Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-20
ANOTHER RAILROAD ACCIDENT
OF WhIeh RumOrs are Plenty, bnl
NotbinE Definite can be Learned.

| running from beersheDa TO lam
with q zeal worthy 6 better cause.
but no official can or will give par
ticulars. In the fever of reports, rumors
and hearseys, it comes out somewhat def
nitely that a frOst-charged rail.brOke under
the passage Of the train; that the engine,
baggage, express and first passenger car
passed over safely, while the second and
third coaches were upset and rolled into
the ditch alongside; that fifteen persons
or more were hurt, most of them slightly,
none of whose names are given, save one,
Mrs. Mellen, relative of Mr.. L. F. Mel
len, of this city. Up to the latest hour we
are unable to give fuller account.
RALPH WALDO ENERsoE's LEoTURR.-A
larger or seleoter audience than that of last
evening has not greeted any lecturer here
this season. BrainaId's Hall was packed
by throng of well-mannered people who
listened with rapt attention, from first to
last, to the pithy sentences of Mr.. Emerson.
His subject was "social Aims in America" !"
which received characteristic treatment.
There are four bases of civilization, name
ly, Manners, Conversation, Productive
Labor, Self possession or Centrality of Will.
The lecture concerned these four cardinal
points, and abounded with criticism, which
revealed the subtlest, most delicate reach
of insight, and searched society, art, life,
for illustrations.
Manners were pronounced an external
tissue, finer than to be visible, like the
cObweb cloak of the king, and yet stronger
than laws. Life, personality and charac-
ter are envsloped in them, as in a body,
and go forth clothed. Manners are neces-
sary outside, and, althoul h but a panto-
mine by and of themselves, are the finest
of the fine arts. The chic f elements that
enter into good manners are self-possession
and courtesy. man should so carry
himself that the statue in his hall shall
not upraid him with vulgar haste. Life is
short, but it is long enough for courtesy.
Dress, too, claims place, if there be lack of
character, purpose or thought. The com
manding person, the general and states
men may wear what they please, but the
man of narrower position or experience
shall find in fashionable dress a central
point on which to stand fast, confident
and not embarrassed.
But to what end are fine manners? They
themselves are not an end, but means to
society, making possible, in furnishing &
condition for, friendship and conversation.
Mans greatest neod is a friend, one who
shall make him think, ssy and do what he
can. A man may say that to another
which he cannot say first to himself. High
PsOvOcatiOn calls from mind to min |, and
in this sympathy is the spring of co uver-
sation and eloquence.
The life of conversation is sentiment,
this keeps it sweet but its signs are base
ly counterfeited, and we have the race of
pestering sentimentalists, who, needless or
blind to the reality, profess, simper, burn
and adore. Conversation should be nature,
or silence. Let the man obey his impulse,
express his opinion squarely, utter the
thought or truth that is in him, but force
nothing, and let go all considerations of
empty, noisy, tsifing entertainment.
But while conversation is good, and
friendship, our ideal gentleman mus. be
severely discriminating, and draw strength
from solitude to Withstand the warping in
fuenee of society.
Yet life is not ali poetry ana ine art. It
has its practical side, and man must have
bread and meat, house and land. Amer
lea means opportunity, and here every one
can seeure alivilehOod and acquire through
and with the accumulation Of property and
civil position, solid independence of ch1.,.
acter. In these broad areas in the eo.o,in.
ent which teens with untold, ur'know wn
mineral wealth nature throws back her
traits upon man. Not SO in fgudaI coun-
tries. There is inspiration iD American air
and American largeness teRds to establish
itself in the minds of her sons.
But society here needs to be Differed
by the best, BY tRe nobless. In selecting
public uen the question should not be
simply, is the man honest is he yirtu-
Gus, unbribable, sagaciOus but has he
the will to stand fast on his truth till his
ends be reached If he is easily corwed
awed or pushed from his centre. of what
avail is he?
Tho lecturer considered our fern of
the best possible for The en-
couragement and Development of all the
powers aad traits of tlae gentle
man The war is school of her oisu,, and
has done this service for this generation of
young Americans, namely, to turn their
eyes from England, and bid the m be them
selves in this western world.
Our synopsis, which seems almost carl
'ature, gives no idea of the besu+v and
harmony of the discourse. Yet ptrfsct as
he production seemed, it oecurs n one. m
'eAectiOn, that the studied omission
'f all consideration and eS Innate of
he influence of this civil war upon
he social condition of American
ife, as it now is and as it mast be in cop-
equence ofthe war, marred. it seemed to |
IS, the otherwise stately and fsultless pro-
portions of the address The lecture
bounded in statements OfS niueut persons.
lew thoughts, or old Ona5 in new relations.
eep observation and ag' .tiOism, and start
ing felicities of ezRass sion,
-SN
RALPH WI.So F.nzRsox.-Mr. Emerson |
caves this rnrrui1,, for Pittsburgh vvbara