Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-02-18
Ratlg eHlgeneet

=
Tnr publishers have just issued 'loax-
toniana, q volume. Of :. Essays on Life,
Literature and Manners" by Sir B Bull
wer Lytonl This volume is dedicated by
the author Is Heinrich Eepst, but it dsd-
ieates itself to all thereading world by
the thoughtfulness, manliness and charm
of its contents The essays on 'eThe
Management of Money!" on :.Shyness,"
on "The Sympathetic Temperament" on
"Posthum0us Reputation, aTeparticular-
ly characteristic and interesting.
There is deal of practical good sense
in the following passage Of the essay on.
the Efficacy of Praise" which We Gem.
mend to all grabbed and bitterly yirtu-t
GUS" persons:
But it is in the commerce of private
lhe-in our dealings with children, ser
wants, friends and neighbors-th6t /
would venture the most to recommend
some softening and mitigation of that old
English candOr which consists in eterl
nally telling US our faults, but having
too great q horror of compliments ever
70 say something pleasant as to our mer-
its. 1Ie st. -tl=fe
We cannot be always giving instrac.
tion, however precePtorial and admoni-
tory our dispositions may be; bnt if We
have given harmless pleasure, if is not
altogether day lost to the wisest of us.
To send a child to his bed happier, with
thanksgiving heartier, he knows not
why to the Author of all blessingsI and
liveher fondness in his prayer for his
parents; to cheer the moody veteran, who
deemsthe young have forgotten him, With
few words that show renembfdnke Of
what be has dODs1 in his gs8eratu1,, Ia
comfort the disPirited strqggleE for fame
or independence. in the moment of fall OF
failure, With a just eommendation of the
the defeat of to-day are fair, spguries. Of
be so good as sermon. But it Is NOT
every one who has the right or capacity
TO preach SERMONS, andRnYone isauth0r-
lied and able fo+io alYthib. As Seneca
so beautifully expresses It; f,UtCunque
homo est ibi bcnefcio locus"
And it seems TO me that the habit OF
seeking rather to praise than to blame
operates fayorably not ONLY on the hapui.
ness and the temper, but on the whole
moral character of those who form it ii
is great Corrective Of envy, that mos,
common 1nhrmity of active intellects en-.
gagged IN competitive strife; and che i'm.
mediate impulse of which is always to.
ward the encouragement of, another: it is
also strong Oounterbalancingl power. 70
thatinert cynicism which is apt. to creep
over men not Engaged in competition, and
which leads them TO-! debase the, level, of
their own humanity In the contempt with
whichit regards what may he good OF
great in those who are engaged. In short
predisposition to see what is best in
others necessarily calls out our own more
amiabIe' qGalitie ! and, on the other hand
pre- disposition 10 discover what is bad
keeps in activity our meaner and m re-
malignant. g.'a'Hiiai TO liu-Jlf ,,s.Ila IA
Perhaps, however Ito avery ascetic NOR.
alist shall seem to have insisted far too
strongly on whatever efficacy may be found
in praisipgI aud not painting with impar-
tial colorsi tie sirtuonS Gprnpeftias Of x.
proof Certes, a great deal may be said
upon that latter and austere theme. In
stances may be quoted of little. children
who have been apggsd ont of n9ughti-
ness, and great geniuses who have
been reyiled Into SURPRISING achieve.
llu0 RUOu HO.Q0lo has
not been generally attended with some
evil less traceable, is, l. think, matter of
doubti but that is a question / will not
here discuss. Granting all that can be
said in vindtcation Of giving pain to an.
other, still say that it is better and wiser.
on the whole, 70 cultivate the habit d, civ!
ing pleasure; aud 1 may be excused IL 1
have somewhat exaggerated the value OF
praise and uudervalaed the precious bene.
hts OF cepspre, because it needs no homily
TO dispose US to be sharp enough toward
the faults of our neighbors. . r = ,.E,s o.,
On this truth Ph@drus has an apologize
which may bethuB paraphrased:, u -,
"EEom our nsckS, when lifou Journey begins,
Hwo taskS Joye, tht Father, spspendS,s . . -s1
4hS one hqlds orr own proper sins,
The 0thet the sins ofISpr friends: 80 y
"the hrstt Man Immediately throWs ,ss,G4 =
Sut q eight, ont ofmind at bis back
BE tees every grain In the sack" f.