The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 1, August, 1834Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 1, August, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
When a man has learned the arts and sciences of which I have
spoken--when he has examined the political, religious and philosophical
opinions which have governed the world from the remotest ages--he sees
that the number of original ideas is not as great as one might
suppose--he perceives that all mental faculties are connected--and that
there is a chain which unites all thoughts--that they proceed from each
other--that an idea must spring from a cause which gives rise to it.
Thus he studies the laws of reasoning--thus by practice he learns to
fix his attention on his sensations, and sometimes a single sensation,
when properly analyzed, presents him the substance of a whole
discourse: for a good discourse is nothing more than _a series of
judgments_ logically deduced from each other,--_it is a chain of ideas
connected by a close analogy_. By training his mind to logical
deductions, he acquires by degrees, the facility of combining ideas;
and, guided by analogy, he reasons correctly without effort. Reasoning
is learned like languages. At first, we hesitate in placing the words
of a foreign tongue--we are obliged to recollect the rule which is to
guide us in every part of speech; but when thoroughly versed in the
genius of the language, we speak it fluently, without thinking about
the arrangement of words. So it is with reasoning. A man who is equally
versed in several languages, may express his ideas without knowing at
the moment, in what idiom he imbodies his thoughts. A man who has
trained his mind logically, reasons well, without thinking about the
principles which guide him. It is well known that men have many ideas
in common, and very often an author becomes popular and illustrious,
only because he expresses with great superiority and beauty, that which
every body thinks and feels. This is the very foundation of poetry and
eloquence. It is this art which is called _nature_, and which gives
immortality to literary productions. The work which does not awake our
sympathy--which is not in harmony with the feelings of our nature--and
which is not expressed in words best suited to its subject, can never
acquire fame for its author. Hence the importance of the
_improvvisatore's_ studying mankind--hence the necessity of learning to
imbody his ideas in appropriate language.--As each _passion_ has its
peculiar expression and style, the _improvvisatore_ must engrave on his
mind, the _association_ of suitable expressions for every _feeling_;
so, that every time he experiences or brings back to his memory a
_sensation_, a _passion_, or an _idea_, he may also, simultaneously
recall the words best suited to express them. He must acquire the
faculty of bringing before his mind, all the scenes of nature--and the
passions which spring from the heart of man; and, at the same time,
possess language to convey them with eloquence. His imagination must be
active, impetuous, or overwhelming, according to the objects which he
intends to describe.
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