Eyes and Ears (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1862. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... pulous cuts, and sometimes an abrupt and rude demeanour, are signs of gentlemanly freedom. This is a sad declension from the polished and kind gentilities of former schools of good manners. But a habit of saying agreeable things in an elegant way, if it does not degenerate into falseness, will work . benefit upon the speaker; sweetening his mind, turning him back from bitter and hateful things, and inclining him to the way of kindness. It will confer great pleasure on the object, since nothing can be more agreeable in the minor scenes of life than suddenly to receive praise for well-doing, in a form that pleases at once both the moral sense and the taste. A man, however, must be kind, of good taste, and thoroughly honest, to use compliments without danger--to himself. SMELL AND PERFUMERY. DEGREESTpHE sense of smell is perhaps the lowest of the .." senses. Its range is least of all its importance and its pleasures. It would be a curious problem to determine the relative amount of pleasure which men derive from the ear or eye. Upon the ear is based the science of music; upon the eye the fine arts of painting, sculpture, &c. By the eye we derive all pleasures of form, colour, proportion; by the ear come the delights of converse, the benefit of discourse, the pleasure of music. There is no such range to the sense of taste. With this sense is connected the whole sustenance of human life. It is by food that the body is- every day rebuilt, . and tasting has much to do with food. But, as compared with these major senses, smell has but a limited function. And as the world is constituted, it is doubtful whether we do not derive as much pain as pleasure from the sense of smelL Civilisation or barbarism are alike full of bad odours. Nature for the most part is sweet-smel...