outcries. But, truth whispered is more effectual

than nonsense thundered.

STUDIES.

TUDIES should be thorough. What is once well learned is seldom ever wholly forgotten. Studies, also, should be adapted to prospective employments. They should be to the student what his tools are to the artisan,-the means for working effectively at his particular

art.

STYLE.

HEN one has even little to say, it is still of much importance to say it well. And much more in weightier matters, the style should be in keeping with the subject-matter."

Language being the apparel of thought and

*The amount of labor required to perfect a style appears in the instance of Washington Irving. "Mr. Irving," said one to me who was familiar with his literary habits, as we followed together his honored remains to their last restingplace"Mr. Irving wrote, and then, very often, rewrote, revised and re-revised, touched and retouched, with wonderful patience. He seemed to study every word—yes," (with emphasis) "every syllable."

sensibility, a sententious style is chiefly appropriate to weightier ideas and the profounder feelings, as a close-fitting dress is appropriate only to a graceful form. Where the thought or feeling is superficial, a graceful redundancy of words serves the purpose of a loose and flowing robe, to hide all deficiencies.

All good writing leaves something unexpressed. At least, it is a good rule in rhetoric never to add to a thought after it is suggested. The judicious author never tires by his elaborations. A brief suggestion is enough for a quick wit. He points to the mine he has discovered, and leaves his reader to find health and treasure in the working of it.

In literary performances, as in Gothic architecture, the taste of the age is largely in favor of the pointed styles. Our churches and our books must bristle all over with points, or they are not so much thought of.

SUCCESS.

HE different degrees of success that attend

Tus is not so much owing to original differTHE

ences in our capacities, as to the measure of discretion that mingles with and determines the direction of our abilities. In many departments of industry, it is even not so much the able as the unable that succeed. The former know their strength, and rely too much upon it; the latter their weakness, and guard against it.

Besides this—A secret of success in nearly every enterprise is usually contained in the answer to the question how earnest is he? A further leading secret of efficiency is, to act at once upon our ideas while our fancy is yet warm and in a glow with them. But, the leading condition of success is to have but one object, and to pursue it with persistence. "The great art," says Goethe, "is judiciously to limit and isolate yourself." To the same effect is the observation of Cicero 66 Bring all knowledge

A

ally mistake the causes of their failures when they refer them to causes out of themselves. worthy of this sort, who had repeatedly lost everything but his self-complacency, being at a loss otherwise to account for his ill-success, finally concluded, as he said, that Providence had adopted a prejudice against him. Instead of this, as before suggested, we are baulked of success in our pursuits, less through indolence and want of capacity, than from our neglecting to labor long and steadily enough in one, and only one, direction. Like bad reasoners, we forsake main Elevated points to go off on collateral issues. objects of pursuit, especially, like jealous mistresses, demand an unqualified devotion.

There are none so low but Small Successes they have their triumphs. Small successes suffice for small souls.*

* John Foster tells us of a man who used to break stones on the road, who was vain in a high degree of his skill; — "he would break a load of stones," he would say, "with any man in England." He also speaks of a chimney-sweeper who indulged in a similar boast of superiority, with an appearance of great self-complacency.

Ο

SUFFERING.

UR miseries are the expiations of our sins:suffering, the hard mallet that drives in the sharp wedge of truth.

SUGGESTIONS.

IFE has no royal road, and few explicit

L'

guides to truth; but in lieu of these it abounds in scattered hints, rich in their suggestiveness, and invaluable as aids in our progress towards it. Perhaps the best part of our wisdom, because the most truly our own, is that derived from gathering up these, and developing their significance.

In venturing a suggestion, however, it is important to avoid the appearance of giving advice. Say to a junior army officer, for instance,-In bad weather take care of your men; in good weather they can take care of themselves—and the young Napoleon will perhaps resent the suggestion as implying an assumption of superior wisdom. At least, the hortatory form of the proposal will probably prevent his appreciating the good feeling in which it originates.