distance between the works of divinity and the works of humanity.

9. The city, sir, is a contrivance of trade, trade that fosters "the love of money, which is the root of all evil," trade, that enslaves all the powers of the mind, and lashes them into the degrading service of Mammon,-trade, that tempts men to trickery and falsehood, trade, that makes them hasten to be rich, and so "pierce themselves through with many sorrows." 10. The city, sir, is the convenience and theater of fashion,-fashion that engenders fops and fools who delight in simulation and dissimulation; anxiously laboring to seem to be what they are not, and not to be what they are, fashion, that forms and fosters hollow and deceitful friendships and alliances, makes happiness dependent upon the cut of a coat, the shape of a hat, the fit of a boot, or the length of a mustache, and resolves all gentility into a slavish conformity with modes of dress and address, often absurd and ridiculous, and rarely convenient to nature.

11. The city is the nursery of social vice;-that vice, I mean, that can thrive only in the midst of multitudes; that shelters itself under the concealments of trade, and fashion, and politics, and whatever else may yield a fair outside, and so saps, unseen, the very foundations of virtue.

12. Why is it, sir, that people worn out, or disgusted with the toil and turmoil of trade, or with the empty and wearisome round of fashionable dissipation, or with the sorrowful vicissitudes of political ambition, fly away to the enchanting embrace of rural life, and seek in nature's path what was vainly, though eagerly, pursued amid the artificial arrangements and conven tional restraints of city life? It is because the country, being agreeable to nature, furnishes just those means and modes of enjoyment, which are the most effective and permament, because they are the most reliable.

13. There healthful labor brings its natural reward,— "a sound mind in a sound body." There the eye is

α

gratified with scenes of beauty and sublimity; there the ear is delighted with the song of birds and all the melody of nature; and there, if we will, we may, in truth,

"Look through nature up to Nature's God!"

QUESTIONS.-1 How does the 5th speaker characterize the arguments of the previous speakers? 2. How does he illustrate his statements 3. How does he characterize the city in the 9th, 10th, and 11th paragraphs 4 How does he account for the retreat of many people from the city? 5. How is the country represented in the last paragraph?

Why is the accent changed from the 4th to the 1st syllable, in the word dissimulation, and from the 2d to the 1st, in the word address, 10th paragraph? Note V. p. 20.

LESSON CXXXI.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. SPE CIF IC, definite; particular. 2. DEJECT ED, cast down; depression. 3. PRO TRACT' ED, drawn out; extended. 4. IR RE SIST I BLE, that can not be resisted. 5. Co' GENT, forcible. 6. CON' TRO VERT ED, disputed. 7. COM PEN SA TED, atoned for. 8. AT TRI' TION, the act of wearing away by friction. 9. SUAV' I TY, Sweetness; gentleness of manner. 10. PROX IM' I TY, nearness. 11. AD MIN IS TRA TION, government. 12. PE DES' TRI AN, one that goes on foot; a walker. 13. SPARSE, thin; scattered. RE SPECT IVE, relative. 15. ME DI UM, means. 16. A MEN I TY, agreeableness; pleasantness.

DEBATE. (CONTINUED.)

Which is preferable, city or country life?

SIXTH SPEAKER.

14.

1. MR. PRESIDENT:-I have no disposition to imitate the example of the last speaker, in complaining of the course taken by others in the debate; but I can not resist the conviction, that the real point in dispute has not yet been fully brought out and discussed. I do not flatter myself, that I shall be able to do it, as it ought to be done. Yet, something in this way, I shall attempt.

2. The statement of the case, seems to be this. Two individuals, early in life, equal in health, fortune, and in social position, propose to themselves the question: "Which is preferable, city or country life?" It is not which would be preferable, supposing a man to be eager after wealth, or fashion, or some other specific object, which cities alone can confidently promise, because of the number and variety of the people in them; neither is it, which would be preferable, supposing a man to be in quest of health, or disgusted with the tedious and trifling ways of fashion, or worn out with the cares of business, or dejected and disheartened by the disappointments of ambition, or bent upon nothing but sober, profound, and protracted studies.

3. The question respects exclusively neither of these supposed conditions or characters; for, if it did, its decision would be easy. The claims of the city, for the one party, would be so absolute and overpow ering, as to be quite irresistible; while the claims of the country, for the other party, would be no less cogent and convincing.

4. Now, with this, the true aspect of the case, that is, other things being equal, "which is preferable, town or country?" I think I may assume a position in favor of the former, that can not easily be controverted. I set out with the observation, that the town affords several advantages which can not be had, nor compensated for, by a resort to the country. There is a certain polish and refinement acquired in city circles, or by the gentle attrition of city associations, whether for pleasure or business, which nothing in ordinary rural life, can either produce or atone for.

5. This has been experienced always and everywhere. The very words civility, from civis, in Latin, a citizen; urbanity, from urbs, a city, in the same language; and, as has been affirmed by some, polite, from the Greek polis, a city; these very words, I say, all expressive of that suavity and polish of manners that are essential to the true gentleman, show what has

been the judgment of mankind for centuries, respect ing the influence of cities upon human character.

6. A second peculiar advantage of living in a city, arises from the multiplicity and proximity of its means and appliances for comfort and convenience. Whoever has experienced the annoyances growing out of the privations of country life, in this respect, will need no lengthy argument to make him feel its force. In the country, days and even weeks of delay and consequent discomfort, spring from the want of things, that every corner, in a city, offers in perpetual abundance.

7. In the country, with but few intervals of relief, a walk in the roads is but a weary wading through mud, or snow, or a ceaseless contact with clouds of dust. In the city, except under a weak and inefficient administration of the laws, well-paved streets and walks, and withal, well cleaned and sprinkled, invite the pedestrian to out-door business or exercise. Even at night, when the country is everywhere shrouded in robes of darkness, the city, all brilliant with lamps, along the streets, and in the countless shops and saloons, offers both pleasure and safety in walking abroad.

8. In the country, such is the temptation to impertinent curiosity, that every body's business seems to be every other body's business, and all and each, like the Athenians of old, seem "to spend their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing." In the city, every man has enough, and sometimes more than enough of his own business to attend to; and so it comes to pass, that whether one eats or drinks, whether he rides or walks, marries or is given in marriage, buys or sells, or whatsoever he does, that is legal and proper, arrests no special attention, and calls for no general talk or silly wonderment.

9. A third peculiar benefit in city life, is impressively known and felt only when we are taken dangerously ill, or suddenly meet with some bodily calamity. In the country where the population is sparse, a singla

physician is all that can ordinarily be supported in a widely-extended district.

10. It results, especially in cases of sudden and dangerous emergency, that the greatest delay and difficulty are experienced in securing timely medical aid and attendance. In the city, on the contrary, physicians and surgeons of all grades, are ever at hand. because, in cities alone, can they, in such numbers, be supported and encouraged. None can fail at once to see the singular superiority, in this respect, of the city over the country.

11. But, sir, I will pursue the subject no farther. I will not even claim the privilege, so freely accorded to others,—that of calling to my aid the sweet voice of song. Rather let my arguments, whether worthy or worthless, stand all alone: unaffected by the magic influence of metre, the felicities of rhyme, or the airy forms of imagination.

12. I will only remind you, in conclusion, that the question should be decided on general grounds; that the respective claims of town and country are to be made upon those who are in a condition to choose, without the bias or necessity resulting from particular aims or personal and peculiar habits or infirmities.

13. And, judging in this, the only fair and philosophical manner, I claim for the city-that splendid result of human progress-that glorious achievement of associated labor and enterprise-that spacious field for the exercise of Christian virtues-that noble encourager of the arts and sciences-that matchless medium of trade and commerce-that wondrous combination of comfort and convenience-that incom. parable nursery of the suavities and amenities of life, a true and triumphant decision in our favor.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the 6th speaker's view of the point in debate? 2. Which side does he take? 3. What is his first argument for the city? 4. How does he make the words civility, urbanity, and polite, tributary to his argument? 5. What is his second argument? 6. What is his third argument? 7. How does he conclude!