ECONOMY OF THE FEELINGS.

1. The Effect of Words on the Sensibilities.
WE have seen how language must be framed in order to economize the powers of interpretation; we have now to consider how the power of feeling may be economized.
Words as mere sounds, apart from their meaning, have an effect upon the sensibilities. Some combina¬tions of words are agreeable, others disagreeable, to the listener, and, by an unavoidable association, even to the silent reader. It is clear, then, that forms of expres¬sion, aside from their sense, may mar the realization of the idea, either by producing feelings which divert the attention from it, or which are not in harmony with it. The state of feeling best adapted to interpretation is that of agreeable stimulation derived from the easy and uninterrupted movement of the machinery of expres¬sion. As soon as the words grate upon the ear, or the construction halts, we are conscious of a disagreeable feeling, and a consequent inability to use all our powers in realizing the idea.
2. Hamilton's Theory of the Feelings.
Sir William Hamilton, in his theory of pleasure and pain, regards agreeable and disagreeable feelings as the
results respectively of a normal or an abnormal activity of natural powers. He says :
"By relation to the object about which it is con¬versant, an energy is perfect, when this object is of such a charaCter as to afford to its power the condition requisite to let it spring to full spontaneous activity ; imperfect, when the object is of such a character as either, on the one hand, to stimulato the power to a continuance of activity beyond its maximum of free exertion ; or, on the other hand, to thwart it in its tendency towards this its natural limit. An object is, consequently, pleasurable or painful, inasmuch as it thus determines a power to perfect or imperfect energy." *
3. Application of the Theory to Expression.
Now, since expression exists for the idea merely, and since the realization of the idea affords to the mind its natural play of activity, every diversion of the mind caused by the form of expression which does not assist in revealing the idea, determines an imperfect energy, which is disagreeable. Hence the highest activity in realizing the idea depends on the economy of the feel¬ings, by removing all causes of diversion and discord. Any activity prolonged beyond what is customary, be¬comes disagreeable ; hence the law of Variety. The simultaneous exertion of the same faculty in contrary directions is disagreeable ; hence the law of Harmony. These two laws will be more fully illustrated in the following sections.
SECTION 1 VARIETY.
SECTION 2 HARMONY.