The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-02

But the age is not so practical as to despise
ease and grace of expression. Few of US
think of the power and influence of nicely
cultured, carefully disciplined speech.
We are prone to believe, as is often said,
that any language is good enough which
enables us to make ourselves understood.
1t is good enough for barbarians, but ex-
tremely bad for emil ghtened people, as we
claim to be, and really are. Language
has far higher purpose than mere intel
Eligibility; and yet it is so poorly employed,
as has been said, that even that end is
often not attained.
Not only are the schools of our youth
gravely at fault, but the wider, better and
more thorough school we enter when we
begin our struggle with the actual world.
The benefit of early training can scarcely
be over-estimated. What we are taught
to respect and admire during that period,
we are likely, later, to continue to respect
and admire in increased degree. Ordin-
airy education is merely basis to build
upon in after-life; and when that is lack
ing, it behooves us to begin anew. 1t is
plain enough that neither in the school OF
rudiments, nor in the school of expert
ence, are we instructed in a proper and
pleasant use of our mother-tongue. Hav-
ing neglected ii in the former, we should
try to made amends in the latter. Doubt
less we should, if we had any realizing
sense of its practical importance; for
this will appeal to thousands who cannot
be moved by any aesthetic consideration
whatever.
! have often heard men say, I'm a
businessman. Tn matter -ot-tact. l
don't pretend to talk we'll 1t isn't my
place. The people | deal with know
what I'm talking about. That's quite
enough, I've got something else to do
than 10 dawdlc over books TO learn how
to say pretty things. Thatll do for scrib-
blerS and women"
Such men arc innocent of nice discrim-
nations. They perceive no difference be.
tween speaking English well and being
literary. Literature, as 4 profession, is
too eNacting, precarious and unrcmunera-
tive, to be recommended, The last per,
sons TO counsel its adoption would be
those who have made i, trade. But there
is no more need that man should be lit.
erary, in order 70 use his own language
justly, than that he should be an actor be.
fore he can read understanding and nc.
ceptably.
The first step toward the attainment OF
proper speech is careful attention to it
We must think not merely of what we
want to say, but of how we are to say it
How very few of us that count ourselves
educated bestow any thought on the mat
ter! We take our English from the daily
rewspaper-oftener Il warning than IN eX
ample-and from those Immediately abou
us. We reproduce their slovenliness
their slang, their faults. We read scarce
ly any books, and such as we do read are
more for diversion than instruction. W,
are inclined to believe that what is in
structive is invariably dull, when the
really dull is that which only enables u.
to kill time. The latter may not appear
at first, though it will ere long-just a.
soon, in truth, as our intellect is aroused
Good books and good companions, in re
spect to style and conversation, arc TIN
best teachers Of mature pupils in til,
larger school Of life. The careful attrn
ton mentioned will lead US to those and
above all, will constitute us as watcl
upon ourselves. Continuation will form
habit, and the habit will become fixed be
fore we are well aware of the change WI
have undergone. Henri Br0pn
in ADDIetOn'S ,JO2lrRaZ