains appeal to language to help him out.
At this critical moment Gen. RooT his SIDE touch
ed him gently the shoulder and whispered in his ear,
and may they be TAINTED " The Captain had found
relief With thesuddenness ofhough he had Joined the parts
and assuming air of conscious triumph, which was GER
tainy felt, he repeated his sentiment as follows
The Militia of the United Sates-may they never want
and may they never be wanted ~
Capital sentiment Let try in his closet month,
and he cannot produce better II is text on which one
might almost hang volume. Not one word too much not
too little.
near kin to this toast the recently elected in
Richmond for whose paternity, for Homers cities
contending-
''The States of this Union-dsnct like the bllows one
like the sea-
This is likewise capital Toasts such as these it is plea
to read and treasure the mind but one does not
often with them. They mere grain of wheat,
buried in mountain Of chaf The of Fourth of july
sentiments ckly silly stuff; and how can find it in
their hearts cheer them is wonderful would almost
think OF spending nne cheers the grave of
my grandmother Enterprsng publishers concerned for the
literature of the world frequently advertise attractive prizes
for the best written poems and essays and conundrums
rewarded If premium occasionally offered TO the
author of series Of the best Fourth of July toasts would
not be bad investment.-O. P. Q.-BoSton Post.