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a ray of pious wisdom fit for illuminating dark human destinies；not so much that he should possess the art of speech； as that he should have something to speak！ And for that latter requisite the Priest also trained himself by apprenticeship； by actual attempt to practise； by manifold long…continued trial； of a devout and painful nature； such as his superiors prescribed to him。 This； when once judged satisfactory； procured him ordination； and his grammar…learning； in the good times of priesthood； was very much of a parergon with him； as indeed in all times it is intrinsically quite insignificant in comparison。
The young Noble again； for whom grammar schoolmasters were first hired and high seminaries founded； he too without these； or above and over these； had from immemorial time been used to learn his business by apprenticeship。 The young Noble； before the schoolmaster as after him； went apprentice to some elder noble； entered himself as page with some distinguished earl or duke； and here； serving upwards 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