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PART V.

THE APPLICATIONS OF REASONING.

We have now nearly completed our book. We have gone through the introduction to reasoning, the principles of reasoning, and the forms of reasoning. We have only to consider the applications of reasoning. Many of these applications you will have already noticed in the observations and quotations I have brought before you. But as this matter is of great importance, we must consider it by itself. For the practical application of our reasonings is, after all, the great end of our acquiring a knowledge of the art of reasoning.

SECTION I.

THE APPLICATION OF THE ART OF REASONING TO THE ORDINARY AFFAIRS OF LIFE.

IN the application of logic to the ordinary affairs of life, we have first to discover general principles, and then to apply these general principles to particular circumstances. In the affairs of life you will have to rely mainly on your own judgment. And what are you reading logic for, but to enable you to form sound opinions for yourself? The following are some of the points that will require your consideration. Do not, however, confine your attention to the few illustrations I may quote, but consider each topic as the representative of a class of questions and opinions on which, in the ordinary course of events, you may be called upon to exercise your powers of reasoning. Take, for example, the subject of dress, and view it in all its rela

tions-consider its attributes, parts, species, causes, and effects-call to mind the examples, comparisons, proverbs, and laws or other written documents with which it may be connected-and discuss the various opinions that may be entertained respecting it.

This topic is one of frequent occurrence. With regard to the statue about to be erected in the city to Sir Robert Peel, discussion took place as to the comparative merits of the Roman and the English dress. And whether the European or the Oriental costume is the more suitable for ladies, is a question that now excites great interest throughout the United States of America. So, under the head "The Logic of Food," you may consider the principle of the Tempe rance and Vegetarian Societies. And under "Logic to Children" you may class the various questions that have a reference to education. Endeavour so to discipline your mind as to be able readily to put together under one general head those topics and questions that have a reference to the same class. You will then easily add from your own experience, observation, or reading, other illustrations as suitable as those now before you.

1. The Logic of Dress :

"The numerous advantages, with the importance resulting from an elegant personal appearance, are too generally known and appreciated throughout civilized Europe, to require much comment here. It is only to be lamented, that the enormous charges usually incident to a desirable apppearance, preclude many of limited incomes from enjoying it, while it brings down distress upon others. For I think it will almost invariably be found, that the first embarrassment young men-more especially our city youth with small salaries-bring upon themselves, is through endeavouring to support a fashionable exterior in the usually expensive method; hence in time results inability to pay, with the certain after consequences of arrest, and, with sorrow I pen it, too frequently entire ruin."-The Whole Art of Dress.

The book from which I have taken the above extract, has separate chapters upon coats, waistcoats, and pantaloons, stocks and neckcloths, shirts, pocket-handkerchiefs, stockings, socks and gloves, hats and caps, boots and shoes, and the adaptation of dress to tall and short men,

and to fair and dark complexions. He shows that on all these points much logic may be expended both in regard to taste and economy.

"FAIR AND DARK COMPLEXIONS.-The appearance of the countenance is very greatly subjected to be relieved or depressed by the influence of colours. To be aware immediately of this fact, you have only to perceive how wretched white neckcloths make some people appear; those, for instance, of a sallow skin; while, on the opposite, a black velvet or satin stock throws, by its comparative depth of hue, the former into shade. All this is either more or less regulated by other colours. On dark people a dark coat looks best; black for the neck most assuredly; then, as too much black would look gloomy, they should be relieved by a white or buff waistcoat."-The Whole Art of Dress.

In Mr. Hall's "Book of the Feet," we have an example of the truths of science being applied to the promotion of personal comfort. The anatomy of the foot proves the injury of tight shoes:

"There is nothing more beautiful than the structure of the human foot,' says Sir Charles Bell, 'nor perhaps any demonstration which would lead a well-educated person to desire to know more of anatomy than that of the foot. The foot has in its structure all the fine appliances you see in a building. In the first place, there is an arch in whatever way you regard the foot; looking down upon it we perceive several bones coming round the astrologos, and forming an entire circle of surfaces in the contact. If we look at the profile of the foot, an arch is still manifest, of which the posterior part is formed by the heel, and the anterior by the ball of the great toe, and in the front we find in that direction a transverse arch: so that instead of standing, as might be imagined, on a solid bone, we stand upon an arch composed of a series of bones, which are united by the most curious provision for the elasticity of the foot; hence, if we jump from a height directly upon the heel, a severe shock is felt; not so if we alight upon the ball of the great toe, for there an elasticity is formed in the whole foot, and the weight of the body is thrown upon this arch, and the shock avoided."

"For upwards of twenty years as a bootmaker, I have made the feet my study, and during that period many thousand pairs of feet have received my attention. I have observed with minute care the cast from the antique as well as 'the modern instances,' and I am obliged to admit, that much of the pain I have witnessed, much of the distortion of the toes, the corns on the top

of the feet, the bunion on the side, the callosities beneath, and the growing in of the nails between, are attributable to the shoemaker. The feet, with proper treatment, might be as free from disease and pain as the hands; their structure and adaptation to the wants and comfort of man, as we have seen, is most perfect." -Hall's Book of the Feet.

2. The Logic of Marriage. To wed, or not to wed? that is the question

"Man is airthenware, coarse, rude, rough, and onseemly. Woman is porcelain, a crittur highly finished and delicate. Man was made for knockin' about, he is tough and strong; but woman, to be taken care of and handled gently. What a sweet thing is innocence, Sam; how beautiful to contemplate, how lovely to associate with! As a philosopher, I admire purity in the abstract; but, as a man and a Christian, I love it when parsonified. Purity in a child, of such is heaven; purity in woman, of such also is the realms of bliss; but purity in man-oh, Sam, I am most afeerd, sometimes, there ain't much of it any where now a days, I snore: but matrimony, Sam, is a state ordained by God, not only to carry out his great purposes that is above our comprehension, but also for our happiness; yes, it is a nateral state, and a considerable of a pleasant one too, when well considered, and rightly entered upon. Don't put it off too long, Sam; don't wait till the heart ossifies."

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Yes, my son, said he, get married, and marry soon; it's time you were a-thinkin' on it now in airnest.-Well, I feel most plaguily skeered, minister, says I, to try, for if once you get into the wrong box, and the door is locked on you, there is no escape as I see; and besides, women are so everlastin' full of tricks, and so cunnin' in hiden 'em aforehand, that it's no easy matter to tell whether the bait has a hook in it or not; and if you go a-playin' round it, and a-nibblin' at it, why a sudden jerk given by a skilful hand may whip it into your gills afore you know where you be, and your flint is fixed as shure as there are snakes in Varginy."

"I must go now; but I'll give you a word of advice at partin', my dear boy. Don't marry too poor a gall, for they are apt to think there is no cend to their husband's puss; nor too rich a gall, for they are apt to remind you of it onpleasant sometimes; nor too giddy a gall, for they neglect their families; nor too demure a one, for they are most apt to give you the dodge, race off, and leave you; nor one of a different sect, for it breeds discord; nor a weak-minded one, for children take all their talents from their mothers; nor a- -O Lord! says I, minister, how you skeer a body! Where onder the sun will you find a nonsuch like

what you describe? There ain't actilly no such critturs_among women.-I'll tell you, my son, said he, for I'd like afore I die to see you well mated; I would, indeed! I'll tell you, tho' you talk to me sometimes as if I didn't know nothin' of women. You think nobody can't know 'em but them as romp all their days with them as you do; but them, let me tell you, know the least, for they are only acquainted with the least deserving. I'll gin you a gage to know 'em by that is almost invariable, universal, infallible. The character and conduct of the mother is a sure and certain guarantee for that of the darter.”—Sam Slick.

3. The Logic of Age. Ought the husband to be older than the wife? :

"We say disproportion of age, for allowing their years to be equal, as they usually are, the lady is virtually many years in advance. A woman, all the world over, is as old at twenty as a man is at twenty-eight; that is to say, she has as much worldknowledge, as much tact, as much finesse, as much judgment of character, as much self-possession, as much-cunning we were going to say, but that is rather a harsh term to apply to a lady.

"Now this disproportion of ages gives rise to many serious evils; so many, that we hardly know which to begin with. The young women must despise or at least undervalue the young men with whom they associate, as inferior to themselves in manner, tact, and conversational power. Hence they form a low opinion of men, as men, and are tempted to value them only for their external advantage,-personal beauty, skill in dancing-above all, wealth. Here is a fearful incentive to mercenary marriages. But we prefer to confine ourselves to its effects on married life. The bride and bridegroom are the same age, say twenty-three or four, unless indeed she happens to be a year older than he. In a mere external and physical point of view the first consequence is that she is an old woman while he is in the prime of life, for though both sexes among us are too apt to break themselves down, and grow old before their time, this premature decay is more general and more speedy with our females. The inconveniences, mistakes, mortifications, and jealousies that constantly arise from such discrepancy, are too evident to require more than being hinted at. But this is nothing to the moral phase of the question, the effect which a virtual disparity of ages has had in establishing a gynocracy. That a gynocracy does exist, no one conversant with fashionable life will be hardy enough to deny. In nine cases out of ten the lady rules the roast. That cardinal duty of a wife, respect for her husband, is utterly ignored by her. He is regarded as little more than an upper servant. Now the main cause of this is undoubtedly the original equality (which is

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