Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-10-16
q ] r. E iR a R Y.
Ell 90 q E NCE.
BY PROF. T. C. EsTEE,

PLATO taught that everything in the
universe was music. Aristides Quin.
tilianus taught the art of the beautiful,
in bodies and movements, was music
Coleridge, amid the grandeur and beau.
ty Of ancient architecture, called it fro.
zen music.
Eloqusnce and music we believe to be
very nearly allied, conjoihed; coworkers
in enlarging the heart, beauli(ying and
Strengthening the ideal, expanding the
soul, ennobling the whole man. Can
we not safely claim for eloquence the
sphere Of influence given to music BY
Plato? it is certainly more nearly uni.
versal iu its influence. We essay but
to point to it in its influence, as it awakes
and delights the soul, through the ora.
tor, the pen, sweet sounds, the canvas,
marble, nature.
Oratorical eloguence is but a very
small portion Of what "swells the noisy
th,oats" Of politician, pedagogue or
priest. We look in vain for eloquence
to the popular, modern orator; he is
stranger 10 the alphabet of eloquence;
he s,oops to tickle the ear Of his audi.
ence with a feather, their ribs with q
straw, instead Of causing the former to
tinsle and ring with the startling, thrill.
ling expression of impassioned, noble
feeling, the latter to remain motionless,
as you forget to breathe, the heart TO
beat, because Of the unbounded majes.
ty you feel and acknowledge, found in
the glowing, sparkling sciniillations of
awakened genius, and the vehement yet
liquid, melting flow of noble, hghborn
thought. He harangues the mass from
the election stump, or addresses sleepy
court, and you might almost think him
ready with the supposed brilliancy ofhs
talents, TO eclipse the sun, drag down
the moon, blot out the stars and light
the world with-gas.
True ora,orical eloquence breathes
deep, sends thrill through the heart Of
an awakened, eager, eye.wide enchan.
ted, yet chained audience; fixed as sta g.
tues, silent as death; while the thought
heavy words, the noble daring senti.
ments sweep on in tide, broad, deep,
and powerful. The characteristics Of
this eloquence ere sound judgment. cool
calculating philosophy. vivid imagine.
ton, far.rsaching conception, tender aud
touching pathos, indisputablc data and
irresistible conclusions.
or all otatorical eloquence, that OF
the pulpit should be, in its effects, the
most string, effec.ual and lasting
They Of the pulpit have three morlds 10
range for figure; 10 attract attention, in.
spire love, awaken fear, establish faith
and animate action. Too many, un(or.
tunately, employ too much Of the start.
ling power from the losrer, instead Of
presenting the attractions Of the upper.
They undertake TO driue people up to
heaven by holding burning birthstone
under them, rather than to lead TO happi.
ness by presenting the glories, the excel.
lenc;es Of that "better land" No sub.
jects can present themselves better cal.
culated to occupy the most wide. reach.
ling conception, the strongest intellect
and 10 inspire with and give scope tc
to the most soul.enriching eloquence.
Grecian eloquence was called into
being by the struggle between the yount
republican Of Greece and the Persian
despo,ism. 1t burst forth with aston
ishing splendor, awaksaiag the geniu
Of the age and giving birth TO GreciaI
art. Sculpture awoke, and Lysippu
astonished Europe with ststuary, pain
ting revived, and although they used bu
four colors-black, white. red and yel
low, and painted upon wood, yet III
names Of Polygnitus, Zeuxis, Aris.idel
are prominent Ia the history Of the ar,