which has found its opponents as well as its defenders. We shall therefore speak of the advantages and the disadvantages of these rapid modes of locomotion.

A. Disadvantages.

a. Many persons, as drivers, inn-keepers, &c., have lost their occupation.

b. Smaller towns have either become desolate, or have advanced very slowly; while larger ones grow with amazing rapidity. In these latter is rushing to and fro a population not having the least interest at heart in the welfare of the city, speculating for money, and desecrating the place with immoral and irreligious principles; whence the sad state of a large portion of the population of our great cities.

c. The growing wealth of many of the citizens, may, in the course of time, be the means of making them hostile to our free institutions, and imbuing them with a spirit foreign to our Constitution and State organizations. With increasing riches, luxury enters, which may in the end destroy all simplicity of manners among the people. d. The quickness of travel lessens the enjoyment and information which should be desired from that source.

B. Advantages.

a. Commerce and trade gain exceedingly by the ease and quickness of intercourse. "Time is money." The peculiar products of different places find new markets. b. Agriculture is benefited; the farmer is not compelled to sell his products in the nearest market; hence higher prices, and, consequently, increase of wealth with improved modes of cultivating the land, new machinery, fine stock. Famine, formerly so common, may now, in most cases, be avoided, by sending the surplus of one country to feed the suffering population of another. c. General culture is diffused by the facility of communication every one may see more in a day than formerly in a week. Not only is commerce promoted, but also art and science.

II.

d. By the growing wealth, enterprise receives constant stimulus, and opens new fields of industry: the rich, instead of becoming dangerous to our institutions, rather feel that, for the most part, they owe their prosperity to those free institutions. Besides, public opinion has become such a power in our day, that even wealth is obliged to submit to it.

e. Even family ties are drawn more close, and new ones are
formed by means of easier intercourse.

f. In times of war, a more speedy concentration of troops
takes place; hence, a quicker decision, and shortening
of the suffering produced by war.
The Italian cam-

paign of 1859, the Prussian and Austrian of 1866, and
our own civil war, would have had quite different
results if these modern improvements had not been
brought into requisition.

Conclusion.- Which are greater, the advantages or the disadvantages? What would be the condition of our country, with its great inland lakes and rivers, its broad expanse of territory, if the steamengine had not been invented? God brings about great revolutions in the affairs of men when they are most needed: look at the map of Europe and at that of America, and it will be apparent that there was design in reserving the great inventions of the steam-engine and the telegraph until the discovery of the western continent, with its broad inland territories, should render them necessary.

59.

CONSOLATIONS IN ADVERSITY.

I. The good man is not always successful; the reasons for this depend upon,

a. Unforeseen circumstances, over which he has no control. b. Opposition and plotting of his fellow-men.

c. Or upon himself; namely, in his application of unsuitable

means.

II. In such cases, he too often loses courage. a. This should not be; for a wise man ought to profit by his

misfortunes.

b. He should think somewhat after this manner: I have
failed, it is true, but only in a material point of view:
in a larger and broader sense, I have gained; for,
1. I have done my duty, come what may; I feel that I
have by this become better, more attached to vir-
tue, more true to my God.

2. My knowledge of man is enlarged.

3. My failure may perhaps save others from misfortune, and give them the means of doing that which I failed to do.

4. Failures, if resulting from good intentions, are not misunderstood by well-disposed persons: they know that success does not always crown the deserving.

5. Perhaps, what I, in my blindness, consider as an evil, may, in the end, prove to be a blessing.

6. The wheel of fortune is ever turning: success may follow failure.

7. Complaints are of no avail: they show the weakness, not the nobility, of man.

III. Keep up courage, then, even in the darkest hour; never be dismayed. If you fail, try again, and bear in mind that genuine success crowns only him who perseveres even to the end.

60.

NOT EVERY ONE MAY BECOME PRESIDENT.

I. Introduction.

a. History teaches that men have often become president, who, themselves, never aimed after such an exalted dignity.

b. The highest mark of distinction is often reached unex

pectedly.

c. Fortune does not smile alike on every one.

II. Accidental circumstances.

a. Circumstances of time, place, &c., often favor one more
than another; as family descent and connections, birth-
place, property, education, health, agitated times, &c.
b. Also the natural talents of the individual, as memory,
power of thought and expression, intellect, tempera-

ment.

III. Consolations for those less favored in these respects.

a. External circumstances are not always decisive: the chances of fortune are wonderful.

b. Even talents are not a safe guaranty of promotion; they have their dangerous side, - levity, haughtiness, relaxation, &c.

c. The surest means is common sense, based upon justice and brotherly love.

d. Energy, and a correct use of every opportunity, will supply the place of much that is otherwise wanting.

IV. Conclusion. In lower places, there is generally

more happiness, and much good may there be done. Remember the golden mean.

61.

"GOLD LIES DEEP IN THE MOUNTAIN."

I. Precious things are in general acquired with great difficulty; hence their value.

It needs pru

dence to find the proper means, energy to turn every thing to the best advantage, foresight to avoid dangers, and fortitude to bear the troubles which may come.

II. Things which are worthy of man's pursuit.

This

a. Virtue, from which results quietness of mind. precious jewel can be gained only by combat: its opponents with which we have to contend are pride, sensuality, envy, wrath, &c.

b. Culture of mind, which also can be acquired only by great exertion, by constant industry. Like virtue, it,

too, has its obstacles, such as levity, disgust of study, weakness of comprehension, &c.

A. Honor and respect will be the portion of him only who possesses this virtue and this culture.

B. Prosperity and riches are in themselves things of inferior value; but, alas! by too many they are considered the main objects of life.

III. Conclusion.

The miner draws from all his toil and hardship very little advantage and comfort: quite the reverse is the result for those who mine for the more precious jewels of the soul and the mind.

62.

SPEECH OF A BUILDER AFTER THE ERECTION OF A

SCHOOL-BUILDING.

I. Introduction.

a. At the request of my fellow-laborers, I stand before you to give utterance to our common pleasure in the completion of our work.

*b. I am, as you well know, not a skillful orator, and hope therefore for your kind forbearance in listening to my poor effort to entertain you.

c. We have finished many a building, but none destined for a more noble purpose than this.