e deeper insight we get into the
causes of human trouble, and the ways by which men are made better and
happier, the less we shall be inclined to the unprofitable spirit and
practice of reproaching classes as such in a wholesale fashion. Not all
the evils of our condition are such as we can justly blame others for;
and, I repeat, many of them are such as no changes of institutions can
quickly remedy. To discern between the evils that energy can remove and
the evils that patience must bear, makes the difference between manliness
and childishness, between good sense and folly. And more than that,
without such discernment, seeing that we have grave duties toward our own
body and the country at large, we can hardly escape acts of fatal
rashness and injustice.

I am addressing a mixed assembly of workmen, and some of you may be as
well or better fitted than I am to take up this office. But they will
not think it amiss in me that I have tried to bring together the
considerations most likely to be of service to us in preparing ourselves
for the use of our new opportunities. I have avoided touching on special
questions. The best help toward judging well on these is to approach
them in the right temper without vain expectation, and with a resolution
which is mixed with temperance.

Footnotes:

{31} 1. "Madame de Sable. Etudes sur les Femmes illustres et la
Societe du XVIIe siecle." Par M. Victor Cousin. Paris: Didier. 2.
"Portraits de Femmes." Par C. A. Sainte-Beuve. Paris: Didier. 3. "Les
Femmes de la Revolutions." Par J. Michelet.

{33} Queen Christina, when Mme. Dacier (then Mlle. Le Fevre) sent her a
copy of her edition of "Callimachus," wrote in reply: "Mais vous, de qui
on m'assure que vous etes une belle et agreable fille, n'avez vous pas
honte d'etre si savante?"

{53} The letter to which we allude has this charming little touch: "Je
hais comme la mort que les gens de son age puissent croire que j'ai des
galanteries. Il semble qu'on leur parait cent ans des qu'on est plus
vieille qu'eux, et ils sont tout propre a s'etonner qu'il y ait encore
question des gens."

{64} 1. "The Church before the Flood." By the Rev. John Cumming, D.D.
2. "Occasional Discourses." By the Rev. John Cumming, D.D. In two
vols. 3. "Signs of the Times; or, Present, Past, and Future." By the
Rev. John Cumming, D.D. 4. "The Finger of God." By the Rev. John
Cumming, D.D. 5. "Is Christianity from God? or