poor man in whom the people are poor, and how to give all access to the masterpieces of art and nature is the problem of civilization. From "Conduct of Life." GLOSSARY. Watt; Stephenson; fulsomely; Goethe. STUDY. Emerson's method in one of his essays is somewhat like that of one showing a precious stone with many facets. He turns first one side and then another toward you, and, while no two are alike, you are gradually getting a clearer and clearer conception of what the whole is worth. From your study of this selection determine as clearly as possible Emerson's position on these points: (1) What wealth means; (2) what its source is; (3) why wealth is a necessity; (4) who should own; (5) who is the rich man and who the poor; (6) the place of money in this scheme of wealth; (7) why every man should be a producer. Read passages to bring out each point. When can their glory fade? All the world wonder'd. Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred! GLOSSARY. Light Brigade; Cossack. STUDY. First, notice the gallop of the horses in the rhythm of the verse. What was there about this charge that caused all the world to wonder? What in the second stanza suggests the supreme test of the soldier's sense of discipline? Notice that stanza 3 gives the ride forward, stanza 4 the fight for the guns, stanza 5 the ride back. What likenesses and differences in the charge and the retreat? What feelings does Tennyson stir in you by this poem? Wonder? Admiration? Amazement? Indignation at the blunder that caused the charge? Do you think that such an event can be of any value to humanity? 50 55 THE ALTERNATIVE PATRICK HENRY [From a speech in the Virginia Convention, March, 1775] MR. PRESIDENT: It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the 5 number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that 10 is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen 15 have been pleased to solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike 20 preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive our selves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation25 the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?. No, sir, 30 she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we any35 thing new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find, which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we 40 have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned-we have remonstratedwe have supplicated-we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been 15 slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable 50 privileges for which we have been so long contending-if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained we must fight!—I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal 55 to arms and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak-unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in 60 every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means 65 which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the 70 destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and 75 slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come! It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually be- 80 gun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to |