The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-21
Have you seen this work ~

Have you seen this work ~
Harley glanced at the title page. "To be
sure | have, and know the author"
~ envy you that honor. should like also
to know one who has discovered to me deeps
in my own heart which had never explored
Charming Msrehesa if the book has done
this believe me have formed no oyerfatter
ing estimate Of your nature; for the charm Of
the work is but its simple appeal to good and
generous emotions, and il can charm mona in
whom these emotions exist moi"
May, that cannot be true, or why is il so
popular p
"Because good and generous emotions are
more common to the human heart than we
are aware till the appeal comes"
Don't ask me TO think that. have found
the world so base"
Pardon me a rude question; but what do
you know Of the wOrldTr
Beatrice looked first with surprise at Har.
ley and then glanced round the room with
significant irony.
"As | thought. You call this little room
the world. Be it so. | will venture to say
that if the people in this room were suddenly
converted into an audience before a stage,
and you were to deliver a speech full of sor.
did and base sentiments you would be hissed.
But let any other woman, with half your
powers, arise and utter sentiments sweet and
womanly, or honest and lofty, and applause
would flow from every lip and tears rush to
many worldly eye. The true proof Of the
inherent nobleness of our common nature is
the sympathy It betrays with what is noble
wherever crowds are collected. Never be.
lieye the world is base; if it were no society
could hold together for day
II may be that somewhat Of awkwardness
and crudity is developed in the personnel of
our countrymen by the practical workings Of
our government that may be little shocking
to the sense of the fastidious.
But never reflect upon the breadth and
generosity of the underlying idea Of our sys.
TEN Of government, with all its manly equi.
ties, its constant demand upon its citizens for
the most elevated sentiments known to our
nature, and the opportunities afforded for
their exercise, that it does not appear to me
more and more, and beyond all other forms
Of government yet devised, the most favorable
theatre for the exercise Of all the qualities
that dignity and adorn mankind, and that if
penetrated with true sense Of the part which
each man among US should bear in such a
plan, an American citizen ought TO be in the
best sense OF the word q gentleman.
| have had good reason to realize the exac.
ting nature Of the toll and varied occupation
of our busy struggle in American life, and
amid what rush of events we have been
carving civilization out Of the wilderness,
emulating with hot impatience the results aud
accumulations ofcenturies ofwork and thought
in the older nations. The graces of life
those fruits of repose and wel earned wealth
and leisure-are Of gradual growth, and have
been necessarily postponed until our temple
of civil and religious liberty was erected upon
secure foundations and our grand experiment
Of self.control by free people shall have
been well tested. Art, its studies and higher
influences, do not underrate, and the great
advantages it can impart to its disciples, but
personal contact has taught me how much of
that true refinement, delicacy Of sentiment
and sensitive consideration for the feelings Of
others, which we justly regard rs the best
fruit of high breeding and culture, can and
does exist in the simplicity of American so.
city, uninstructed even by that European ex.
ample which to some Of our countrymen seems
the necessary imprimatur of social success.
The roll would be a long one we're now
to call the names Of men born and bred under
our republican Institutions to praise whom
would be but to echo feebly the applause
which has resounded through the civilized
world, who