290 PART III. THEMES IN WHICH ONLY THE REASONS AND QUOTATIONS ARE SUGGESTED. THEME LXXXIII. Hunger is the best Sauce. INTRODUCTION. 1ST REASON. Because it gives a relish even to the most unpalatable foods. In sieges and famines, the most disgusting and revolting foods are eaten, even with greediness. See Jer. xix. 9. Isa. ix. 20. 2ND REASON. It brings an appetite to table to enjoy what is provided. This idea differs from the preceding, because food may have an excellent relish, and yet the eater have no appetite. 3RD REASON.-The hungry man is not fastidious. FOOD is the thing required; its quality or delicacy are matters of minor importance. 4TH REASON. -A craving appetite has a good digestion, which culinary sauces and rich condiments frequently destroy. 5TH REASON. Self-preservation and self-love moke food delightful to the hungry, and distasteful to the satiated. The hungry body preys upon itself, and the gloated body loathes food, being already oppressed with a surfeit. 6TH REASON. Food eaten by the hungry relieves positive pain and organic derangement; and what sauce is so sweet as relief from pain, and a healthy action of the animal functions? 7TH REASON. The very act of mastication is a positive pleasure to the hungry, independent of the nature or quality of the food eaten. SIMILES. HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. QUOTATIONS. The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. Prov. xxvii. 7. The things that my soul refuseth to touch are as sorrowful meat. Job, vi. 7. When Darius in his flight from Greece drank from a ditch defiled with dead carcasses, he declared "he had never drunk so pleasantly before," because he never before drank thirsting. When bread is wanting, oaten cakes are excellent. Maunder's proverbs. It must be a delicate dish to tempt the overgorged epicure.-Southey. A man who is not hungry is a fastidious eater. Spanish proverb. Plenty makes dainty.— Fielding's proverbs. Hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings.—Ray's proverbs. Hunger makes hard bones sweet beans.- Ray's prov. Hunger is good kitchen meat-Scotch. Il n'y a sauce que d'appétit. L'appétit assaisonne tout. A la faim il n'y a point de mauvais pain. L'asino chi a fame mangia d'ogni strame. A ventre affamé, tout est bon. Ventre affamé n'a point d'oreilles. La fame e il miglior intingolo. Jejunus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit.-Horace. Optimum tibi condimentum est fames, potionis sitis.— Cicero. Manet hodieque vulgo tritum proverbium Famem efficere ut crudæ etiam fabæ saccharum sapiant.-Erasmus. Præter seipsam, cætera edulcat fames.- Antiphanes apud Stobaum. CONCLUSION. www ~ THEME LXXXIV. A blithe Heart makes a blooming Visage. INTRODUCTION. 1ST REASON.-A cheerful temper promotes digestion, and that which promotes digestion is good for health. 2ND REASON.-It gives a sunshine to the face more pleasing than delicacy of tints or regularity of features. 3RD REASON.-It wards off the wrinkles of care, the sickly hue of fretfulness, the muscular contortions of illtemper, and the haggard expression of discontent. 4TH REASON.-It affects the muscles of the face in a most agreeable manner, disposing them into that wreathed and dimpled expression which is so pleasing to every beholder. 5TH REASON.A blithe heart is contagious; and by infusing goodnature into the spectator, causes him to see every thing tinted with what the French call a "couleur de rose." 6TH REASON.-Expression is far more captivating than beauty; and a blithe heart gives an expression of innocence, happiness, and health, which makes any visage appear blooming. QUOTATIONS.-A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. - Prov. xv. 13. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.- Prov. xvii. 22. He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.Prov. xv. 15. The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: . . . A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity.—Eccles. xiii. 25, 26. Why should a man creep into the jaundice By being peevish.- Shakspeare. Mirth of heart will bestow a more excellent grace, A sorrowing bairn was never sleek.— Scotch proverb. Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the heart, which is reflected in the face.-Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment.-Ps. xxxix. 2. P. B. version. Mine eye is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.-Job, xvii. 7. They are become great and waxen rich; they are waxen fat, they shine.-Jer. v. 28. Vitiant artus ægræ contagia mentis. Heu ! quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu ! Ovid. THEME LXXXV. Slander always leaves a Slur. INTRODUCTION. .... 1ST REASON.-There is generally some foundation of truth in every calumny. 2ND REASON.-There is so much malice and malignity in the human heart, that it retains the savour of a calumny, as a cask retains the savour of a liquor it has once received. 3RD REASON. Few persons have the means, even if they have the desire, of searching into the truth of public rumours: Every one is obliged to take many things on trust, and to act accordingly. 4TH REASON. Many are too glad to believe and report evil of others, in order to flatter their own vanity and self-righteousness. 5TH REASON.—There is so much gossip and tattle, so many busy-bodies and news-venders, that a slander is rarely allowed to die or sleep. 6TH REASON.-There is so much just cause of suspicion even against the most exemplary, that no degree of calumny is beyond the pale of probability. After we know a Judas betrayed, and a Peter denied, his Master, who can say "my mountain standeth sure?" QUOTATIONS.-A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation.-Eccles. xxviii. 14. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the edge of the tongue. — Eccles. xxviii. 18. There is no smoke without some fire. Give a dog an ill-name and hang him. |