New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-21
RUSKIN as A LITTLE BOY.

Fo, Firhon-Fnir and Foul in The Nineteenth Cent urp
| have elsewhere mentioned that was home,
bred bow and that my mother diligently and
scrupulousy taught me my Bible and Latin tram
mar. so my father fondly and devotedly taught me
nv Scott my Pope. and my Byron. i shall have
lost nv wits very finally when forget the first
time that | pleased m father with couplet OF
English verse after many year OF trials; and the
radiant JOY his face ~ be declared leading IL
aloud to my mother with emphasis half choked by
teaIs-that it was as fine rs anything that POPE
or Byron ever wrotew The Latin grammar ont OF
which my mother taught me was the IN edition
OF Alexander Administering: Bell d Bradfutc.
1s23)-namely, that Alexander ALam, rector OF
Scott passed in October 1872, and who-previons
masters having found nothing noticeable In the
heavy-looking lad did find sterling qualities in
him and would constantly refer to him for dates,
and particulars of battles, and other remarkable
events alluded to in Horace, or whatever other
authors the boys were reading: and called hum the
ADAM also. who himself loving historian, rcmeIn-
beIed the tate of EVERY boy at his school during the
fifty years he had headed it, and whose last words
at grows dark, the boys may dismiss gave to
Scott's heart the vision and the audit OF tho death
of Espeth OF the CIaigburn-foot.
strangely in opening the old Volume at th9 mo-
| find. in its article on PIosody. some things eX-
tremely useful to me-. which have been hunting
for in vain through Xumpt and Matthiae In all
rational respects believe it to be the best Latin
grammar that has vet been written.
When my mother had carried me through it as
far as the syntax. it was Thought desirable that
should be put under master; and the master
chosen was a deeply and deservodly honored cier
gyinan. the Rev. Thomas Dale mentioned in Mr.
Hobeach's article, "The New Fiction "-COntem-
porarg Rerier for February Of this year-together
with Mr. Melville. who was our pastor alter Mr.
Dale went to st. Pancras.
Nr Dale's school-room. | carried my old grammar
to him. i'll q modest pride expecting some encour-
agement and honor for the accuracy with which
| could repeat, on demand some hundred and sixty
olose-printed pages OF 1t.
But Mr.. Dale threw it back to Inc with fierce
bang upon his desk sayng-with accent and look
OF northumberland scorn-" That's a Scotch
thing" -.
Now nv father being Scotch, and an Edinburgh
High School boy, and my mother. having laborcd
in that book with me since could read. and all my
happiest holiday time having been spent on the
North Inch OF Perth. these four words, with the
action accompanying them, contained as H. uch IN
suit, PAIN and ooscning OF my respect for my pa
rents love OF my father country ana honor Tor lts
worthless as it was possible to compress into four
syllabrs and an i'll -mannercd.gesture. Which were
therefore pure dOuble-edged, and point. enyenomed
blasphemy. For to make boy deSpise his mothers
care is the straightest way TO make him so despise
his Redcemer's voice; and to make him ScoIn his
father and his fathers house, the sraigntest way
TO make him deny his God. and his Gods Heaven.
| speak observe in this instance, only OF the
actual words and their effect; not of the feeling in
the speakers mind which was almost playful,
though his words. tainted with extremity of pride,
were such light AS men shall give account OF
at the Day of Judgment. The real sin of blasphemy
Is not in the saying nor even in the thinking but
in the wishing. which is father 10 thought and
word and tho nature OF 1t Is simply in wishing
evil to ANYTHING for as the quait OF Mercy not
strained. neither tnat OF Basphcmy the one dis
tillin9 from the clouds of Heaven. the other from
unjust In much he that is malignant to the least Id
to the greatest, he who hates the earth which Is
Gou's footstOol. hates yet more Heaven which is
Gods throne, and Him that stitch thereon.
Finally, therefore blasphemY is wishing iii TO any
thing; and its outcome is Ill Eanni FuccIs extreme
" i'll manners wishing III to God.