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open, fears no discovery; of which the crafty | No. 353.] Tuesday, April 15, 1712.

man is always in danger: and when he thinks he walks in the dark, all his pretences are so transparent, that he that runs may read them: he is the last man that finds himself to be found out; and whilst he takes it for granted that he makes fools of others, he renders himself ridiculous.

'Add to all this, that sincerity is the most compendious wisdom, and an excellent instrument for the speedy despatch of business; it creates confidence in those we have to deal with, saves the labour of many inquiries, and brings things to an issue in a few words. It is like travelling in a plain beaten road, which commonly brings a man sooner to his journey's end than by-ways, in which men often lose themselves.

In

In tenui labor

Virg. Georg. v. 6. Though low the subject, it deserves our pains.

THE gentleman who obliges the world in general, and me in particular, with his thoughts upon education, has just sent me the following letter:

'SIR,-I take the liberty to send you a fourth letter upon the education of youth. In my last I gave you my thoughts upon some particular tasks, which I conceived it might not be amiss to mix with their usual exercises, in order to give them an early seasoning of virtue: I shall in this propose some others, which I fancy might contribute to give them a right turn for the world, and enable them to make their way

in it.

a word, whatsoever convenience may be thought to be in falsehood and dissimulation, it is soon over; but the inconvenience 'The design of learning is, as I take it, of it is perpetual, because it brings a man either to render a man an agreeable comunder an everlasting jealousy and suspi-panion to himself, and teach him to support cion, so that he is not believed when he solitude with pleasure; or, if he is not born speaks the truth, nor trusted perhaps when to an estate, to supply that defect, and furhe means honestly. When a man has once nish him with the means of acquiring one. forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he A person who applies himself to learning is set fast; and nothing will then serve his with the first of these views may be said to turn, neither truth nor falsehood. study for ornament; as he who proposes to himself the second, properly studies for use. The one does it to raise himself a fortune; the other to set off that which he is already possessed of. But as far the greater part of mankind are included in the latter class, I shall only propose some methods at present for the service of such who expect to advance themselves in the world by their learning. In order to which, I shall premise, that many more estates have been acquired by little accomplishments than by extraordinary ones; those qualities which make the greatest figure in the eye of the world not being always the most useful in themselves, or the most advantageous to their owners.

And I have often thought, that God hath in his great wisdom, hid from men of false and dishonest minds the wonderful advantages of truth and integrity to the prosperity even of our worldly affairs: these men are so blinded by their covetousness and ambition, that they cannot look beyond a present advantage, nor forbear to seize upon it, though by ways never so indirect; they cannot see so far as to the remote consequence of a steady integrity, and the vast benefit and advantages which it will bring a man at last. Were but this sort of men wise and clear-sighted enough to discern this, they would be honest out of very knavery, not out of any love to honesty and virtue, but with a crafty design to promote and advance more effectually their own interests; and therefore the justice of the Divine Providence hath hid this truest point of wisdom from their eyes, that bad men might not be upon equal terms with the just and upright, and serve their own wicked designs by honest and lawful means.

Indeed, if a man were only to deal in the world for a day, and should never have occasion to converse more with mankind, never more need their good opinion or good word, it were then no great matter (speak ing as to the concernments of this world,) if a man spent his reputation all at once, and ventured it at one throw; but if he be to continue in the world, and would have the advantage of conversation whilst he is in it, let him make use of truth and sincerity in all his words and actions; for nothing but this will last and hold out to the end: all other arts will fail, but truth and integrity will carry a man through, and bear him

out to the last,'

T.

"The posts which require men of shining and uncommon parts to discharge them are so very few, that many a great genius goes out of the world without ever having an opportunity to exert itself; whereas, persons of ordinary endowments meet with occasions fitted to their parts and capacities every day in the common occurrences of life.

'I am acquainted with two persons who were formerly school-fellows, and have been good friends ever since. One of them was not only thought an impenetrable blockhead at school, but still maintained his reputation at the university; the other was the pride of his master, and the most celebrated person in the college of which he was a member. The man of genius is at

*"Swift, and Mr. Stratford, a merchant. Stratford is worth a plumb, and is now lending the government 40,000%. yet we were educated together at the same school and university.' Swift's Works, vol. xxii. p. 10.

cr. 8vo.-Stratford was afterwards a bankrupt."

Chalmers.

present buried in a country parsonage of eight-score pounds a year; while the other, with the bare abilities of a common scrivener, has got an estate of above a hundred thousand pounds.

'I fancy from what I have said, it will almost appear a doubtful case to many a wealthy citizen, whether or no he ought to wish his son should be a great genius: but this I am sure of, that nothing is more absurd than to give a lad the education of one, whom nature has not favoured with any particular marks of distinction.

The fault, therefore, of our grammar schools is, that every boy is pushed on to works of genius: whereas, it would be far more advantageous for the greatest part of them to be taught such little practical arts and sciences as do not require any great share of parts to be master of them, and yet may come often into play during the course of a man's life.

'Such are all the parts of practical geometry. I have known a man contract a friendship with a minister of state, upon cutting a dial in his window; and remember a clergyman who got one of the best benefices in the west of England, by setting a country gentleman's affairs in some method, and giving him an exact survey of his estate. 'While I am upon this subject, I cannot forbear mentioning a particular which is of use in every station of life, and which, methinks, every master should teach scholars; I mean the writing of English letters. To this end, instead of perplexing them with Latin epistles, themes, and verses, there might be a punctual correspondence established between two boys, who might act in any imaginary parts of business, or be allowed sometimes to give a range to their own fancies, and communicate to each other whatever trifles they thought fit, provided neither of them ever failed at the appointed time to answer his correspondent's letter.

fied for the finer parts of learning; yet I believe I might carry this matter still further, and venture to assert, that a lad of genius has sometimes occasion for these little acquirements, to be as it were the forerunners of his parts, and to introduce him into the world."

History is full of examples of persons who, though they have had the largest abilities, have been obliged to insinuate themselves into the favour of great men, by these trivial accomplishments; as the complete gentleman in some of our modern comedies, makes his first advances to his mistress under the disguise of a painter or a dancing-master.

The difference is, that in a lad of genius these are only so many accomplishments, which in another are essentials; the one diverts himself with them, the other works at them. In short, I look upon a great genius, with these little additions, in the same light as I regard the Grand Seignior, who is obliged, by an express command in the Alcoran, to learn and practise some handicraft trade; though I need not to have gone for my instance farther than Germany, where several emperors have voluntarily done the same thing. Leopold the last, worked in wood: and I have heard there are several handicraft works of his making to be seen at Vienna, so neatly turned that the best joiner in Europe might safely own them without any disgrace to his profession.*

'I would not be thought, by any thing I have said, to be against improving a boy's genius to the utmost pitch it can be carried. What I would endeavour to show in this essay is, that there may be methods taken to make learning advantageous even to the meanest capacities. I am, sir, yours, &c.'

X.

'I believe I may venture to affirm, that No. 354.] Wednesday, April 16, 1712. the generality of boys would find themselves more advantaged by this custom, when they come to be men, than by all the Greek and Latin their masters can teach them in seven or eight years.

"The want of it is very visible in many learned persons, who, while they are admiring the styles of Demosthenes or Cicero, want phrases to express themselves on the most common occasions. I have seen a letter from one of these Latin orators which would have been deservedly laughed at by a common attorney.

Under this head of writing, I cannot omit accounts and short-hand, which are learned with little pains, and very properly come into the number of such arts as I have been here recommending.

You must doubtless, sir, observe that I have hitherto chiefly insisted upon these things for such boys as do not appear to have any thing extraordinary in their natural talents, and consequently are not quali

-Cum magnis virtutibus affers Grande supercilium.Juv. Sat. vi. 168. Their signal virtues hardly can be borne, Dash'd as they are with supercilious scorn. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-You have in some of your discourses described most sort of women in their distinct and proper classes, as the ape, the coquette, and many others; but I think you have never yet said any thing of a devotee. A devotee is one of those who disparage religion by their indiscreet and unseasonable introduction of the mention of virtue on all occasions. She professes she is what nobody ought to doubt she is; and betrays the labour she is put to, to be what she ought to be with cheerfulness and alacrity. She lives in the world, and denies herself none of the diversions of it, with a constant declaration how insipid all things in it are to her.

She is never

*The well-known labours of the Czar Peter may be added to those enumerated above.

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herself but at church; there she displays Whenever I walk into the streets of her virtue, and is so fervent in all her de- London and Westminster, the countenances votions, that I have frequently seen her of all the young fellows that pass by me pray herself out of breath. While other make me wish myself in Sparta: I meet young ladies in the house are dancing, or with such blustering airs, big looks, and playing at questions and commands, she bold fronts, that, to a superficial observer, reads aloud in her closet. She says, all love would bespeak a courage above those Greis ridiculous, except it be celestial; but she cians. I am arrived to that perfection in speaks of the passion of one mortal to an- speculation, that I understand the language other with too much bitterness for one that of the eyes, which would be a great misforhad no jealousy mixed with her contempt | tune to me had I not corrected the testiness of it. If at any time she sees a man warm of old age by philosophy. There is scarce in his addresses to his mistress, she will lift a man in a red coat who does not tell me, up her eyes to heaven, and cry, "What with a full stare, he is a bold man: I see nonsense is that fool talking! Will the bell several swear inwardly at me, without any never ring for prayers?" We have an emi- offence of mine, but the oddness of my pernent lady of this stamp in our country, who son; I meet contempt in every street; expretends to amusements very much above pressed in different manners by the scornful the rest of her sex. She never carries a look, the elevated eye-brow, and the swellwhite shock-dog with bells under her arm, ing nostrils of the proud and prosperous. nor a squirrel or dormouse in her pocket, The 'prentice speaks his disrespect by an but always an abridged piece of morality, extended finger, and the porter by stealing to steal out when she is sure of being ob- out his tongue. If a country gentleman apserved. When she went to the famous pears a little curious in observing the edifices, ass-race, (which I must confess was but an clocks, signs, coaches, and dials, it is not to odd diversion to be encouraged by people be imagined how the polite rabble of this of rank and figure,) it was not, like other town, who are acquainted with these obladies, to hear those poor animals bray, nor jects, ridicule his rusticity. I have known to see fellows run naked, or to hear country a fellow with a burden on his head steal a squires in bob wigs and white girdles make hand down from his load, and slily twirl love at the side of a coach, and cry, "Ma- the cock of a 'squire's hat behind him; dam this is dainty weather." Thus she while the offended person is swearing, or described the diversion; for she went only out of countenance, all the wag-wits in the to pray heartily that nobody might be hurt highway are grinning in applause of the inin the crowd, and to see if the poor fellow's genious rogue that gave him the tip, and the face, which was distorted with grinning, folly of him who had not eyes all round his might any way be brought to itself again. head to prevent receiving it. These things She never chats over her tea, but covers arise from a general affectation of smarther face, and is supposed in an ejaculation ness, wit, and courage. Wycherly somebefore she tastes a sup. This ostentatious where rallies the pretensions this way, by behaviour is such an offence to true sanc-making a fellow say, "Red breeches are a tity, that it disparages it, and makes virtue not only unamiable, but also ridiculous. The sacred writings are full of reflections which abhor this kind of conduct; and a devotee is so far from promoting goodness, that she deters others by her example. Folly and vanity in one of these ladies is like vice in a clergyman; it does not only debase him, but makes the inconsiderate part of the world think the worse of reli-ture to walk the streets with a dark lantern, gion. I am, sir, your humble servant,

'HOTSPUR.'

MR. SPECTATOR, -Xenophon in his short account of the Spartan commonwealth speaking of the behaviour of their young men in the streets, says, "There was so much modesty in their looks, that you might as soon have turned the eyes of a

certain sign of valour;" and Otway makes
a man, to boast his agility, trip up a beggar
on crutches. From such hints I beg a specu-
lation on this subject: in the mean time I
shall do all in the power of a weak old fel-
low in my own defence; for as Diogenes,
being in quest of an honest man, sought
for him when it was broad daylight with a
lantern and candle, so I intend for the fu-

which has a convex crystal in it; and if
any man stares at me, I give fair warning
that I will direct the light full into his eyes.
Thus despairing to find men modest, I hope
by this means to evade their impudence.
I am, sir, your humble servant,
T.

'SOPHROSUNIUS.”

Non ego mordaci distrinxi carmine quenquam.
Ovid. Trist. Lib. ii. 563.

marble statue upon you as theirs; and that No. 355.] Thursday, April 17, 1712.
in all their behaviour they were more
modest than a bride when put to bed upon
her wedding-night." This virtue, which is
always subjoined to magnanimity, had such
an influence upon their courage, that in
battle an enemy could not look them in the
face, and they durst not but die for their
country.

I ne'er in gall dipp'd my envenom'd pen,
Nor branded the bold front of shameless men.

I HAVE been very often tempted to write invectives upon those who have detracted from my works, or spoken in derogation of

my person; but I look upon it as a particu- | no more than one of those fictitious names lar happiness, that I have always hindered made use of by an author to introduce an my resentments from proceeding to this imaginary character. Why should a man extremity. I once had gone through half be sensible of the sting of a reproach, who a satire, but found so many motions of hu- is a stranger to the guilt that is implied in manity rising in me towards the persons it; or subject himself to the penalty, when whom I had severely treated, that I threw it he knows he has never committed the into the fire without ever finishing it. I have crime? This is a piece of fortitude, which been angry enough to make several little every one owes to his own innocence, and epigrams and lampoons; and, after having without which it is impossible for a man admired them a day or two, have likewise of any merit or figure to live at peace with committed them to the flames. These I himself, in a country that abounds with wit look upon as so many sacrifices to humanity, and liberty. and have received much greater satisfac- The famous Monsieur Balzac, in a letter tion from suppressing such performances, to the chancellor of France, who had prethan I could have done from any reputation vented the publication of a book against they might have procured me, or from any him, has the following words, which are a mortification they might have given my lively picture of the greatness of mind so enemies in case I had made them public. visible in the works of that author: If it If a man has any talent in writing, it shows was a new thing, it may be I should not a good mind to forbear answering calum- be displeased with the suppression of the nies and reproaches in the same spirit of first libel that should abuse me; but since bitterness with which they are offered. But there are enough of them to make a small when a man has been at some pains in library, I am secretly pleased to see the making suitable returns to an enemy, and number increased, and take delight in raishas the instruments of revenge in his hands, ing a heap of stones that envy has cast at to let drop his wrath, and stifle his resent-me without doing me any harm.' ments, seems to have something in it great and heroical. There is a particular merit in such a way of forgiving an enemy; and the more violent and unprovoked the offence has been, the greater still is the merit of him who thus forgives it.

I never met with a consideration that is more finely spun, and what has better pleased me, than one in Epictetus, which places an enemy in a new light, and gives us a view of him altogether different from that in which we are used to regard him. The sense of it is as follows: Does a man reproach thee for being proud or ill-natured, envious or conceited, ignorant or detracting? Consider with thyself whether his reproaches are true. If they are not, consider that thou art not the person whom he reproaches, but that he reviles an imaginary being, and perhaps loves what thou really art, though he hates what thou appearest to be. If his reproaches are true, if thou art the envious, ill-natured man he takes thee for, give thyself another turn, become mild, affable, and obliging, and his reproaches of thee naturally cease. His reproaches may indeed continue, but thou art no longer the person whom he reproaches.'*

I often apply this rule to myself; and when I hear of a satirical speech or writing that is aimed at me, I examine my own heart, whether I deserve it or not. If I bring in a verdict against myself, I endeavour to rectify my conduct for the future in those particulars which have drawn the censure upon me; but if the whole invective be grounded upon a falsehood, I trouble myself no further about it, and look upon my name at the head of it to signify

* Epict. Ench. cap. 48 and 64. VOL. II.

9

The author here alludes to those monuments of the eastern nations which were mountains of stones raised upon the dead bodies by travellers, that used to cast every one his stone upon it as they passed by. It is certain that no monument is so glorious as one which is thus raised by the hands of envy. For my part, I admire an author for such a temper of mind as enables him to bear an undeserved reproach without resentment, more than for all the wit of any the finest satirical reply.

Thus far I thought necessary to explain myself in relation to those who have`animadverted on this paper, and to show the reasons why I have not thought fit to return them any formal answer. I must further add, that the work would have been of very little use to the public, had it been filled with personal reflections and debates; for which reason I have never once turned out of my way to observe those little cavils which have been made against it by envy or ignorance. The common fry of scribblers, who have no other way of being taken notice of but by attacking what has gained some reputation in the world, would have furnished me with business enough had they found me disposed to enter the lists with them.

I shall conclude with the fable of Boccalini's traveller, who was so pestered with the noise of grasshoppers in his ears that he alighted from his horse in great wrath to kill them all. This,' says the author,

was troubling himself to no manner of purpose. Had he pursued his journey without taking notice of them, the troublesome insects would have died of themselves in a very few weeks, and he would have suffer ed nothing from them.'

L.

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It is owing to pride, and a secret affectation of a certain self-existence, that the noblest motive for action that ever was proposed to man is not acknowledged the glory and happiness of their being. The heart is treacherous to itself, and we do not let our reflections go deep enough to receive religion as the most honourable incentive to good and worthy actions. It is our natural weakness to flatter ourselves into a belief, that if we search into our inmost thoughts, we find ourselves wholly disinterested, and divested of any views arising from self-love and vain-glory. But however spirits of superficial greatness may disdain at first sight to do any thing, but from a noble impulse in themselves, without any future regards in this, or any other being; upon stricter inquiry they will find, to act worthily, and expect to be rewarded only in another world, is as heroic a pitch of virtue as human nature can arrive at. If the tenor of our actions have any other motive than the desire to be pleasing in the eye of the Deity, it will necessarily follow that we must be more than men, if we are not too much exalted in prosperity and depressed in adversity. But the Christian world has a Leader, the contemplation of whose life and sufferings, must administer comfort in affliction, while the sense of his power and omnipotence must give them humiliation in prosperity.

for a heap of fleeting past pleasures, which are at present aching sorrows!

How pleasing is the contemplation of the lowly steps our Almighty Leader took in conducting us to his heavenly mansions! In plain and apt parable, similitude and allegory, our great Master enforced the doctrine of our salvation, but they of his acquaintance, instead of receiving what they could not oppose, were offended at the presumption of being wiser than they. They could not raise their little ideas above the consideration of him, in those circumstances familiar to them, or conceive that he, who appeared not more terrible or pompous, should have any thing more exalted than themselves; he in that place therefore would no longer ineffectually exert a power which was incapable of conquering the prepossession of their narrow and mean conceptions.

Multitudes followed him, and brought him the dumb, the blind, the sick, and maimed; whom when their Creator had touched, with a second life they saw, spoke, leaped, and ran. In affection to him, and admiration of his actions, the crowd could not leave him, but waited near him till they were almost as faint and helpless as others they brought for succour. He had compassion on them, and by a miracle supplied their necessities. Oh, the ecstatic entertainment, when they could behold their food immediately increase to the distributor's hand, and see their God in person feeding and refreshing his creatures! Oh envied happiness! But why do I say envied? as if our God did not still preside over our temperate meals, cheerful hours, and innocent conversations.

But though the sacred story is every It is owing to the forbidding and unlovely where full of miracles, not inferior to this, constraint with which men of low concep- and though in the midst of those acts of tions act when they think they conform divinity he never gave the least hint of a themselves to religion, as well as to the design to become a secular prince, yet had more odious conduct of hypocrites, that the not hitherto the apostles themselves any word Christian does not carry with it, at other than hopes of worldly power, preferfirst view, all that is great, worthy, friend- ment, riches, and pomp; for Peter, upon ly, generous, and heroic. The man who an accident of ambition among the apostles, suspends his hopes of the reward of worthy hearing his Master explain that his kingactions till after death, who can bestow un-dom was not of this world, was so scandaseen, who can overlook hatred, do good to his slanderer, who can never be angry at his friend, never revengeful to his enemy, is certainly formed for the benefit of society. Yet these are so far from heroic virtues, that they are but the ordinary duties of a Christian.

When a man with a steady faith looks back on the great catastrophe of this day,* with what bleeding emotions of heart must he contemplate the life and sufferings of his deliverer! When his agonies occur to him, how will he weep to reflect that he has often forgot them for the glance of a wanton, for the applause of a vain world,

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lized that he whom he had so long followed should suffer the ignominy, shame, and death, which he foretold, that he took him aside and said, ‘Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee:' for which he suffered a severe reprehension from his Master, as having in his view the glory of man rather than that of God.

The great change of things began to draw near, when the Lord of nature thought fit, as a saviour and deliverer, to make his public entry into Jerusalem with more than the power and joy, but none of the ostentation and pomp of a triumph; he came humble, meek, and lowly; with an unfelt new ecstasy, multitudes strewed his way with garments and olive-branches, crying, with loud gladness and acclama

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