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from step to step； under wise monition； learned his chivalries； his practice of arms and of courtesies； his baronial duties and manners； and what it would beseem him to do and to be in the world；by practical attempt of his own； and example of one whose life was a daily concrete pattern for him。 To such a one； already filled with intellectual substance； and possessing what we may call the practical gold…bullion of human culture； it was an obvious improvement that he should be taught to speak it out of him on occasion； that he should carry a spiritual banknote producible on demand for what of 〃gold…bullion〃 he had； not so negotiable otherwise； stored in the cellars of his mind。 A man； with wisdom； insight and heroic worth already acquired for him； naturally demanded of the schoolmaster this one new faculty； the faculty of uttering in fit words what he had。 A valuable superaddition of faculty：and yet we are to remember it was scarcely a new faculty； it was but the tangible sign of what other faculties the man had in the silent state： and many a rugged inarticulate chief of men； I can believe； was most enviably 〃educated；〃 who had not a Book on his premises； whose signature； a true sign…_manual_； was the stamp of his iron hand duly inked and clapt upon the parchment； and whose speech in Parliament； like the growl of lions； did indeed convey his meaning； but would have torn Lindley Murray's nerves to pieces！ To such a one the schoolmaster adjusted himself very naturally in that manner； as a man wanted for teaching grammatical utterance； the thing to utter being already there。 The thing to utter； here was the grand point！ And perhaps this is the reason why among earnest nations； as among the Romans for example； the craft of the schoolmaster was held in little regard； for indeed as mere teacher of grammar； of ciphering on the abacus and such like； how did he differ much from the dancing…master or fencing…master； or deserve much regard？Such was the rule in the ancient healthy times。
Can it be doubtful that this is still the rule of human education； that the human creature needs first of all to be educated not that he may speak； but that he may have something weighty and valuable to say！ If speech is the bank…note of an inward capital of culture； of insight and noble human worth； then speech is precious； and the art of speech shall be honored。 But if there is no inward capital； if speech represent no real culture of the mind； but an imaginary culture； no bullion； but the fatal and now almost hopeless deficit of such？ Alas； alas； said bank…note is then a _forged_ one； passing freely current in the market； but bringing damages to the receiver； to the payer； and to all the world； which are in sad truth infallible； and of amount incalculable。 Few think of it at present； but the truth remains forever so。 In parliaments and other loud assemblages； your eloquent talk； disunited from Nature and her facts； is taken as wisdom and the correct image of said facts： but Nature well knows what it is； Nature will not have it as such； and will reject your forged note one day； with huge costs。 The foolish traders in the market pass freely； nothing doubting； and rejoice in the dexterous execution of the piece： and so it circulates from hand to hand； and from class to class； gravitating ever downwards towards the practical class； till at last it reaches some poor _working_ hand； who can pass it no farther； but must take it to the bank to get bread with it； and there the answer is； 〃Unhappy caitiff； this note is forged。 It does not mean performance and reality； in parliaments and elsewhere； for thy behoof； it means fallacious semblance of performance； and thou； poor dupe； art thrown into the stocks on offering it here！〃
Alas； alas； looking abroad over Irish difficulties； Mosaic sweating…establishments； French barricades； and an anarchic Europe； is it not as if all the populations of the world were rising or had risen into incendiary madness；unable longer to endure such an avalanche of forgeries； and of penalties in consequence； as had accumulated upon them？ The speaker is 〃excellent；〃 the notes he does are beautiful？ Beautifully fit for the market； yes； _he_ is an excellent artist in his business；and the more excellent he is； the more is my desire to lay him by the heels； and fling _him_ into the treadmill； that I might save the poor sweating tailors； French Sansculottes； and Irish Sanspotatoes from bearing the smart！
For the smart must be borne； some one must bear it； as sure as God lives。 Every word of man is either a note or a forged note：have these eternal skies forgotten to be in earnest； think you； because men go grinning like enchanted apes？ Foolish souls； this now as of old is the unalterable law of your existence。 If you know the truth and do it； the Universe itself seconds you； bears you on to sure victory everywhere：and； observe； to sure defeat everywhere if you do not do the truth。 And alas； if you _know_ only the eloquent fallacious semblance of the truth； what chance is there of your ever doing it？ You will do something very different from it； I think！He who well considers； will find this same 〃art of speech；〃 as we moderns have it； to be a truly astonishing product of the Ages； and the longer he considers it； the more astonishing and alarming。 I reckon it the saddest of all the curses that now lie heavy on us。 With horror and amazement； one perceives that this much…celebrated 〃art；〃 so diligently practised in all corners of the world just now； is the chief destroyer of whatever good is born to us （softly； swiftly shutting up all nascent good； as if under exhausted glass receivers； there to choke and die）； and the grand parent manufactory of evil to us；as it were； the last finishing and varnishing workshop of all the Devil's ware that circulates under the sun。 No Devil's sham is fit for the market till it have been polished and enamelled here； this is the general assaying…house for such； where the artists examine and answer； 〃Fit for the market； not fit！〃 Words will not express what mischiefs the misuse of words has done； and is doing； in these heavy…laden generations。
Do you want a man _not_ to practise what he believes； then encourage him to keep often speaking it in words。 Every time he speaks it； the tendency to do it will grow less。 His empty speech of what he believes； will be a weariness and an affliction to the wise man。 But do you wish his empty speech of what he believes； to become farther an insincere speech of what he does not believe？ Celebrate to him his gift of speech； assure him that he shall rise in Parliament by means of it； and achieve great things without any performance； that eloquent speech； whether performed or not； is admirable。 My friends； eloquent unperformed speech； in Parliament or elsewhere； is horrible！ The eloquent man that delivers； in Parliament or elsewhere； a beautiful speech； and will perform nothing of it； but leaves it as if already performed；what can you make of that man？ He has enrolled himself among the _Ignes Fatui_ and Children of the Wind； means to serve； as beautifully illuminated Chinese Lantern； in that corps henceforth。 I think； the serviceable thing you could do to that man； if permissible； would be a severe one： To clip off a bit of his eloquent tongue by way of penance and warning； another bit； if he again spoke without performing； and so again； till you had clipt the whole tongue away from him；and were delivered； you and he； from at least one miserable mockery： 〃There； eloquent friend； see now in silence if there be any redeeming deed in thee； of blasphemous wind…eloquence； at least； we shall have no more！〃 How many pretty men have gone this road； escorted by the beautifulest marching music from all the 〃public organs；〃 and have found at last that it endedwhere？ It is the _broad_ road； that leads direct to Limbo and the Kingdom of the Inane。 Gifted men； and once valiant nations； and as it were the whole world with one accord； are marching thither； in melodious triumph； all the drums and hautboys giving out their cheerfulest _Ca…ira_。 It is the universal humor of the world just now。 My friends； I am very sure you will _arrive_； unless you halt！
Considered as the last finish of education； or of human culture； worth and acquirement； the art of speech is noble； and even divine； it is like the kindling of a Heaven's light to show us what a glorious world exists； and has perfected itself； in a man。 But if no world exist in the man； if nothing but continents of empty vapor； of greedy self…conceits； common…place hearsays； and indistinct loomings of a sordid _chaos_ exist in him； what will be the use of 〃light〃 to show us that？ Better a thousand times that such a man do not speak； but keep his empty vapor and his sordid chaos to himself； hidden to the utmost from all beholders。 To look on that； can be good for no human beholder； to look away from that； must be good。 And if； by delusive semblances of rhetoric； logic； first…class degrees； and the aid of elocution…masters and parliamentary reporters； the poor proprietor of said chaos should be led to persuade himself； and get others persuaded；which it is the nature of his sad task to do； and which； in ce