works; and if he can frequently enjoy the society of an instructor who pronounces the foreign language correctly, and who, in conformity with our suggestions, will assiduously read or speak it to him, his practice of the language may be as great as if he were in the country where it is spoken, and must certainly be safer. When abroad, being in daily contact with a variety of uneducated people, whose services are indispensable, and who often speak in the most incorrect and vulgar manner, erroneous impressions must constantly be received, which will be the more easily imbibed as they are the first, and as ignorance of the language precludes the possibility of discriminating between right and wrong. The home learner does not labor under the same disadvantage; for he acquires only correct expressions from his books, hears only a pure pronunciation from his teacher, without the counteracting influence of bad example, and is sure, whether he speaks or writes, to have all his errors corrected. The circumstance of being abroad is favorable to the learning of a foreign language only when the opportunity is afforded of frequently hearing good models and of bringing into use the materials of language as they are acquired. But the opportunity does not generally fall to the lot of travellers; many pass through a country without gaining admittance to the society of the natives, without even having either time or inclination to read, their practice of the language being frequently confined to the exchange of some familiar ideas with servants of hotels, or an accidental fellow-traveller who chances to be communicative. The less they know the foreign language the less they avail themselves of the opportunities of hearing or speaking it, because the more reluctant are they to exhibit deficiency in the presence of well-educated natives. It must have come within the observation of our readers that not a few persons have returned from travels abroad with but a scanty stock of foreign phraseology. It may then be fairly concluded that, at home, by adopting a proper course, a foreign language may be learned better than abroad; for the rapidity of acquisition and facility of expression which result from mixing much with the natives, when that can be effected, are almost always obtained at the expense of correctness. The most advisable plan, whenever practicable, is to acquire at home some proficiency in hearing and speaking the language, and complete the acquisition by practice abroad. But, whether a foreign living language be learned at home or abroad, it must not be forgotten that the rapid, correct, and complete acquisition of it depends chiefly on the method adopted, and the spirit with which it is pursued. Intrinsically good as a method may be, it will sometimes fail for want of being carried on in the spirit in which it was formed. To avert this danger, we have endeavored to leave nothing important unexplained: observations apparently trifling frequently lead to the most useful results. But, however minute have been our directions, there still remain many practical details which cannot be well entered into, as their usefulness depends on particular contingencies, or circumstances which cannot be foreseen: the unfolding of these must be left to the discretion of the teacher. We therefore will observe, in concluding, that, as the application of general principles is liable to exceptions, in order to derive from the exercises recommended throughout all the benefits which may be expected from them, it will sometimes be advisable to modify them according to the attainments proposed, or to the age and dispositions of the learners; but, so long as those who study a foreign language conform to the great principles of imitation and analogy, they are on the right road, they follow nature's course, which, in this acquisition, consists, at first, in listening and reading, then trying to speak and write. Theory comes afterwards to assist practice and complete the knowledge. Such is the method we advocate, the spirit of which may be summed up in these few words: Imitation initiates, Practice acquires, Grammar perfects, and Habit secures the knowledge of a Language. POLYGLOT READER. PART I., ANECDOTES, TALES, ETC. I.-MAXIMS, PROVERBS, AND MORAL REFLECTIONS. 1. To the resolute man nothing is impossible. 2. With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry tree becomes satin. 3. The patient mule, which travels night and day, will, in the end, go farther than the Arabian courser. 4. Whatever be your talents, be modest. 5. Use your learning like your watch; if you are asked what time it is, take it out of your pocket, and tell; but never take it out merely to show that you have one. 6. He that knows useful things, and not he that knows many things, is the wise man. 7. Pitch upon that course of life which is the most useful, and custom will render it the most agreeable. 8. Learn early the art of making money. 9. Pecuniary dependence is the most humiliating of all; it degrades the mind, and depraves the heart. 10. Resolve not to be poor; whatever be your income, let your expense be less. 11. The regard which we show to economy is like that which we show to an old aunt, who is to leave us something at last. 12. He is rich whose income exceeds his expense, and he is poor whose expenses exceed his income. 13. Be thrifty to yourself, that you may be liberal towards others. 14. Without a friend the world is but a wilderness. 15. If you would keep your friend, honor him present, praise him absent, and assist him in necessity. 16. Whoever has flattered his friend successfully, must think himself a knave and his friend a fool. 17. Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver, and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings. 18. He who lies to injure another, is a malicious villain; he who lies to save himself, is a guilty coward. 19. A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood. 20. Always adhere strictly to truth; but while you express what is true, express it in a pleasing manner. Truth is the picture; the manner is the frame which displays it to advantage. 21. A man has no more right to say an uncivil thing than to act one; no more right to say a disrespectful word to another than to knock him down. 22. He that is truly polite, knows how to contradict with respect, and to please without adulation; and is equally remote from an insipid complaisance, and a low familiarity. 23. Whatever you dislike in another, take care to correct in yourself. 24. To pardon those absurdities in ourselves which we cannot suffer in others, is to be more willing to be fools ourselves than to have others so. |