Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-09
From the Baltimore SUM-
WORDS OF WISDOM
A LESSON Fess TuE TkkrIsEns.


WORDS OF WISDOM
| A LESSON Fee TIRE TEACHERS.
FOR TH0sE WHO SPEAK AND WRITE.
THE FAMOUS ADDRESS OF THE LATE 10
RATIO SEYMOUR BEFORE THE NEW YoRE
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
We publish below an address made by
the late ex- Governor Seymour, of New
York, before the school commissioners OF
that State at Utica, in 1878. 1t is upon
"Thc Use of Short "Words," and it is 1t.
self model Of the subject Of which il
treats. Oar language is 30 complex, Sc
full of words derived from other tongues,
that it is hard for the pablo speaker OF
writer to confiue himself to the uge of
simple Auglo-Saxon terms Of expression. =
But there is no doubt that much ths, i
said aud written might be as we'll and ofteu
better expressed in words that are as easily
understood by the many as by the cultured
few. 1t is true that knowledge of words,
big and little, in our language is desirable
more desirable than knp-..sdge of diff
ferent languages. 1t viii enable one to
employ with more accuracy and more effect
the little words so necessary to be used
when the people are to be informed or in
structed. But it is the fault of many who
undertake the work of informing and in
structing that they employ their knowl-
edge rather for the display of their &c
complishments Than for the benefit of those
who listen to them. Like the spendthrift,
they exhibit and squander their wealth
where their favors are not really appre-
ciatsd and are soon forgotten. The little
words that everybody understands are the
best for the main uses of the world, and
they are truly the words which 'ftly
spoken, are like apples Of gold in pictures
of silver"
THE USE OF SHORT WORDS.
This world is q great schGolhouse, in
which through life we all teach, and we all
learn. Here we must study to find oat
what ia good and what is bad, what is true
and what is false, and thus get ready to act
in some other sphere. What we are at the
end of this life we shall be when the next
begins. We must spare no paine, then,
when We teach others OF ourselves. We
teach ourselves. We teach ourselves By
what We read and hear and think-others
by our words. We must take care that
We think and speak in way SO clear that
We do not cheat ourselves or mslesd
others by vague Or misty ideas. We must
put our thoughts into words, and We m lat
get in a way of using these in thought with
the same care We use when We speak or
write to others. Words give a body or
form to our ideas, without which thev are
apt to be so foggy that we do not see where
they are weak or false. When we put them
into body of words we will, IS a rule,
learn how much OF truth there is in them,
for in that form we can tuIn them over in
our minds. If we write them out We find
that in many cases the ideas we thought
We had hold of fade away when put TO this
test. But if they prove to be real or of
value, they are thus not only made clear to
US, but they are in q shape where we can
make them clear to others. We have 3
proof of bow much we thus gain when We
state to others our doubts, for, as rule,
we solve them when we co this before We
hear what they have to say. 10 most cases
what we say to others, not what they Say
to US when we consult them, settles our
doubts.
We must not only think ia words, but
We must also try to use the best words, and
those which in speech will put what is 10
our minds into ths minds of others. This
is the great art which those must gain who
wish to teach in the school, the church, at
the bar or through the press. TO do this
in the right way, they should use the short
words which We learn in early life, and
which have the same sense to all classes of
men. They are the best for the teacher,
the orator and the poet. If you will look
at what has been said in prose or in verse
that comes down to us through many
years, which have struck all minds, and
that men most quote, yOa will find that
they are in short words of our own tongue.
Count them in Gray's Elegy, which all love
to read, and you will fiud that they make
up large share of all that he uses. The
English of our Bible is good. Now and
then some long words are found, and they
always hurt the verses in which you find
them. Take that which says SO, ye gene
ration of vipers, who hath warned you to
flee from wrath to come?' There is one
long word which ought not to be in it, viz,
generation. In the old version the word
''brood" is used. Read the verse again
with this term and you will feel its force
"Oh, ye viper's brood, who bath warned
you to flee from wrath to Gomez"
When Daniel Webster made speech he
told those who put it in form for the press
to strike out every long word. If you will
study the things he said or wrote you will
fiud they were mainly made up of short,
clear, strong terms, although he sometimes
used those foi the sake of the sound No
other man could paint with words as well
as he. He could draw in a way so clear
that those who heard him felt that they
had seen that of which he spoke. / have
al ways thought that On the trial of John t.
Knapp for murder the jury found him
guilty not because the proof was so strong,
for the judge thought it weak, but for the
reason that Mr.. Webster put before them
the scene of an old mans death in way so
graphic that they mistOok his speech for
proof. To show this, | give this extract
from what he said s'The deed was exc
cuted with degree of self-possession and
steadiness equal to the wickedness with
which it was planned. The circumstances
now clearly in evidence, spread out the
whole scene before US. Deep sleep had
fallen on the destined victim aud on all
beneath his roof. A healthful old man, to
whom sleep was sSeet-the first sound
slumb3rs of the night held him IN their
soft, but strong embrace. The assassin
enters through the window already pre-
pared, iuto an unoccupied apartment
With noseless foot he passes the lonely
hall, half-lighted by the moon; he winds
up the ascent of the stairs and reaches the
door of the chamber. OF this he moves
the lock by soft and continued pressure, till
it turns on its hinges without noise; and he
enters, and he beholds his victim before
him. The room is uncommonly open to
the admission of light. The face of the
Innocent sleeper is turned from the mur-
de,er, and the beams of the moon, resting
on the gray locks of his aged temple, show
him where TO strike. This fatal blow is
given, end the victim passes without
struggle or a motion from the repose of
sleep to the repose of death. 1t is the as
sassin's purpose to make cure work, and
he plies the dagger. though it is obvious
that life has been destroyed by the blow of
l. IL