MR. MIRAMS' LECTURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1414, 27 August 1878, Page 3

MR. MIRAMS' LECTURE.

The second of the series of lectures in connection with the above association was delivered last evening by the Rev, J.Mirams in the Congregational schoolroom, Manchester street. There was a very good attendance, the chair being taken by the Rev. Mr Habens, who opened the proceedings with prayer, He then, in a brief and humorous speech, introduced the lecturer, at the same time expressing a hope that the lectui’e itself would prove as interesting and profitable as it had been in other places where it had been delivered. The lecturer commenced by saying that the object of these lectures was twofold, namely, instruction and recreation —the latter in itself was valuable and necessary, on the principle that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and that equally applied to adults, Jn Victoria their system was to divide the day of twenty-four hours into three portions — eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, and eight hours for recreation. This was a very useful division of time. A change of work was as beneficial as playing to some people j while, again, with others their play was the hardest of their work. The clerk worked harder at football or in the cricket field than at the dpsk. There was a time for all things, a time to laugh; a good honest pheprful ringing laugh was a good thing, and it was a true saying that the man who pould not laugh was not to bo depended on. Coming to the subject of tho evening’s lecture, the question arose, “ What is a proverb? Ho should say it was a byeword. JCrasmus defined a proverb to be— a well-known saying, remarkable for some elegant novelty ; and Aristotle’s definition was—that it was a remnant of the ancient philosophy, preserved amidst very many destructions on

account of its brevity, fitness, and use. The collection and explanation of these remnants of wisdom had engaged the attention of some of the most learned of men. The lecturer here epitomised all the earlier collections of proverbs, from the days of Plutarch down to Martin Farquhar Tupper, whose work, entitled “Proverbial Philosophy,” was well known. Some of the best-known proverbs had been transmitted from the remotest ages, and the Spanish language was especially rich in proverbial treasures. Two things, say a writer on proverbs in the “ Penny Cyclopedia,” are necessary to constitute a proverb. First, that it shall be recognised by all classes of men as common property ; and secondly, that it shall be marked by a peculiarity of expression to distinguish it from ordinary conversation. Proverbs were the watchwords of life, they stimulated the sluggard, and served to moderate the zealous. All common proverbs were not all true, some of them contained a half truth, which was more dangerous than falsehood, and frequently what was true in fact might be wrong in principle. The lecturer said ho had collected about 200 proverbs, which he had classified under thirty-five distinct heads, and arranged in alphabetical order. The best of them might be traced to the Book of Proverbs ; and probably if wo were in possession of the whole 3000 which Solomon had spoken, we should then have the substance of all that were really good. In the classification of the com--1 mon proverb he would commence with those that treated of appearances, such as “ All is not gold that glitters,” “ Fine feathers make fine birds,” “Beauty is but skin deep,” The lecturer here commented on the needless cruelty that was frequently practised in killing by painful means animals and birds to furnish ornaments of dross, and ho severely deprecated the practise of slaughtering humming birds for their plumage, plucking geese alive for their down, and killing ostriches wholesale for their feathers. Man had a right to kill and use animals or birds for his comfort, safety, or freedom from annoyance, but not to torture or kill them for the mere indulgence of luxury. In applying the proverb “Fine feathers make fine birds,” it was often seen that the bird of humble plumage had the sweetest song. The lecturer then proceeded to classify the more familiar and commonly used English proverbs under their appropriate headings as follows :—Commercial : “ Live and let live,” “The best is always the best,” “Never belie your pocket,”“Short reckonings make long friends, “Out of debt out of danger,” “Two of a trade never agree.” The moral of these proverbs was obvious — not to take advantage of a tradesman’s necos sities to beat him down in his price below a living profit. Apparent cheapness was often a very costly thing in the end. Caution—- “ Never holloa until you are out of the wood,” “ Never count your chickens before they are hatched,” “ There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip,” “ Measure twice before you cut once,” “ Think twice before you speak once.” Character—“ Show mo your company, and I’ll tel) you your character,” “Birds of a feather flock together,” “Give a dog a bad name and hang him,” “ A good workman is known by his tools.” Change—- “ Nothing constant but a constant change,” “ ’Tis a long lane that has no turning,” “ Here to day and gone to-morrow,” “ The prosperous fear, but the struggling hope for a change,” “In the day of prosperity rejoice, in the day of adversity consider.” Children always speak truth,” “ Children and chickens are always picking,” “The child is father to theman,” “ Old maids’children, like bachelors’ wives, are nonsuchers.” Deeds not words — “ Actions speak louder than words,” “Fine words butter no parsnips,” “ Self-praise is no recommendation.” Determination —•“ Where there’s a will there’s a way,” “ A thing well begun is half done,” “You don’t know what you can do till you try,” “ Never despair.” bontentment—“ A contented mind is a perpetual feast,” “Ho has most who wants least,” “ Man wants but little here below, nor wants that little long.” The lecturer here quoted Jeremy Taylor on “Cheerfulness.” Economy—“ Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves,” “A penny saved is a penny gained,” “ Wilful waste makes woeful want,” “ Penny wise and pound foolish,” “ Skin a flint for a penny and spoil a sixpenny knife doing it,” “ Don’t spoil a ship for a bucket of tar,” “ Save at the spigot and spend at the bung-hole.” Experience—“ Experience keeps a good school but a dear one,” “No one knows where the shoe pinches but the wearer,” “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” “ Young people think old people to be fools, but old people know young people to be fools.” Fatalism, Forethought, and Fortune: —“What can’t be cured must bo endured,” “Those who are born to be hanged will never be drowned,” “ Provide against a rainy day,” “ ’Tis useless to bolt the stable door after the horse is stolen,” “Better be born lucky than rich,” “Every bullet has its billet.” Gastronomy: — “Hunger is the best sauce,” “ Enough is as good as a feast. ” Gifts :—“ Never look a gift horse in the mouth,” “ Beggars must not be choosers,” “ What is not worth asking for is not worth having,” “Thank you is very cheap,” “ Gratitude is a keen sense of favors to come.” Health Cleanliness is next to godliness,” “Prevention is better than cure,” “ Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” “ The early bird gets the worm,” “At 40 a man is either a fool or a physician.” The lecturer made a series of running commentaries on the various proverbs as he enumerated them, his remarks being characterised by originality and acuteness of thought, happy illustration, and felicitous expression. Anecdotes, pertinent to the theme under observation, also served to impart additional interest to the lecture, which was of a most interesting and instructive character. The lecturer concluded by quoting miscellaneous proverbs, which ho thought would bear practical illustration, and narrated anecdotes and witticisms in connection with them. The subjects principally touched on here were matrimony, mind, names, revenge, and selfishness, with their illustrative axioms and proverbs. At the close of the lecture a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Broy, seconded by Mr John Inglis, and carried with acclamation.