Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-09
tions and speculations of scientific dream
ers, then there is no such thing as science.
DR.. j. q. Holland iScribner for April.
Language to PubIlc Wen.

Language is a divine gin and the only
| practical medium of thought between man
and man, nation and nation. 1t is the last
and highest gilt with which man was en-
dowod. Created as he was in the image of
Perfection, fearful in mechanism, possess
ing many of the attributes of his Creator,
| important in his relations both TO the ma
terial and spiritual, temporal and eternal !;
yet without the crownlng gin of the works
of creation mans life would be a compare
tive blank with his usefulness and felicity
blighted In the very germ of existence. or
what avail would he the beauty aud text
ure of earth or the study of other created
bodies Or of what significance would be
the music which thrills the soul, and the
importance of the charms of the human
countonance If no power was given TO ut
ter the deep emotions of the heart or give
character TO the impulses of nature. In
telectual culture and social enjoyment
would never have been known. Improve
ment in arts and sciences, the growth OF
character, the increase of general knowl-
edge and the circulation of truth, all de-
pend upon the power of men to clothe
expressions of language. So numerous
are the emigrations from one country to
another among all nations; so intricate
and extensive are the social, education al
and business relations that are daily form
ed in consequence of this international
freedom that it has become almost an abso-
Lutte requirement, as well as social necessi-
ty, for persons who speak in public, in or
der to reach the deeper recesses of each
mind, TO understand other than their native
language.
In transferring particular idlom from a
foreign to the English language, one needs
to DO acquainted with the language from
which he quotes, in order that he may not
fail to retain its original purport. In the
absence of such a knowledge all effort is
expended at a great risk of failure. Fur
thermore, history, absolute, which is large
ly involved in all public discourses and
upon which each generation depends for
educational growth, cannot be studied with
so great accuracy and profit as in the Ian
guage OF the people TO which the history
refers, whether it pertains to politics, re-
ligion, literature, art or science. The char
acter OF nations, including forms of gov
ernment, religious beliefs, social customs
and particular characteristics, can only be
thoroughly understood through knowl-
edge of the language of such nations.
These are points too little considered and
too lightly passed over, but the people in
general have long been aud are still anx-
ious for principles and Information derived
from this very source. And were it not for
the reckless impatience Of the America
people to launch themselves before the
public so long before their qualifications
and experience will allow, and against
which public opinion fails in strength, we
should have the pleasure of listening, not
TO redundant and illaudable compositions,
but TO original productions, containing in
formation of sterling worth and ideas of
inestimable value. W..