Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-01-17
Reported for the Times.
DR.. Vinton's Lecture.

Il
The lecturer commenced with a quotation
from the celebrated Mrs. Grundy There is
great deal in blood.'' And though he did
not think man must be able TO point to q
long line Of noble ancestry, 10 establish his
claim TO the title of.tsentleman, yet he was in
clined TO think with Mrs. G., "There is a
good deal in blood. =
We think the true gentleman is genius,
aud deserves 10 be ranked with poets, orators
and sculptors. As the lecturer finally said,
his life is poem. His is the poetry of action.
And as it is greater TO live poem than TO
write one, the true gentleman deserves high
err niche in the Temple Of Fame than the most
successful devotee of the muses..
Nature and education go hand in hand,
though sometimes one influence turns out a
polished specimen, without the aid Of the other.
One grand Distinguishing characteristic of the
gentleman, is his intense love Of the beautiful.
Unconfined to material forms, it rises TO the
abstract and ideal discerns those moral and
Intellectual beauties which are hidden from
grosser minds. He admires the works Of art !;
but art, in its largest significance, embraces
the works Of God. Nature is the art of God.
All professions have eminent practitioners,
yet none are eminent who are not spced with
enthusiasm and the enthusiasm OF the gem
tleman leads him TO discern beauty 10 the low
est form Of animal life, because of their adap-
tation to the purposes for which they were de-
signed.
Some think the gentleman is man Of taste.
What is tastel Taste is the power Of deriv-
ing pleasure from the faculties that belong to
our moral nature, in its purity. Tact is taste
Distinguished by delicacy. Deficacy belongs
TO the moral attributes it is the silk of our
moral nature.
The gentleman is self-posed, selfpossessed.
selfcontrolled, possessing a large share Of
moral bravery, which leads him to acknowl-
edge his faults, accord pardon to his enemies,
standing erect in the majesty of reconciliation.
The prominent traits of his character are kind
ness, sincerity, dignity, delicacy, a keen APP
probation of natural, intellectual and spiritual
beauty, and high sense Of honor. The har-
monious blending of these qualities constitute
courtesy.
The gentleman is well informed. He will
read enough Of the current literature of the
day TO be informed of the passing train of
events; but he will not slake his thirst at
these wayside streams, but will toll that he
may drink at the source. knowledge is the
result of his reading. The library of the gen.
tleman need not be extensive. but his books
will be mastery, elementary. original. One
master volume, thoroughly studied, will fur
nish his mind with more valuable ideas than
desultory reader would gather from a whole
library. The lecturer stated that from TWEEN
ty-fve volumes, judiciously selected, one
might gain an acquaintance with history, phi
losophy, poetry, and the sciences. Our read
ing ought not 10 render our minds mere store
houses of facts, but give us food for thought
In reading scientific works, we ought to
seize the leading principle, which, like Ari-
adne's thread, will guide US through the lab
yrinth of knowledge. in -feading history, find
The guiding thread which leads to the proxi-
mate causes and immediate results of the
events described.
The benerotence Of the gentleman springs
from lower motives than the christians. The
gentleman gives to relieve the suffering he
sees, and which is painful 10 his feelings the
christian gives TO fulfil the will of God. Be
nevolence gives TO relieve the sufferings Of the
creature, charity gives 10 the glory of the
Creator.
A man may acknowledge God in all his acts,
and yet lack the courtesy which characterizes
the gentleman hence man may be a chris
tian, and not a gentleman but the motives
which actuate the christian are infinitely high
er. A perfect character combines the motives
of the christian with the manners of the gen.
man. ~ IY n.
The lecturer then compared different classes
of men to musical instruments. The drum
represented class OF boisterous takers, full OF
sound and fury, signifying nothing. Flag
eolet, those diffident souls, whose soft tones
are inaudible when the company consists OF
more than two or three persons. Trumpet,
those whose topics of conversation are found
within a narrow limit. Violin, minds Of wide
range, capable of sweetest music but whose
exuberent mirthfulness is distateful in our
sadder modes. Bass-viol is type of that
class whose conversation is expressive of the
deeper feelings of our nature love of country,
love of home, courage and stability. Every
Englishman is bass-Hiol. Triangles and
castanets are the heroes of oyster saloons and
bowling alleys. 3 zl. rl a
But the gentleman is the grand piano-forte
"a concert in itself,-unequalled in the ex-
preston of every emotion, save that of solem-
nifty, which belongs 10 the peerless organ.
DIR. Vinton's lecture was received with
marked attention, and the impression left or
the minds of his audience was highly favora-
BILE to him, as speaker and writer.
b. RocKLANp GszErrE.-This paper has jus
commenced new volume, enlarged, and i'm
proved by new head, &c. The Gazette j.
ably conducted. g4A e iHsat4a1 sIia}