“Now because shame is an imagination . . .”
Now because shame is an imagination proceeding from some injury done to Reputation, for Reputations sake, and not of the Events that happen; and because no man would have any care of his Reputation but because of that esteem which generally men have of it; of necessity a man must esteem that which all men value. Now they who esteem, esteem those whom they esteem, and those by whom they would be admir’d; all those with whom they have an honourable Emulation, and whose good fame they do not contemn.
Aristotle’s Rhetoric to Theodectes, 1686. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original image here.
Of Behaviour Among Boys.
- As near as may be, converse not with any but those that are good, sober and virtuous; Evil communication corrupts good Manners.
- Be not quarrelsom, but rather take patiently, than mischievously occasion any manner of wrong.
- Reprove thy Companions as often as there shall be occasion for any evil, wicked unlawful, or indecent Action of Expression.
- Give always place to him that excelleth thee in Quality, Age or Learning.
- Be willing to take those words or actions as jestings, which thou hast reason to believe were designed for such: and fret not at thy companions innocent mirth.
- If thy Companion be a little too gross or sarcastical in speaking, yet strive not to take notice of it, or be moved at all therewith.
- Abuse not thy Companion either by word or deed.
- Deal justly among boys, thy equals; as solicitously as if thou were a man with men, and about business of higher importance.
- Be not selfish altogether, but kindly, free, and generous to others.
- Jot not the Table or Desk on which another writes.
- At play make not thy Hands, Face, or Cloaths, dusty or dirty: nor sit upon the ground.
- Avoid sinful and unlawful Recreations: all such as prejudice the welfare either of body or mind.
- Scorn not, Laugh not at any for the natural infirmities of Body or mind, nor because of them affix to any a vexing title of contempt and reproach.
- Adventure not to talk with thy companions about thy Superiors, to raise discourse reflecting upon, or touching another’s Parents, or Master: to publish any thing of thine own Family or House-fold affairs. Children must meddle only with the affairs of Children.
The School of Manners. Or Rules for Childrens Behaviour, fourth edition, 1701. Facsimile edition, with illustrations added, published 1983. From my mother’s collection.
“‘Tis Summer morn . . .”
‘Tis Summer morn: the vivifying dews
Of night the sun has long exhaled: the hills
And vales are robed in deepest emerald,
Besprent with beauteous flowers: all nature smiles;
But the fair scene gives not a single gleam
Of sunshine to the beggar’s weary heart;
Whose sightless eyes had never read the signs
By which the living world reveals its joy.
He sits a-begging by the highway side,
In lone despondency; and sick at heart,
That Heaven had made it his unpitied lot
To be both poor and blind.
Songs of Life: A Collection of Poems, by Edward Hartley Dewart, 1869. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original image here.
“Blessed is he . . .”
Blessed is he who has the courage of his own conviction and who follows its accurate lead.
Blessed is he who knows exactly what he wants and who does not falter in going after it.
Blessed is he who sees the good in himself and so attracts all good to himself.
Blessed is he whose soul shine is the light of his own path to success.
The Essene Message, January 1917. From MIQEL.com. Original image here.
Bowling-Green Tavern for Sale.
In consequence of the delicate health of one of the proprietors of the above property, they have determined, by mutual consent, to dissolve their partnership, and offer it for sale to the highest bidder at public auction on Monday the 8th day of December next, being Carolina Court day. The value of this property is so generally known that the subscribers think it unnecessary to say any thing more than that the Tavern since it came into their possession has been repaired and painted and enlarged by the addition of several rooms; a new Portico, Balcony and Stable containing 75 stalls, has been erected, and the garden and yard put under good enclosure. Some out-houses also are built. The tract of land attached to the Tavern will also be sold; it contains 259 acres. A perfect title will be made to the purchaser.
Terms— Four thousand dollars in cash and the balance of the purchase money at the end of 12 months, to be secured by a deed of trust upon the property.
NORBORNE E SUTTON.
THOS. H BURKE.
Bowling Green, Va., Nov. 7.
Richmond Enquirer, 11/25/1828. From HistoryBuff.com. Original image here.
“Wit elicits wit . . .”
Wit elicits wit; and when such brilliant materials meet, they form the flint and steel of conversation; appreciation is the tinder, which, though not bright in itself, receives and cherishes the scintillations as they fall. Who has not felt his intellect expand with the assurance of having what he says understood? Appreciation certainly is a talent.
The American Ladies and Gentleman’s Manual of Elegance, Fashion, and True Politeness, by Charles William Day, 1852. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original images here and here.
“I giue thankes to God . . .”
I giue thankes to God, vvhom I serue from my progenitours in a pure conscience, that vvithout intermission I haue a memorie of thee in my praiers, night and day desiring to see thee, mindeful of thy teares, that I may be filled vvith joy, calling to minde that faith vvhich is in thee not feined, vvhich also dvvelt first in thy grandmother Loïs, and thy mother Eunîce, and I am sure that in thee also. For the vvhich cause I admonish thee that thou resuscitate the grace of God, vvhich is in thee by the imposition of my handes. For God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare: but of povver, and loue, and sobrietie. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimonie of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but trauail vvith the Gospel according to the povver of God, vvho hath deliuered and called vs by his holy calling, not according to our vvorkes, but according to his purpose and grace, vvhich vvas giuen to vs in Christ IESVS before the secular times. But it is manifested novv by the illumination of our Sauiour IESVS Christ, vvho hath destroied death, & illuminated life and incorruption by the Gospel: vvherein I am appointed a preacher and Apostle and Maister of the Gentiles. For the vvhich cause also I suffer these things: but I am not cófounded. For I know whom I haue beleeued, & I am sure that he is able to keepe my depositum vnto that day.
The Nevv Testament of Iesvs Christ, translated faithfvlly into English out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages, 1582. From Bibliothèque nationale de France. Original images here and here.
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Gratitude is Due for Good Intentions
All admit that our obligation to benefactors is in proportion to their intention to benefit us, and that even if, through some accident or hindrance, their deeds fall short of their goodwill, and they fail to do us good; . . . while, on the other hand, we owe no debt of gratitude to those by whose acts we are benefited without their intending to do us good. It will now be shown that while in almost all the motives to human benevolence self-interest plays a part, the benevolence of God is entirely disinterested.
The Duties of the Heart By Rabbi Bachye, tr. Edwin Collins, 1909. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original image here.
“We went ashore at Port Said . . .”
We went ashore at Port Said, but as it was in the evening after it was dark, we could not see much of the place. We however saw various coffee houses, small theatres, and gambling shops. The dregs of all European countries gather here; Port Said is therefore noted for its immorality. On 25th March during night time we left Port Said and entered the Mediterranean. We received fresh passengers in Egypt, among whom was an American Missionary of a certain persuasion. He was delighted to see a magnificent crop of heathens on board the vessel, and he at once set to commence his harvesting operations. He began from the beginning, and told us first all about the Creation. He told us about the rebellion in heaven, about the creation of Adam and Eve, about their fall, and all the subsequent results that came out of it. We on our part told him our version of the story. We said that we Bráhmans came out of the Creator’s mouth, our warrior caste came out of His hand, our trading caste came out of His thigh and our cultivating caste came out of His feet. He laughed at what is related in our books, and said that our account of the Creation is simply absurd and entirely false. He wondered how our people could put faith on such a childish story. This gentleman then especially warned us of the Satan, whose constant delight is to take human souls to the place where he lives, not a very comfortable place we were told. He firmly believed that the world would come to an end within five years, and therefore earnestly urged upon us to prepare for that final catastrophe. Interesting discussions of this kind were however soon interrupted. The wind rose, the weather became unpleasant, high waves dashed against the vessel, making it roll heavily, the whole deck was inundated with spray, and both the Missionary and his audience felt that they were going to be turned inside out. Most of the passengers were now sea-sick, but I was not one of the number, and cannot therefore describe the queer sensation which people indisposed in this way are said to feel.
A Visit to Europe by T. N. Mukharji, 1889. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original images here and here.
“In England as your Lordship may . . .”
In England as your Lordship may well remember, the King was not only made a close prisoner, his Crowne, his life, and the succession of his posterity declared against, but also all those parties that stood for him there, or had declared in his behalfe, and taken armes for his rescue, were wholy dispersed, and subdued: yea and all other men, whose parts, honesty, or publique interest made them worthy of a suspition, either imprisoned, banisht, or utterly disarmed.
A Letter from Sr. Levvis Dyve to the Lord Marquis of New-Castle, 1650. From the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Original image here.
