The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-23
LANGUAGE AND LOGIC.

Language is the ways and means by which
minds communicate with one another and
logic is the hammer that breaks the stone
the great conyincer and controller, by which
minds triumph over one another. SO says the
world-so brag the people. And yet sll the
world knows that language is a very partial
and insufficient imparter and expression Of
ideas and feelings Words DO not photograph
minds. and al their best their photography is
very imperfect. And logic hardly conyinces
the man that uses it. The reasoning seems
correct. But he suspects and fears a lurking
fallacy that may make a fool of him. And
the man is not surprised in practice TO find his
most irresistible argument brutum fulmen-
harmless blow It's splendid in accomplish
ment-nothing III effect.
Language may be beautiful in its kind and
shows but convey no ideas and make
no impression; or may be. Nindeed as
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.
And man may talk elaborate nonsense with
out knowing il. Great are the facilities of
grammars and dictionaries.
And yet men do communicate with one an
other, influence. control and operate one
another. And men of fewest words and least
reasoning exert more power and difuse most
influence We say il is magnetism and
force. These powers scorn words and reason
ings. Their influence is of one having au-
thorty. Let there be light, and there is
light. Indeed, men have ten thousand ways
Of communicating their ideas and impressing
hai robo nd wiz md
plishing their purposes. and words and argu-
ments are far from being the most eHectual.
There are some whose mere presence speaks
volumes and breathes inspiration. They are
themselves clearly enunciated principles and
lights. Their very steps and looks are elo-
quent This is the high honor and reward of
lives devoted 10 virtue and wisdom. And
there are others who mean nothing; or, if any
thing, only folly.
Those to whom words and logic are the
only means of intercourse. and their limits of
light and knowledge, are confined and poor
indeed. And yet there are many who count
that there is no knowledge outside of books
and what can be expressed in words, while,
in fact, the best and largest domain of knowl-
edge and life Is above and beyond the reach
of words and sentences. And the greatest
personal influence and power has no reason
ing in it, 1t commands with glance of the
eye or an expression of the countenancs.
The knowledge and mental operations of
the only argumentatiye and bookish are little
better than child's play The man whose life
is spent in fine letters and sentimental shows
and fctions lives very close to if not in the
very borders of the limbo Of vanity and para
disc Of fools. And the very bookish man is
q respectable phase Of idiocy. The man who
is guided and controlled by argument only
lives life Of wretched mistakes and proves
himself to the general world very unreason-
able creature.
The business of life is not simple arithme-
tic and dictionary and grammar. but q high
celestial mixed mathematics. Each one has
his own experiences, within and without.
that MIKE his dictionary and grammer. Each
class and circle Of Life has its language. lean