12 ETYMOLOGY. 



his magazine or paper ; while " The Ladies* Book, " or " The Mirror " 

 graces the parlor, and " The Mother's Magazine " finds its way to the 

 nursery. Children, too, are not neglected, but have either their " cor- 

 ner" in some larger periodical, or find their "organ" in the "Youth's 

 Companion," or "Scholar's Magazine." A device which appeared some 

 time since at the head of an advertisement in one of our daily papers, 

 may be considered fitly emblematical of one of the leading features of 

 our age and perhaps of our Country. It represented a locomotive en- 

 gine, apparently under a full head of steam, and throwing off number- 

 less printed cards in all directions. Suppose those cards to be books, 

 or pamphlets, or papers, and the device illustrates the publishing feature 

 of our age. A large portion of this countless issue, undoubtedly, is 

 good seed, and when good fruit fails to grow from it, the fault is to be 

 found in the soil on which it falls, or other controlhng influence. But 

 much, it is to be feared, is tares and cockle, and many a Upas grain is 

 thrown into some rank soil, and gives forth a rapid noxious growth. 



We would be far indeed from laying the least obstacle in the way 

 of the widest diffusion of knowledge. But it seems evident that this 

 great amount of publications of all sorts, especially when we consider 

 the character of a large portion of them, has a tendency to engender 

 false taste, and make superficial readers rather than men of sound intel- 

 ligence and reflection. To the temptation held out, is to be attributed 

 much waste of mind and time, and the formation of pernicious habits, 

 both mental and moral. Amusement, in too many cases, becomes the 

 object of the reader — or extent of surface in the domains of knowledge 

 is sought for, rather than depth and excellence of soil. Men make haste 

 to be wise, and fail of wisdom : proving by facts that the labor saving 

 process, so admirable when applied to material products will not an- 

 swer for the mind. Men may cram the whole circle of sciences into a 

 duodecimo, manufacture linguists by a ds)zen "lessons of one hour each" 

 teach theology in primeis, and convey in a few lectures to listening and 

 intelligent thousands, the principles of law and government ; but after 

 all, in the hour of need, their scientific men, their linguists, and theolo- 

 gians, and statesmen will be found wanting. It is as true now, as it was 

 two thousand years ago, that there is no short road to knowledge, and 

 " with many a tiial is excellence attained. " 



ETYMOLOGY. 



One of the most profitable exercises in which the student of lan- 

 guage can engage, is the etymological investigation of words. By this 



