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 heightened 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 it 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
business man. I'm matter of-fact. /
don't pretend to talk well. 1t isn't my
place. The people l deal with know
what Pm talking about. That's quite
enough. I've got something else to do
than to dawdle over books to learn how
to say pretty things. That'll do for scrib-
blers and women"
Such men are innocent of nice discrim-
nations. They perceive no difference be,
tween speaking English well and being
literary. Literature, as profession, is
too exacting, precarious and unremunera
tive, to be recommended. The last per
sons to counsel its adoption would bt
those who have made it trade. But there
is no more need that a man should be lit
erary, in order to use his own language
justly, than that he should be an actor be
fore he can read Understandings and &C
) ceptably.
The first step toward the attainment o
| proper speech is careful attention to it
; We must think not merely of what W.
, want to say, but Of how we are to say it
; How very few of us that count ourselve
educated bestow any thought on the mat
, ter! We take our English from the dali,
rewspaper-oftener a warning than an ex
: ample-and from those Immediately abou
us. We reproduce their slovenliness
t their slang, their faults. We read scarce
= ly any books, and such as we do read ar
: more for diversion than instruction. w
are inclined to believe that what is in
4 structive is invariably dull, when tn
really dull is that which only enables u
to kill time. The latter may not appea
r 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, are til
e best teachers Of mature pupils in til
e larger school Of life. The careful atten
e ton mentioned will lead us to those and
e above all, will constitute us us Il waite
| upon ourselves. Continuation will forr
e habit, and the habit will become fixed be
fore we are well aware of the change W
S have undergone Henri Br0uE
e IN AppIet0N'S Journal.