ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS. 41 



take that social position to which their good sense would other- 

 wise entitle them. Speech is the grand distinction between man 

 and the brute creation. But this is the result of cultivation and 

 social intercourse. Our social rank depends very much upon 

 our power to use correct language. An easy, fluent, graceful 

 utterance gives one access to many social advantages ; and 

 these, in turn, afford aid to his utterance. A clear expression 

 of thought enables us to exert a greater influence upon others, 

 and at the same time strengthens the distinctness of our own 

 perceptions. 



Farmers should improve every opportunity to cultivate their 

 social natures. Here we have one great use for agricultural 

 fairs, farmers' clubs and farmers' festivals. It should not be the 

 main question at our fairs : Did they have large cattle and fast 

 horses ; but was there a display of beautiful humanity ? Were 

 the people there with their joyful, friendly, familiar, social 

 greeting ? Was age, with silvery locks and fond memories of 

 the past there ? Was youth, glowing with vigor in high expec- 

 tations of the future there ? Yes, fathers and mothers, sisters 

 and brothers, sweethearts and lovers, were all there ; and as 

 friend greets friend, there is an increase of self-respect, an 

 exuberance of feeling, an intellectualized, reinvigorated flow of 

 spirits, which send their shadow back ten degrees in the dial of 

 Ahaz. 



It is the attrition of mind with mind which polishes and gives 

 vital force to man. He must take time for social intercourse 

 and intellectual improvement. Conversation is the great recre- 

 ation of life, stirring us to activity, cheering us around our 

 hearthstones, moving the heart gently, often deeply ; crowding 

 the memories of years into moments, and kindling the purest 

 and happiest emotions. Laughter and tears, smiles and blushes, 

 are instinctive acts of man. He who can give the most intelli- 

 gible expression of his ideas in the fewest words has the best 

 command of language ; and his command of language may be 

 made more forcible by proper muscular action. There is a lan- 

 guage in action, in the features of the face, in the expression of 

 the eye — a language which speaks from the heart, and is beyond 

 the utterance of the voice. 



Encourage industrious habits in children with reference to 

 usefulness. We are not sufficiently aware how immense is the 

 6* 



