Library Collections: Document: Full Text


Editor's Table, May 1852

From: Editor's Table
Creator:  A (author)
Date: May 1852
Publication: The Opal
Source: New York State Library

Previous Page   Next Page   All Pages 


Page 4:

39  

Writing thus much of music there comes a gentle whisper from the grand old woods of Ireland, that her ancient and honourable songster has fallen covered all over with the light and beauty of song.

40  

Tom Moore, is no more, "but still here's a double health to thee. Tom Moore," here too is a tear, and a sigh too that

41  

"The Harp that once through Tara's halls,
"The soul of music shed,"

42  

is suspended forever. The Harp of Erin melodious is hung upon the willows --

43  

"No more to chiefs and ladies bright,
"The Harp of Tara swells --"

44  

Bless the memory of Moore, for the legacies he has left behind to cheer "the stilly night," and to lighten our pathway of pain. We hope that the winter of his life was blessed with some of the friends of his sunshine, and that though

45  

"A light that ne'er can shine again
"On life's dull stream --"

46  

has left a sphere somewhat darkened, there is a consolation in the fact, that

47  

"Darkness shows us worlds of light
"We never saw by day" --

48  

Truly, truly do we wish that if he has slept in error's sleep, he has knelt like Mary, loved much, been forgiven, and waked in Heaven.

49  

We must beg the attention of our readers, to a little book, "Religion in its Relation to the present Lire," by A. B. Johnson, and its author will accept our thanks for it. Its sentiments and style are characteristic of the man of sense, the true gentleman, and chastened rational views of human life and duty. A fit work for all minds, but especially for some within these hospitable walls, and containing suggestions, calculated to lead to the enlightenment of the conduct of the human understanding in its practical bearing on the interests and happiness of society. -- We are glad and proud of such a writer whose "leisure hours" record the reflections of as mature sense and refined taste as the annals of mind present on whatever subject is presented either for his private view, or that public who respect him as a citizen and delight in him as an author, doing honour to the American character. We quote a few remarks from the Fourth Lecture,

50  

"THE ART OF CONTROLLING OTHER"

51  

"So a man cannot deceive men. You are masquerading before others who have masqueraded themselves. They know every turn of the game as skilfully as you. We are, to every essential extent, repetitions of each other. If what you utter proceeds from envy, no disguise can prevent your envy from being detected. If your actions result from penuriousness, no ostentation of liberality can hide it, no protestation of munificence conceal it."

52  

"Nor need you be anxious to make men observe your good qualities. Any agency which you thus exert will transform your reputable actions into disreputable. It will convert learning into pedantry; religion into pharisaism; humility into ostentation, condescension into arrogance; praise into flattery. Any action, how good soever, the worst man will perform if you compensate him for the performance; hence to the extent which a love of reputation influences your conduct, you are as little meritorious as he. His selfishness requires money, yours is satisfied with reputation."

53  

"If we are lovely, we must be loved; if hateful, we must be hated; if contemptible, we be contemned; if despicable, we must be despised."

54  

"To ensure the uniformity of such results, Nature has formed men much alike. A million of organs, manufactured from the same pattern, possessing the same steps and notes, responding to each other with more similarity of sound, on the pressure of any given key, than a million of men will respond to each other, in similarity of approbation and aversion on any given occurrence. When Queen Victoria, a very young maiden, arose from her seat during her coronation, and, disregarding etiquette, assisted an old nobleman, who was painfully endeavouring to ascend the steps of her throne, to yield her, according to the custom of the kingdom, his personal homage, the spectators responded to the action with acclamations. They needed no conference to ascertain the feeling which the action should excite in them. Providence had predetermined for them."

55  

"We shall find that a principle like the above is general. If you feel complacency towards any person, it will dictate conduct that will excite in him complacency towards you. If you feel confidence in any person, it will dictate conduct that will excite in him confidence towards you. If you feel friendship for him, it will dictate conduct that will excite in him friendly feelings towards you. Sympathy will excite sympathy, respect will excite respect, liberality will excite liberality, forgiveness will excite forgiveness. In short, "as ye would that men should do to you, do ye to them likewise." This scriptural rule we are accustomed to estimate as a measure by which we are only to dispense favours; but it is equally applicable as a means for the obtaining of favours."

56  

"The world, is, however, the most impartial of human tribunals."

57  

Rev'd Mr. Gregg, (of Cheshire, we think) England, author of the beautiful hymn written on 1 Tim. iii. 16, "seen of Angels," or commencing "Beyond, &c.," had an insane brother who lived with him, and spent his time wandering about the yard, garden, and sometimes finding his way into his brother's study, but never seeming to take much interest in things about him. Mr. Gregg, therefore, used no precautions in reference to his manuscripts, generally allowing them to remain exposed on his desk, especially while in of course of completion. On this occasion, he had written the hymn, with the exception of the last two lines, and being unable to get a suitable climax, walked out to refresh himself with pure air, and contemplate his subject. After he left the room, the lunatic brother walked to the desk, read in the manuscript, took a pen, and wrote

Previous Page   Next Page

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6    All Pages