which may disturb the imagination for a moment, but leave no lasting impression upon the mind. He would learn that to accuse and prove are very different; and that reproaches, unsupported by evidence, affect only the character of him that utters them. Excursions of fancy and flights of oratory are indeed pardonable in young men, but in no other; and it surely would contribute more, even to the purpose for which some gentlemen appear to speak (that of depreciating the conduct of the administration), to prove the inconveniences and injustice of this bill, than barely to assert them, with whatever magnificence of language, or appearance of zeal, honesty, or compassion. PITT'S REPLY The atrocious crime of being a young man, which the honorable gentleman has, with such spirit and decency, charged upon me, I shall neither attempt to palliate nor deny; but content myself with hoping that I may be one of those whose follies cease with their youth, and not of that number who are ignorant in spite of experience. Whether youth can be imputed to a man as a reproach, I will not assume the province of determining; but surely age may become justly contemptible if the opportunities which it brings have passed away without improvement, and vice appears to prevail when the passions have subsided. The wretch, who, after having seen the consequences of a thousand errors, continues to blunder, and whose age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object either of abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his gray hairs should secure him from insult. Much more is he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and become more wicked with less temptation; who prostitutes himself for money which he can not enjoy, and spends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country. But youth is not my only crime; I am accused of playing a theatrical part. A theatrical part may imply some peculiarity of gesture, or a dissimulation of my real senti ments and an adoption of the opinions and language of another man. In the first sense, the charge is too trifling to be confuted, and deserves only to be mentioned that it may be despised. I am at liberty, like every other man, to use my own language; and though, perhaps, I may have some ambition to please this gentleman, I shall not lay myself under any restraint, nor very solicitously copy his diction or his mien, however matured by age, or modeled by experience. But if any man shall, by charging me with theatrical behavior, imply that I utter any sentiments but my own, I shall treat him as a calumniator and a villain; nor shall any protection shelter him from the treatment he deserves. I shall on such an occasion, without scruple, trample upon all those forms with which wealth and dignity intrench themselves, nor shall anything but age restrain my resentment; age, which always brings one privilege, that of being insolent and supercilious, without punish ment. But with regard to those whom I have offended, I am of the opinion that if I had acted a borrowed part, I should have avoided their censure; the heat that offended them was the ardor of conviction, and that zeal for the service of my country which neither hope nor fear shall influence me to suppress. I will not sit unconcerned while my liberty is invaded, nor look in silence upon public robbery. I will exert my endeavors, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggressor, and drag the thief to justice, whoever may protect him in his villainies, and whoever may partake of his plunder. NOTES 1. Read a good biographical sketch of each of these men. Henry Grattan's "Character of Mr. Pitt" will give you some idea of Pitt's characteristics. Bulwer has written a drama entitled Walpole, which will shed light upon the methods and characteristics of that actor in this episode. 2. Look up the origin of the name Pittsburg. 3. Find out all you can of the attitude of Pitt toward America's struggle for freedom. 4. Define as used in this lesson: ardor, transport, deferred, defection, petulancy, invective, pompous diction, periods, indisputable, atrocious, palliate, imputed, obstinacy, abhorrence, imply, dissimulation, confuted, solicitously, mien, calumniator, scruple, supercilious, censure, aggressor. SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES 1. Was Walpole calm when he spoke the first sentence? 2. What suggestion in the sentence? 3. What reason does he give for answering Pitt? 4. Could any good come of doing what he says he aimed to do? 5. How does he class Pitt's oratory? 6. What would naturally be inferred as to the character of one who would answer such "oratory"? 7. Does Walpole show any "heat of temper"? 8. What is the thing he seems most to dwell upon in his characterization of his opponent? 9. Does Walpole prove anything in his speech? 10. Does Pitt really think being young an "atrocious crime"? 11. Does he either think Walpole honorable or admire his spirit? 12. What hint in the last part of his first sentence? 13. What does he insinuate by saying: "I will not assume the province of determining"? 14. Of whom is he evidently thinking when he says: "The wretch, who after seeing the consequences of a thousand errors, etc.? 15. In the next sentence, does he confine his remarks to Walpole's invective against himself? 16. Does he accurately define acting a theatrical part? 17. How does he proceed to answer the charge? 18. What does he show is being used by Walpole which was denied himself? 19. What does he mean by, "If I had acted a borrowed part I should have avoided their censure"? 20. What, in Walpole's speech, remains undestroyed? 21. Is Pitt more or less discourteous than Walpole? 22. What deeper meaning do you get from this incident? REFERENCES PATTEN: The Seminole's Defiance. SCOTT: Parting of Marmion and Douglas. DE AMICIS: The Fight. ARNOLD: Sohrab and Rustum. Lincoln-Douglas Debates. FRANKLIN EPIGRAMS One to-day is worth two to-morrows. It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance. A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines. When prosperity was well mounted, she let go the bridle, and soon came tumbling out of the saddle. A little neglect may breed great mischief. For want of a nail the shoe was lost, and for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost. L'ENVOI RUDYARD KIPLING KIPLING'S life and hope, akin with the life and hope every soul, are mirrored here. Severe labor, which meets only stinging criticism, causes the soul to sigh for rest—not the rest of eternity, but the infinite rest that fits the soul to do infinite work throughout an eternity under the eye of the Master. Each soul shall work without human limitations, with saints as models, and with no hint of weariness. No critic save the Master shall "praise" or "blame," and the soul's highest service shall be to "draw the Thing as he sees it for the God of Things as they are." L'ENVOI When earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died, We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it lie down for an æon or two, Till the Master of all Good Workmen shall set us to work anew! And those that were good shall be happy; they shall sit in a golden chair; They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair; They shall find real saints to draw from-Magdalene, Peter, and Paul; They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all! |