ADVICE TO AN AFFECTED SPEAKER. WHAT do you say?—What? I really do not understand you. Be so good as to explain yourself again.-Upon my word, I do not.-Oh, now I know: you mean to tell me it is a cold day Why did you not say at once, "It is cold to-day ?" If you wish to inform me it rains or snows, pray say, “It tains," "It snows;" or, if you think I look well, and you choose to compliment me, say, "I think you look well." "But," you answer, "that is so common, and so plain, and what everybody can say." Well, and what if they can? Is it so great a misfortune to be understood when one speaks, and to speak like the rest of the world? I will tell you what, my friend; you and your fine-spoken brethren want one thing-you do not suspect it, and I shall astonish you—you want common sense. Nay, this is not all: you have something too much; you possess an opinion that you have more sense than others. That is the source of all your pompous nothings, your cloudy sentences, and your big words without a meaning. Before you accost a person, or enter a room, let me pull you by your sleeve and whisper in your ear, "Do not try to show off your sense; have none at all-that is your part. Use plain language, if you can; just such as you find others use, who, in your idea, have no understanding; and then, perhaps, you will get credit for having some." LA BRUYÈRE. REMARKS TO TEACHERS. It is of the utmost importance, in order to acquire a cor rect and elegant style of reading,. frequently to refer the pupil to the Principles of Elocution, given in the First Part. These should be frequently reviewed, and the direo tions applied to the selections in Part Second. THE FIFTH READER. Part II. SELECT LITERARY EXERCISES IN READING 1. CHARACTER OF COLUMBUS. IRVING. WASHINGTON IRVING was born in New York, April 3, 1783-died, 1860. As an historian and essayist, Irving had no superior and few equals among the men of his time. His "History of New York," written under the assumed name of Diedrich Knickerbocker; his "History of Columbus," and the "Sketch-Book," were among the earlier triumphs of his genius; but his last and greatest work is the "Life of Washington," concluded just before his death. OLUMBUS was a man of great and inventive genius. The operation of his mind were energetic, but spasmodic; bursting forth at times with that irresistible force which characterizes intellect of such an order. His mind had grasped all kinds of knowledge connected with his pursuits; and though his information may appear limited at the present day, and some of his errors palpable, it is because knowledge, in his peculiar department of science, was but scantily developed in his time. His own discoveries enlightened the ignorance of that age; guided conjecture to certainty; and dispelled numerous errors with which he himself had been obliged to struggle. 2. His ambition was lofty and noble. He was full of high aspirations, and eager to wreathe his name with great achievements. It has been said that a mercenary feeling mingled with his views, and that his stipulations with the Spanish court were selfish and avaricious. The charge is inconsiderate and unjust. He aimed at dignity and wealth in the same lofty spirit which urged him to seek renown; but he staked them on his discoveries, and measured them by the importance of the territories ceded to the Crown. 3. He asked nothing of the sovereigns but a command of the countries he hoped to give them, and a share of the profits to support the dignity of his command. The gains that promised to arise from his discoveries, he intended to appropriate in the same princely and pious spirit in which they were obtained. He contemplated works and achievements of benev olence and religion, vast contributions for the relief of the poor of his native city; the foundation of churches, where masses should be said for the souls of the departed; and armies for the recovery of the holy sepulchre in Palestine. 4. Columbus was a man of quick sensibility, liable to great excitement, to sudden and strong impressions, and powerful impulses. He was naturally irritable and impetuous, and keenly sensible to injury and injustice; yet the quickness of his temper was counteracted by the benevolence and generosity of his heart. The magnanimity of his nature shone forth through all the troubles of his stormy career. Though continually insulted in his dignity, and braved in the exercise of his command; though foiled in his plans and endangered in his person by the seditions of turbulent and worthless men, and that, too, at times when suffering under anxiety of mind and anguish of body sufficient to exasperate the most patient, he restrained his valiant and indignant spirit; and, by the strong powers of his mind, brought himself to forbear, and reason, and even to supplicate: nor should we fail to notice how free he was from all feeling of revenge, how ready to forgive and forget, on the least signs of repentance and atonement. He has been extolled for his skill in controlling others; but far greater praise is due to him for the firmness he displayed in mastering himself. 5. His magnanimous benignity made him accessible to all kinds of pleasurable sensations from external objects. In his letters and journals, instead of detailing circumstances with the technical precision of a mere navigator, he depicts the beauties of nature with the enthusiasm of a poet or a painter. 6. His piety was sincere; religion mingled with the whole course of his thoughts and actions, and shines forth in all his most private and unstudied writings. Whenever he made any great discovery, he celebrated it by solemn thanks to God. The voice of prayer and melody of praise rose from his ships when they first beheld the New World, and his first action on landing was to prostrate himself upon the earth and return hanks. 7. With all the visionary fervor of his imagination, its fond est dreams fell short of reality. He died in ignorance of the real grandeur of his discovery. Until his last breath he entertained the idea that he had merely opened a new way to the old resorts of opulent commerce, and had discovered some of the wild regions of the East. He supposed Hispaniola to be the ancient Ophir which had been visited by the ships of Solomon, and that Cuba and Terra Firma were but remote parts of Asia 8. What visions of glory would have broken upon his mind could he have known that he had indeed discovered a new continent, equal to the whole of the Old World in magnitude, and separated by two vast oceans from all the earth hitherto known by civilized man! And how would his magnanimous spirit have been consoled, amidst the afflictions of age and the cares of penury, the neglect of a fickle public, and the injustice of an ungrateful king, could he have anticipated the splendid empires which were to spread over the beautiful world he had discovered; and the nations, and the tongues, and languages which were to fill its lands with his renown, and to revere and bless his name to the latest posterity! 2. THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS. ROGERS. SAMI EL ROGERS was born in England, in 1765, and died in 1855. His poetry has no strong claim to originality; but it is eminently characterized by the merits of good taste, refinement, and careful composition. 1. THE sails were furl'd; with many a melting close, |