ration. Genius itself is no exception to this rule The greatest writers and talkers of all ages have credited all their triumphs to their willingness to work. Macaulay rewrote some of his most fa mous passages fifty or sixty times. Daniel Web ster, composed his famous sentence about the British drum-beat, years before it was delivered. The best "extemporaneous" efforts of which the newspapers tell us are the results of midnight oil. For the average man confidence in the inspiration of the moment is a delusion. In practical life most addresses are called forth by the occasion, and their purpose is consequent ly very evident, but certain guiding principles should be observed in preparing them. The first of these is that emphasis should be laid not so much upon facts, as upon philosophy of facts. Take Lincoln's address at Gettysburg as an illustration. He might, in those brief but memorable words, have spoken of the details of the greatest of modern battles, but with the ora tor's instinct he dwelt on the moral lesson taught by the mighty conflict. Every address should be designed to leave some definite moral and intel lectual impression. A great deal is pardonable upon the platform which would sound extrava gant in print. The magnetism of presence and personality account for much of the orator's triumph, yet his best gifts are readiness of imag• mation and keenness of logical perception. The best stimulus to imagination is study of the poets, above all, of Shakespeare. The old fash ioned ornate style of oratory does not suit mod ern taste, but Patrick Henry, and Edmund Burke, and Daniel Webster well repay careful study. Our professor of history used to say that Jere miah Black of Pennsylvania was the finest rheto ,rician that America has produced, and quoted in support of his position this noble sentence from Judge Black's agument before the Electoral Com mission of 1876—'77. "It is impossible for •the scurvy politician, busying himself with fixing false returns, to un derstand the thoughts, motives and actions of the THE FREE LANCE. incorruptible magistrate, whose walk is on the mountain-ranges of the law.!' Wendell Phillips, both in style and delivery, was probably the most eloquent professional ora tor of recent days. His lectures are classical in expression and arrangement, and I have always thought Toussaint L'Overture the ideal college declamation. No living man, lam confident, excels President Harrison as a speech maker, and no other series of acts has made his wise and successful adminis tration more popular with all classes, than the exceedingly able addresses which he has just been delivering in his tour through the South and West. The Christian Advocate declares that no man save Horace Greeley has had such a faculty for off-hand speech-making as our present chief mag istrate. The present writer will never fdrget the impres sion made upon him by General Harrison's grace ful words and scholarly bearing at the Washing ton inauguralral celebration in New York, two years ago. M. J. THOMPSON, THOUGHTS-PAST AND PRESENT. When oft in night the solemn stillness holds, And thoughts unbidden take their winged night To realms, which in the sober mind unfold Inviting channels, sought to best recite The Past with all its pains and pleasures told, And present which we e'er to Past unite. And Momiry many times to us has giv'n A rich resource of pleasure pearls so dear ; A life so full of pure delight o'on riv'on That sorrow seems to have no harbour here. The sadder are the thoughts, the easier driven From cheerful minds and thus they disappear. The thoughts of Present are Voccasion bent, Depending on fair weather and on storm On disposition, which has over lent A charm when good—when bad it will transform To ill all deeds tho' of the best intent, And so all nature it will thus deform. -R. S. A.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers