CURRENT PROVERBS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2080, 5 January 1870, Page 2

CURRENT PROVERBS.

‘ ‘ The genius, wit, .and spirit of a nation are discerned in its proverbs.” So says the philosophic Bacon in one of his well-known and well-worn aphorisms—only well-worn, by-the-bye, on account of its truthfulness. Certainly, if one would make himself acquainted with the hidden life, manners, opinions, and customs of a people, let him study that nation’s proverbs. Lord Chesterfield, indeed, says, “No man of fashion ever nses a proverb j” but “ the fashionable world ” does not comprise all wisdom and propriety. Shakespeare knew well the value of proverbs, for we find him using them as titles for his plays, for example, “ Measure for Measure,” “ All’s well that ends well,” &c.; and we find him continually putting them in the mouths of his characters. But what is a proverb 7 Walker says it is a short sentence frequently repeated by the people —a saw—an adage—a word, name, or observation. Bay, in his preface to the “ Handbook of Proverbs,’’says : “ Mynotion of a proverb, in brief, is. this : A short sentence or phrase in common use, containing some trope, figure, rhyme, or other pithy expression. ” But perhaps the best definition I can find (certainly the quaintest) is one given by Dean Trench. “ A good proverb, ” he says, “consists of shortness, sense, and salt.” Certainly, a proverb consisting of these three elements must be a diamond of the first water; turn it which way you will, it must reflect brightly ; but, alas ! many diamonds have “flaws”—so have proverbs. From the earliest ages to the present, every great nation has been abundant, in proverbs. The ancient Hebrews had many proverbs, and with reverence be it remembered that the Divine Teacher often employed such as were current among those to whom he spoke, as, for example, “Physician, heal thyself,” “A prophet is not without honor save in his own country.” Again, at the well of Sychar our Lord alluded more directly to the current phrases of the day. He said, “Herein is that saying” (proverb we should call it), “ One aoweth, another reapeth.” King Solomon the Wise thus gives his opinion on the use of proverbs : “The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel ; to know wisdom and instruction ; to perceive the words of understanding ; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity ; to give subtilty to the simple ; to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise, man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels; to understand a proverb and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” But now for some examples of proverbs composed of sterling merit and sound sense, but misapplied. A clergyman advising his people to save some of their earnings in a penny bank, was met by the following proverbsA bird in the band is worth two in the bush;” “Penny wise, and pound foolish ;” “ Save a feather and lose a goose.” All of these sayings are very good, and contain much wisdom, but were plainly misappropriated. In like manner, a lazy man will often excuse dilatoriness by the proverb, “More haste, worse speed.” I heard a glutton once excuse himself with the jjuaint saw, “An empty sack can’t stand upright. ” A careful, cautious man is often hurt and wounded if he has had a misfortune or loss by the really good but misapplied adage, “You should look before you leap." Untruthfulness is sometimes “toned” by the bad proverb, “White lies will wash.” Covetousness is excused by the provident maxim, “Take care of number one. ” And so on : people are so apt to twist proverbs to answer their own purposes that good maxims are oftentimes compelled to cloak bad actions. But there are many proverbs, “ household words ” to us all, which are in themselves really bad and injurious. For instance, “ When at Rome, do as the Romans ,do a very fair maxim as to common usages of life, but a thoroughly bad precept when questions of right or morality are. involved. In fact, it says in other words, “Follow the multitude to do evil.” “Press where the wind blows harlest,” “ Where the master goes the man may go,” “ What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” “A Roland for an Oliver,” and many similar saw s, teach selfishness, revenge, and other unworthy feelings. “A short life and a merry one," is a phrase often used by people who, if they only took the trouble to analyse the sentence, would never utter it. First of all, what is usually understood by the expression “ a merry life ”? This, a life of gaiety and revelry, a life of selfish if not sensual indulgence. Of the same series is the saying, “ He’s a good fellow, nobody’s enemy but his own.” The “merry life” and the “ good fellow ” are twin proverbs. Nor is this character of “good fellows” true. Trace their influence on others’ lives, not companions only, but on sorrowing parents and suffering children, and it is not easy to calculate the misery, vice, and crime that one “goodfgllpw” jpay cause, — Leisure Ljour,