text:
Thanks for sharing this. A great reminder of what audio is all about - music! And sharing the joy of it with others :)
Giving Thanks on a Black Friday
With Black Friday advertising in full-saturation mode going on for weeks already I decided to eschew a post about consumer deals and focus on the real spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday that BF (Black Friday) tailgates on like a parking-lot party gone bad after a football game.
First off, the BF moniker (culled from various sources on the Internet) originally came about in 1869 when there was a huge stock market crash following a run on gold. But, it was co-opted and became another type of Black Friday back in the '50s when more sensible Americans starting to call into work sick on the Friday after the fourth-Thursday-in-November holiday to get a four-day weekend, and recover from all that turkey and wine.
The U.S. government officially made Thanksgiving fall on the fourth Thursday in November in 1941, ending decades of Thanksgiving falling on the last Thursday of November since Abraham Lincoln started it to begin with. If this all sounds confusing, don't blame me, I'm just filling you in.
Now, BF has become fully and wholly taken over by corporate interests and has been enmeshed in the pre-Christmas consumer shopping frenzy that grips the world every year around this time. So, with all that said, I'm back to talking about what it is a jaded audiophile like me is thankful for this year, which isn't 10 per cent off wireless headphones, it's family and sharing music.
It was recently my oldest daughter's birthday so I decided it was time to give the gift of music for her new home in Montreal. I'd previously introduced her to better sound through headphones with a slow upgrade over a few years of ever-better cans, currently culminating in a pair of Beats Solo 2 (there might be a pair of Grados in her future for home use), so I figured with the headphone part covered, we'd set out on Thanksgiving to procure some vintage gear to get her up and running with a two-channel system. She wanted a vinyl front-end after living the past couple years with a Crosley and amassing a burgeoning LP collection, so off we went in search of a turntable, integrated amplifier with phono/headphone out and speakers.
Grover Neville recently wrote of his discovery at Capital AudioFest of the growing turntablist/headphone sub-genre that was gaining traction in the personal-audio space, so I was chuffed that she was on a path with an analog focus, as at 18 years of age, she is living in a digital/convenience-first world of streaming Spotify playlists on a daily basis through her Beats.
After hitting several used record stores in downtown Montreal, we finally found a shop that specialized not only in great vinyl selection AUX 33 TOURS, but also had a modest stash of refurbished vintage gear at attractive prices. After some discussion we settled on a Technics SL 220 turntable, a Sanyo 2033 receiver and Acoustic Research AR28B bookshelf loudspeakers. We got everything home to her place in the back of an Uber and proceeded to set up with a glass of wine in hand.
The look on her and her roommate's faces when the first LP spun-up (Cat Stevens, Teaser and the Firecat) and sound came pouring forth from the little ARs into their small two-bedroom walk-up was one of the most priceless moments in my life, and I felt myself choking-up a bit at the impact the music was having on them. This was a moment I couldn't have scripted more perfectly if I tried, and it was an utterly natural and honest response to, simply, a stereo. The gift I'd given of music to share in their home brought an American holiday's meaning home to this Canadian.
Despite the moniker, it's history, and its current consumer guise, there was nothing Black about this Friday for me, in fact, it was just the opposite. We spent the day sharing music and having nothing to do with online sales or shopping whatsoever. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed this personal post. It is not often we are given this type of window into someone's personal life in the audio review business. Also, what a beautiful reminder of how meaningful music is, whether or not you have TOTL gear.
Your best post to-date!
Excellent vintage starter starter system. It's not far off from my 1971 system I put together at 19 years old.
You might want to mention to her that placing her TT directly over the top vent of her receiver is not good for either component, especially a vintage receiver.


text:
"Because I'm in a place where I feel completely and totally directionless with the career that calls itself a, 'full-time blogger' because it is a title that has no meaning, really."
This line from Vix Meldrew's latest post really hit home with me. It's actually one of the (many) things stopping me from taking the leap myself. The fact that this title of 'full time blogger' allows you the freedom to carve out a future for yourself that can be whatever you want it to be is, well, mind-blowing really. In the same breath though, what even is that? Building a huge following is all good and well but as an 'influencer' (bleurgh) there's a balance between celebrity and credibility that isn't talked about enough. Is 'influencer' just another term for marketing puppet?
We all already know that viewers/readers hate being bombarded with affiliate links and ads so how do we work in a way which isn't just shoving mindless ads down everyone's throats? More importantly though, how can I work with brands and work a small "side hustle" without feeling like I'm just playing pawn in a big marketing game.
The fact is, the majority of people who stick with blogging do so because they love to create. Whether it's words or beautiful imagery, there's something about it that we love that isn't even remotely related to numbers. Those who are in it for the freebies usually end up realising that actually it's not just a case of buying a domain and a few thousand followers and ending up with a load of free stuff on your doorstep before packing it all in.
Those of us who stick with it are passionate about creating and I guess that's something we've just got to keep at the forefront of our minds. It's not about being "commercial". Yes we all love to follow aspirational accounts/blogs but some of our favourite bloggers are the ones that are really relatable and just 'normal' people. We're all human and inherently nosy, we love to see what people are up to, even if it is them just lying in bed watching Netflix. It creates a connection, like we're friends on some level. So rather than try to fit the bill (because there actually isn't one!) we need to embrace our USP's and create more things that we're really excited about. Even if that means being excited about a different platform for a while and growing your audience on there. If it makes you happy enough to create fresher content then go for it! After all, isn't that how blogging blew up in the first place? The relatability factor.
Just look at Mrs Hinch. She is now an influencer because she managed to get most of Britain cleaning (and purchasing cleaning products) like never before and it's not because she's creating perfectly laid out flatlays with her bleach bottles. She's made it fun and is so excited about poundland products that it's got everyone else excited. My point is, we don't have to do what everyone else is doing. The beauty of reaching out to brands is that we can pitch whatever idea we want and be excited about a potential campaign without being unethical and attempting to be 'commercial'.
Don't get me wrong, being a full-time blogger is an amazing position to be in and in some respects even a privileged position. What people on the outside (as well as those who haven't been in the game for too long) don't understand is that it's ISN'T all fancy lunches and non-stop meetings and getting everything for free. It's bloody hard work and lonely and it's a real test, where you're constantly questioning your self-worth. Oh and the invoices, don't get me started on the invoices!
One thing that really gets me is that there's no place for bloggers to check in. In any other job there's a space to do this, be it supervision or one to ones with your line manager. You get to look over your achievements, reassure yourself and even get a pat on the back, but there's nothing like this for bloggers – unless of course you're will to pay ridiculous amounts for it. My day job is super big on 'checking in' with colleagues and I really wish I could bring this to the bloggersphere.
I would actually love to get a small group of bloggers together and do a monthly check in. Not just to review blogs and numbers and swap tips and tricks, but to actually be able to sit down and say you know what, this month I'm feeling pretty fucking shit. To have a group of supportive people who I can turn to without worrying about subtweets and being unfollowed. Even though we've all got blogger friends that help champion us when we need it, sometimes what we actually need is blogger colleagues. People that you like and are professional with. Individuals who won't be triggered by your success because you're working the same job title but will instead give you objective feedback/praise and tell you exactly when you need to check yourself without causing offence.
So if you're feeling the same way and maybe want to create this supportive network with me then please please please send me a message!
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hey! Welcome to Damzel In This Dress. Got questions or queries? Or just want to get in touch? Email me directly – email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Redmark's photos
March 8, 2010 by redmark66
Posted in snowdon in the snow 2010 | Leave a Comment
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
search bananaFrog
Recent Comments
86Magaret on Let's Go and Hear Someon… Luke on What's missing? 0 - 40 miles, or how… on Marsden 10 Mile Challenge… Steven Tuck on lad's leap fell race… Elaine Fleuriot on lad's leap fell race…
Other stuff I do
- redmark66
- Steven Tuck
Grough news on twitter
- Walker rescued after injuring ankle in slip in woodland near Machynlleth July 5, 2020
- Man rescued from Coniston Fells after injuring leg in 50ft fall July 5, 2020
- Walkers guided to safety after getting lost on Sca Fell July 4, 2020
- Two walkers rescued from Helvellyn summit after going off-route July 4, 2020
- Trees for Life charity submits detailed plans for Highland 'rewilding centre' July 3, 2020
Twitter Updates
- posted to blog: Oaken Clough - the whole story http://wp.me/pmSxx-w 10 years ago
- Off to Scafell with @red_mark 11 years ago
- Three Christmas walkers airlifted from Snowdon http://tinyurl.com/7rw5yo 11 years ago
- For PBM christmas party and moorland tree decorating on 23rd Dec see Dr Ali for details 11 years ago
- Climbing on monday anyone? 11 years ago
- 2010 animals birchen clough black hill bouldering buckstones cairngorm chew valley climb climbing climbing wall crowden cuillin dovestones falling off fell Grit gulley huddersfield ian roberts idiocy indoors lake district limestone Lliwedd marsden monday night more rain new chew night nocturnal not monday night not raining oaken clough peak district Pots'n'pans pule race rain ravenstones brow Rivelin rochdale running scafell scotland scramble snow Snowdon test Tryfan Wales walk wildlife winter


text:
Entire Site
Try our fun game
Dueling book covers…may the best design win!
Random Quote
"Philosophers say a great deal about what is absolutely necessary for science, and it is always, so far as one can see, rather naive, and probably wrong."
More: Science quotes, Philosophy quotes
Follow us on Twitter
Never miss a good book again! Follow Read Print on Twitter
Of Academies
Rate it:
Average Rating: 4.3 out of 5 based on 2 ratings
Launch Reading Mode
Bookmark this pageNext Chapter
Chapter 14Previous Chapter
The peculiar study of the academy of Paris has been to refine and correct their own language, which they have done to that happy degree that we see it now spoken in all the courts of Christendom, as the language allowed to be most universal.
I had the honour once to be a member of a small society, who seemed to offer at this noble design in England. But the greatness of the work, and the modesty of the gentlemen concerned, prevailed with them to desist an enterprise which appeared too great for private hands to undertake. We want, indeed, a Richelieu to commence such a work. For I am persuaded were there such a genius in our kingdom to lead the way, there would not want capacities who could carry on the work to a glory equal to all that has gone before them. The English tongue is a subject not at all less worthy the labour of such a society than the French, and capable of a much greater perfection. The learned among the French will own that the comprehensiveness of expression is a glory in which the English tongue not only equals but excels its neighbours; Rapin, St. Evremont, and the most eminent French authors have acknowledged it. And my lord Roscommon, who is allowed to be a good judge of English, because he wrote it as exactly as any ever did, expresses what I mean in these lines:-
"For who did ever in French authors see The comprehensive English energy? The weighty bullion of one sterling line, Drawn to French wire would through whole pages shine."
"And if our neighbours will yield us, as their greatest critic has done, the preference for sublimity and nobleness of style, we will willingly quit all pretensions to their insignificant gaiety."
It is great pity that a subject so noble should not have some as noble to attempt it. And for a method, what greater can be set before us than the academy of Paris? Which, to give the French their due, stands foremost among all the great attempts in the learned part of the world.
The present King of England, of whom we have seen the whole world writing panegyrics and encomiums, and whom his enemies, when their interest does not silence them, are apt to say more of than ourselves; as in the war he has given surprising instances of a greatness of spirit more than common: so in peace, I daresay, with submission, he shall never have an opportunity to illustrate his memory more than by such a foundation. By which he shall have opportunity to darken the glory of the French king in peace, as he has by his daring attempts in the war.
Nothing but pride loves to be flattered, and that only as it is a vice which blinds us to our own imperfections. I think princes as particularly unhappy in having their good actions magnified as their evil actions covered. But King William, who has already won praise by the steps of dangerous virtue, seems reserved for some actions which are above the touch of flattery, whose praise is in themselves.
And such would this be. And because I am speaking of a work which seems to be proper only for the hand of the king himself, I shall not presume to carry on this chapter to the model, as I have done in other subjects. Only thus far:
That a society be erected by the king himself, if his Majesty thought fit, and composed of none but persons of the first figure in learning; and it were to be wished our gentry were so much lovers of learning that birth might always be joined with capacity.
The work of this society should be to encourage polite learning, to polish and refine the English tongue, and advance the so much neglected faculty of correct language, to establish purity and propriety of style, and to purge it from all the irregular additions that ignorance and affectation have introduced; and all those innovations in speech, if I may call them such, which some dogmatic writers have the confidence to foster upon their native language, as if their authority were sufficient to make their own fancy legitimate.
By such a society I daresay the true glory of our English style would appear; and among all the learned part of the world be esteemed, as it really is, the noblest and most comprehensive of all the vulgar languages in the world.
Into this society should be admitted none but persons eminent for learning, and yet none, or but very few, whose business or trade was learning. For I may be allowed, I suppose, to say we have seen many great scholars mere learned men, and graduates in the last degree of study, whose English has been far from polite, full of stiffness and affectation, hard words, and long unusual coupling of syllables and sentences, which sound harsh and untuneable to the ear, and shock the reader both in expression and understanding.
In short, there should be room in this society for neither clergyman, physician, nor lawyer. Not that I would put an affront upon the learning of any of those honourable employments, much less upon their persons. But if I do think that their several professions do naturally and severally prescribe habits of speech to them peculiar to their practice, and prejudicial to the study I speak of, I believe I do them no wrong. Nor do I deny but there may be, and now are, among some of all those professions men of style and language, great masters of English, whom few men will undertake to correct; and where such do at any time appear, their extraordinary merit should find them a place in this society; but it should be rare, and upon very extraordinary occasions that such be admitted.
I would therefore have this society wholly composed of gentlemen; whereof twelve to be of the nobility, if possible, and twelve private gentlemen, and a class of twelve to be left open for mere merit, let it be found in who or what sort it would, which should lie as the crown of their study, who have done something eminent to deserve it. The voice of this society should be sufficient authority for the usage of words, and sufficient also to expose the innovations of other men's fancies; they should preside with a sort of judicature over the learning of the age, and have liberty to correct and censure the exorbitance of writers, especially of translators. The reputation of this society would be enough to make them the allowed judges of style and language, and no author would have the impudence to coin without their authority. Custom, which is now our best authority for words, would always have its original here, and not be allowed without it. There should be no more occasion to search for derivations and constructions, and 'twould be as criminal then to coin words as money.
The exercises of this society would be lectures on the English tongue, essays on the nature, original, usage, authorities, and differences of words, or the propriety, parity, and cadence of style, and of the politeness and manner in writing; reflections upon irregular usages, and corrections of erroneous customs in words; and, in short, everything that would appear necessary to the bringing our English tongue to a due perfection, and our gentlemen to a capacity of writing like themselves; to banish pride and pedantry, and silence the impudence and impertinence of young authors, whose ambition is to be known, though it be by their folly.
I ask leave here for a thought or two about that inundation custom has made upon our language and discourse by familiar swearing; and I place it here, because custom has so far prevailed in this foolish vice that a man's discourse is hardly agreeable without it; and some have taken upon them to say it is pity it should not be lawful, it is such a grace in a man's speech, and adds so much vigour to his language.
I desire to be understood right, and that by swearing I mean all those cursory oaths, curses, execrations, imprecations, asseverations, and by whatsoever other names they are distinguished, which are used in vehemence of discourse, in the mouths almost of all men more or less, of what sort soever.
I am not about to argue anything of their being sinful and unlawful, as forbid by divine rules; let the parson alone to tell you that, who has, no question, said as much to as little purpose in this case as in any other. But I am of the opinion that there is nothing so impertinent, so insignificant, so senseless, and foolish as our vulgar way of discourse when mixed with oaths and curses, and I would only recommend a little consideration to our gentlemen, who have sense and wit enough, and would be ashamed to speak nonsense in other things, but value themselves upon their parts, I would but ask them to put into writing the commonplaces of their discourse, and read them over again, and examine the English, the cadence, the grammar of them; then let then turn them into Latin, or translate them into any other language, and but see what a jargon and confusion of speech they make together.
Swearing, that lewdness of the tongue, that scum and excrement of the mouth, is of all vices the most foolish and senseless. It makes a man's conversation unpleasant, his discourse fruitless, and his language nonsense.
It makes conversation unpleasant, at least to those who do not use the same foolish way of discourse, and, indeed, is an affront to all the company who swear not as he does; for if I swear and curse in company I either presume all the company likes it or affront them who do not.
Then it is fruitless; for no man is believed a jot the more for all the asseverations, damnings, and swearings he makes. Those who are used to it themselves do not believe a man the more because they know they are so customary that they signify little to bind a man's intention, and they who practise them not have so mean an opinion of those that do as makes them think they deserve no belief.
Then, they are the spoilers and destroyers of a man's discourse, and turn it into perfect nonsense; and to make it out I must descend a little to particulars, and desire the reader a little to foul his mouth with the brutish, sordid, senseless expressions which some gentlemen call polite English, and speaking with a grace.
Some part of them indeed, though they are foolish enough, as effects of a mad, inconsiderate rage, are yet English; as when a man swears he will do this or, that, and it may be adds, "God damn him he will;" that is, "God damn him if he don't." This, though it be horrid in another sense, yet may be read in writing, and is English: but what language is this?
"Jack, God damn me, Jack, how dost do? How hast thou done this long time, by God?" And then they kiss; and the other, as lewd as himself, goes on:-
"Dear Tom, I am glad to see thee with all my heart, let me die. Come, let us go take a bottle, we must not part so; pr'ythee let's go and be drunk by God."
This is some of our new florid language, and the graces and delicacies of style, which if it were put into Latin, I would fain know which is the principal verb.
But for a little further remembrance of this impertinence, go among the gamesters, and there nothing is more frequent than, "God damn the dice," or "God damn the bowls."
Among the sportsmen it is, "God damn the hounds," when they are at a fault; or, "God damn the horse," if he baulks a leap. They call men "sons of -," and "dogs," and innumerable instances may be given of the like gallantry of language, grown now so much a custom.
It is true, custom is allowed to be our best authority for words, and it is fit it should be so; but reason must be the judge of sense in language, and custom can never prevail over it. Words, indeed, like ceremonies in religion, may be submitted to the magistrate; but sense, like the essentials, is positive, unalterable, and cannot be submitted to any jurisdiction; it is a law to itself; it is ever the same; even an Act of Parliament cannot alter it.
Words, and even usages in style, may be altered by custom, and proprieties in speech differ according to the several dialects of the country, and according to the different manner in which several languages do severally express themselves.
But there is a direct signification of words, or a cadence in expression, which we call speaking sense; this, like truth, is sullen and the same, ever was and will be so, in what manner, and in what language soever it is expressed. Words without it are only noise, which any brute can make as well as we, and birds much better; for words without sense make but dull music. Thus a man may speak in words, but perfectly unintelligible as to meaning; he may talk a great deal, but say nothing. But it is the proper position of words, adapted to their significations, which makes them intelligible, and conveys the meaning of the speaker to the understanding of the hearer; the contrary to which we call nonsense; and there is a superfluous crowding in of insignificant words, more than are needful to express the thing intended, and this is impertinence; and that again, carried to an extreme, is ridiculous.
Thus when our discourse is interlined with needless oaths, curses, and long parentheses of imprecations, and with some of very indirect signification, they become very impertinent; and these being run to the extravagant degree instanced in before, become perfectly ridiculous and nonsense, and without forming it into an argument, it appears to be nonsense by the contradictoriness; and it appears impertinent by the insignificancy of the expression.
After all, how little it becomes a gentleman to debauch his mouth with foul language, I refer to themselves in a few particulars.
This vicious custom has prevailed upon good manners too far; but yet there are some degrees to which it has not yet arrived.
As, first, the worst slaves to this folly will neither teach it to nor approve of it in their children. Some of the most careless will indeed negatively teach it by not reproving them for it; but sure no man ever ordered his children to be taught to curse or swear.
2. The grace of swearing has not obtained to be a mode yet among the women: "God damn ye" does not fit well upon a female tongue; it seems to be a masculine vice, which the women are not arrived to yet; and I would only desire those gentlemen who practice it themselves to hear a woman swear: it has no music at all there, I am sure; and just as little does it become any gentleman, if he would suffer himself to be judged by all the laws of sense or good manners in the world.
It is a senseless, foolish, ridiculous practice; it is a mean to no manner of end; it is words spoken which signify nothing; it is folly acted for the sake of folly, which is a thing even the devil himself don't practice. The devil does evil, we say, but it is for some design, either to seduce others, or, as some divines say, from a principle of enmity to his Maker. Men steal for gain, and murder to gratify their avarice or revenge; whoredoms and ravishments, adulteries and sodomy, are committed to please a vicious appetite, and have always alluring objects; and generally all vices have some previous cause, and some visible tendency. But this, of all vicious practices, seems the most nonsensical and ridiculous; there is neither pleasure nor profit, no design pursued, no lust gratified, but is a mere frenzy of the tongue, a vomit of the brain, which works by putting a contrary upon the course of nature.
Again, other vices men find some reason or other to give for, or excuses to palliate. Men plead want to extenuate theft, and strong provocations to excuse murders, and many a lame excuse they will bring for whoring; but this sordid habit even those that practise it will own to be a crime, and make no excuse for it; and the most I could ever hear a man say for it was that he could not help it.
Besides, as it is an inexcusable impertinence, so it is a breach upon good manners and conversation, for a man to impose the clamour of his oaths upon the company he converses with; if there be any one person in the company that does not approve the way, it is an imposing upon him with a freedom beyond civility.
To suppress this, laws, Acts of Parliament, and proclamations are baubles and banters, the laughter of the lewd party, and never had, as I could perceive, any influence upon the practice; nor are any of our magistrates fond or forward of putting them in execution.
It must be example, not penalties, must sink this crime; and if the gentlemen of England would once drop it as a mode, the vice is so foolish and ridiculous in itself, it would soon grow odious and out of fashion.
This work such an academy might begin, and I believe nothing would so soon explode the practice as the public discouragement of it by such a society; where all our customs and habits, both in speech and behaviour, should receive an authority. All the disputes about precedency of wit, with the manners, customs, and usages of the theatre, would be decided here; plays should pass here before they were acted, and the critics might give their censures and damn at their pleasure; nothing would ever die which once received life at this original. The two theatres might end their jangle, and dispute for priority no more; wit and real worth should decide the controversy, and here should be the infallible judge.
The strife would then be only to do well, And he alone be crowned who did excel. Ye call them Whigs, who from the church withdrew, But now we have our stage dissenters too, Who scruple ceremonies of pit and box, And very few are sound and orthodox, But love disorder so, and are so nice, They hate conformity, though 'tis in vice. Some are for patent hierarchy; and some, Like the old Gauls, seek out for elbow room; Their arbitrary governors disown, And build a conventicle stage of their own. Fanatic beaux make up the gaudy show, And wit alone appears incognito. Wit and religion suffer equal fate; Neglect of both attends the warm debate. For while the parties strive and countermine, Wit will as well as piety decline.
Next to this, which I esteem as the most noble and most useful proposal in this book, I proceed to academies for military studies, and because I design rather to express my meaning than make a large book, I bring them all into one chapter.
I allow the war is the best academy in the world, where men study by necessity and practice by force, and both to some purpose, with duty in the action, and a reward in the end; and it is evident to any man who knows the world, or has made any observations on things, what an improvement the English nation has made during this seven years' war.
But should you ask how clear it first cost, and what a condition England was in for a war at first on this account--how almost all our engineers and great officers were foreigners, it may put us in mind how necessary it is to have our people so practised in the arts of war that they may not be novices when they come to the experiment.
I have heard some who were no great friends to the Government take advantage to reflect upon the king, in the beginning of his wars in Ireland, that he did not care to trust the English, but all his great officers, his generals, and engineers were foreigners. And though the case was so plain as to need no answer, and the persons such as deserved none, yet this must be observed, though it was very strange: that when the present king took possession of this kingdom, and, seeing himself entering upon the bloodiest war this age has known, began to regulate his army, he found but very few among the whole martial part of the nation fit to make use of for general officers, and was forced to employ strangers, and make them Englishmen (as the Counts Schomberg, Ginkel, Solms, Ruvigny, and others); and yet it is to be observed also that all the encouragement imaginable was given to the English gentlemen to qualify themselves, by giving no less than sixteen regiments to gentlemen of good families who had never been in any service and knew but very little how to command them. Of these, several are now in the army, and have the rewards suitable to their merit, being major-generals, brigadiers, and the like.
If, then, a long peace had so reduced us to a degree of ignorance that might have been dangerous to us, had we not a king who is always followed by the greatest masters in the world, who knows what peace and different governors may bring us to again?
The manner of making war differs perhaps as much as anything in the world; and if we look no further back than our civil wars, it is plain a general then would hardly be fit to be a colonel now, saving his capacity of improvement. The defensive art always follows the offensive; and though the latter has extremely got the start of the former in this age, yet the other is mightily improving also.
We saw in England a bloody civil war, where, according to the old temper of the English, fighting was the business. To have an army lying in such a post as not to be able to come at them was a thing never heard of in that war; even the weakest party would always come out and fight (Dunbar fight, for instance); and they that were beaten to-day would fight again to-morrow, and seek one another out with such eagerness, as if they had been in haste to have their brains knocked out. Encampments, intrenchments, batteries, counter- marchings, fortifying of camps, and cannonadings were strange and almost unknown things; and whole campaigns were passed over, and hardly any tents made use of. Battles, surprises, storming of towns, skirmishes, sieges, ambuscades, and beating up quarters was the news of every day. Now it is frequent to have armies of fifty thousand men of a side stand at bay within view of one another, and spend a whole campaign in dodging (or, as it is genteelly called, observing) one another, and then march off into winter quarters. The difference is in the maxims of war, which now differ as much from what they were formerly as long perukes do from piqued beards, or as the habits of the people do now from what they then were. The present maxims of the war are:
"Never fight without a manifest advantage." "And always encamp so as not to be forced to it."
And if two opposite generals nicely observe both these rules, it is impossible they should ever come to fight.
I grant that this way of making war spends generally more money and less blood than former wars did; but then it spins wars out to a greater length; and I almost question whether, if this had been the way of fighting of old, our civil war had not lasted till this day. Their maxim was:
"Wherever you meet your enemy, fight him."
But the case is quite different now; and I think it is plain in the present war that it is not he who has the longest sword, so much as he who has the longest purse, will hold the war out best. Europe is all engaged in the war, and the men will never be exhausted while either party can find money; but he who finds himself poorest must give out first; and this is evident in the French king, who now inclines to peace, and owns it, while at the same time his armies are numerous and whole. But the sinews fail; he finds his exchequer fail, his kingdom drained, and money hard to come at: not that I believe half the reports we have had of the misery and poverty of the French are true; but it is manifest the King of France finds, whatever his armies may do, his money won't hold out so long as the Confederates, and therefore he uses all the means possible to procure a peace, while he may do it with the most advantage.
There is no question but the French may hold the war out several years longer; but their king is too wise to let things run to extremity. He will rather condescend to peace upon hard terms now than stay longer, if he finds himself in danger to be forced to worse.
This being the only digression I design to be guilty of, I hope I shall be excused it.
The sum of all is this: that, since it is so necessary to be in a condition for war in a time of peace, our people should be inured to it. It is strange that everything should be ready but the soldier: ships are ready, and our trade keeps the seamen always taught, and breeds up more; but soldiers, horsemen, engineers, gunners, and the like must be bred and taught; men are not born with muskets on their shoulders, nor fortifications in their heads; it is not natural to shoot bombs and undermine towns: for which purpose I propose a
The founder the king himself; the charge to be paid by the public, and settled by a revenue from the Crown, to be paid yearly.
I propose this to consist of four parts:
1. A college for breeding up of artists in the useful practice of all military exercises; the scholars to be taken in young, and be maintained, and afterwards under the king's care for preferment, as their merit and His Majesty's favour shall recommend them; from whence His Majesty would at all times be furnished with able engineers, gunners, fire-masters. bombardiers, miners, and the like.
The second college for voluntary students in the same exercises; who should all upon certain limited conditions be entertained, and have all the advantages of the lectures, experiments, and learning of the college, and be also capable of several titles, profits, and settlements in the said college, answerable to the Fellows in the Universities.
The third college for temporary study, into which any person who is a gentleman and an Englishman, entering his name and conforming to the orders of the house, shall be entertained like a gentleman for one whole year gratis, and taught by masters appointed out of the second college.
The fourth college, of schools only, where all persons whatsoever for a small allowance shall be taught and entered in all the particular exercises they desire; and this to be supplied by the proficients of the first college.
I could lay out the dimensions and necessary incidents of all this work, but since the method of such a foundation is easy and regular from the model of other colleges, I shall only state the economy of the house.
The building must be very large, and should rather be stately and magnificent in figure than gay and costly in ornament: and I think such a house as Chelsea College, only about four times as big, would answer it; and yet, I believe, might be finished for as little charge as has been laid out in that palace-like hospital.
The first college should consist of one general, five colonels, twenty captains.
Being such as graduates by preferment, at first named by the founder; and after the first settlement to be chosen out of the first or second colleges; with apartments in the college, and salaries.
Pounds per ann. The general . . . . . . . . . . 300 The colonels . . . . . . . . . . 100 The captains . . . . . . . . . . 60
2,000 scholars, among whom shall be the following degrees:
Pounds per ann. Governors . . . . 100 allowed 10 Directors . . . . 200 5 Exempts . . . . . 200 5 Proficients . . . 500 Juniors . . . . . 1,000
The general to be named by the founder, out of the colonels; the colonels to be named by the general, out of the captains; the captains out of the governors; the governors from the directors; and the directors from the exempts; and so on.
The juniors to be divided into ten schools; the schools to be thus governed: every school has
100 juniors, in 10 classes. Every class to have 2 directors. 100 classes of juniors is . . . . . 1,000 Each class 2 directors . . . . . . . 200 ===== 1,200
The proficients to be divided into five schools:
Every school to have ten classes of 10 each. Every class 2 governors. 50 classes of proficients is . . . . . . . 500 Each class 2 governors is . . . . . . . . . 100 === 600
The exempts to be supernumerary, having a small allowance, and maintained in the college till preferment offer.
The second college to consist of voluntary students, to be taken in, after a certain degree of learning, from among the proficients of the first, or from any other schools, after such and such limitations of learning; who study at their own charge, being allowed certain privileges; as -
Chambers rent-free on condition of residence.
Commons gratis, for certain fixed terms.
Preferment, on condition of a term of years' residence.
Use of libraries, instruments, and lectures of the college.
This college should have the following preferments, with salaries
Pounds per ann. A governor . . . . . . . . . . 200 A president . . . . . . . . . . 100 50 college-majors . . . . . . . . 50 200 proficients . . . . . . . . . 10 500 voluntary students, without allowance.
The third and fourth colleges, consisting only of schools for temporary study, may be thus:
The third--being for gentlemen to learn the necessary arts and exercises to qualify them for the service of their country, and entertaining them one whole year at the public charge--may be supposed to have always one thousand persons on its hands, and cannot have less than 100 teachers, whom I would thus order:
Every teacher shall continue at least one year, but by allowance two years at most; shall have 20 pounds per annum extraordinary allowance; shall be bound to give their constant attendance; and shall have always five college-majors of the second college to supervise them, who shall command a month, and then be succeeded by five others, and, so on--10 pounds per annum extraordinary to be paid them for their attendance.
The gentlemen who practise to be put to no manner of charge, but to be obliged strictly to the following articles:
1. To constant residence, not to lie out of the house without leave of the college-major.
2. To perform all the college exercises, as appointed by the masters, without dispute.
3. To submit to the orders of the house.
To quarrel or give ill-language should be a crime to be punished by way of fine only, the college-major to be judge, and the offender be put into custody till he ask pardon of the person wronged; by which means every gentleman who has been affronted has sufficient satisfaction.
But to strike challenge, draw, or fight, should be more severely punished; the offender to be declared no gentleman, his name posted up at the college-gate, his person expelled the house, and to be pumped as a rake if ever he is taken within the college-walls.
The teachers of this college to be chosen, one half out of the exempts of the first college, and the other out of the proficients of the second.
The fourth college, being only of schools, will be neither chargeable nor troublesome, but may consist of as many as shall offer themselves to be taught, and supplied with teachers from the other schools.
The proposal, being of so large an extent, must have a proportionable settlement for its maintenance; and the benefit being to the whole kingdom, the charge will naturally lie upon the public, and cannot well be less, considering the number of persons to be maintained, than as follows.
Pounds per ann. The general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 5 colonels at 100 pounds per ann. each . . . . . . . . . 500 20 captains at 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 100 governors at 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 200 directors at 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 200 exempts at 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 2,000 heads for subsistence, at 20 pounds per head per ann., including provision, and all the officers' salaries in the house, as butlers, cooks, purveyors, nurses, maids, laundresses, stewards, clerks, servants, chaplains, porters, and attendants, which are numerous. 40,000
A governor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 A president . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 50 college-majors at 50 pounds per ann. each . . . . . . 2,500 200 proficients at 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 Commons for 500 students during times of exercises at 5 pounds per ann. each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 200 proficients' subsistence, reckoning as above . . . . 4,000
The gentlemen here are maintained as gentlemen, and are to have good tables, who shall therefore have an allowance at the rate of 25 pounds per head, all officers to be maintained out of it; which is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,000 100 teachers, salary and subsistence ditto . . . . . . 4,500 50 college-majors at 10 pounds per ann. is . . . . . . . 500 ====== Annual charge 86,300 The building to cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000 Furniture, beds, tables, chairs, linen, &c . . . . . . 10,000 Books, instruments, and utensils for experiments . . . 2,000 ====== So the immediate charge would be 62,000
The annual charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86,300 To which add the charges of exercises and experiments 3,700 ====== 90,000
The king's magazines to furnish them with 500 barrels of gunpowder per annum for the public uses of exercises and experiments.
In the first of these colleges should remain the governing part, and all the preferments to be made from thence, to be supplied in course from the other; the general of the first to give orders to the other, and be subject only to the founder.
The government should be all military, with a constitution for the same regulated for that purpose, and a council to hear and determine the differences and trespasses by the college laws.
The public exercises likewise military, and all the schools be disciplined under proper officers, who are so in turn or by order of the general, and continue but for the day.
The several classes to perform several studies, and but one study to a distinct class, and the persons, as they remove from one study to another, to change their classes, but so as that in the general exercises all the scholars may be qualified to act all the several parts as they may be ordered.
The proper studies of this college should be the following:
Geometry. Bombarding. Astronomy. Gunnery. History. Fortification. Navigation. Encamping. Decimal arithmetic. Intrenching. Trigonometry. Approaching. Dialing. Attacking. Gauging. Delineation. Mining. Architecture. Fireworking. Surveying.
And all arts or sciences appendices to such as these, with exercises for the body, to which all should be obliged, as their genius and capacities led them, as:
1. Swimming; which no soldier, and, indeed, no man whatever, ought to be without.
2. Handling all sorts of firearms.
3. Marching and counter-marching in form.
4. Fencing and the long-staff.
5. Riding and managing, or horsemanship.
6. Running, leaping, and wrestling.
And herewith should also be preserved and carefully taught all the customs, usages, terms of war, and terms of art used in sieges, marches of armies and encampments, that so a gentleman taught in this college should be no novice when he comes into the king's armies, though he has seen no service abroad. I remember the story of an English gentleman, an officer at the siege of Limerick, in Ireland, who, though he was brave enough upon action, yet for the only matter of being ignorant in the terms of art, and knowing not how to talk camp language, was exposed to be laughed at by the whole army for mistaking the opening of the trenches, which he thought had been a mine against the town.
The experiments of these colleges would be as well worth publishing as the acts of the Royal Society. To which purpose the house must be built where they may have ground to cast bombs, to raise regular works, as batteries, bastions, half-moons, redoubts, horn-works, forts, and the like; with the convenience of water to draw round such works, to exercise the engineers in all the necessary experiments of draining and mining under ditches. There must be room to fire great shot at a distance, to cannonade a camp, to throw all sorts of fireworks and machines that are, or shall be, invented; to open trenches, form camps, &c.
Their public exercises will be also very diverting, and more worth while for any gentleman to see than the sights or shows which our people in England are so fond of.
I believe as a constitution might be formed from these generals, this would be the greatest, the gallantest and the most useful foundation in the world. The English gentry would be the best qualified, and consequently best accepted abroad, and most useful at home of any people in the world; and His Majesty should never more be exposed to the necessity of employing foreigners in the posts of trust and service in his armies.
And that the whole kingdom might in some degree be better qualified for service, I think the following project would be very useful:
When our military weapon was the long-bow, at which our English nation in some measure excelled the whole world, the meanest countryman was a good archer; and that which qualified them so much for service in the war was their diversion in times of peace, which also had this good effect--that when an army was to be raised they needed no disciplining: and for the encouragement of the people to an exercise so publicly profitable an Act of Parliament was made to oblige every parish to maintain butts for the youth in the country to shoot at.
Since our way of fighting is now altered, and this destructive engine the musket is the proper arms for the soldier, I could wish the diversion also of the English would change too, that our pleasures and profit might correspond. It is a great hindrance to this nation, especially where standing armies are a grievance, that if ever a war commence, men must have at least a year before they are thought fit to face an enemy, to instruct them how to handle their arms; and new-raised men are called raw soldiers. To help this--at least, in some, measure--I would propose that the public exercises of our youth should by some public encouragement (for penalties won't do it) be drawn off from the foolish boyish sports of cocking and cricketing, and from tippling, to shooting with a firelock (an exercise as pleasant as it is manly and generous) and swimming, which is a thing so many ways profitable, besides its being a great preservative of health, that methinks no man ought to be without it.
1. For shooting, the colleges I have mentioned above, having provided for the instructing the gentry at the king's charge, that the gentry, in return of a favour, should introduce it among the country people, which might easily be done thus:
If every country gentleman, according to his degree, would contribute to set-up a prize to be shot for by the town he lives in or the neighbourhood, about once a year, or twice a year, or oftener, as they think fit; which prize not single only to him who shoots nearest, but according to the custom of shooting.
This would certainly set all the young men in England a-shooting, and make them marksmen; for they would be always practising, and making matches among themselves too, and the advantage would be found in a war; for, no doubt, if all the soldiers in a battalion took a true level at their enemy there would be much more execution done at a distance than there is; whereas it has been known how that a battalion of men has received the fire of another battalion, and not lost above thirty or forty men; and I suppose it will not easily be forgotten how, at the battle of Agrim, a battalion of the English army received the whole fire of an Irish regiment of Dragoons, but never knew to this day whether they had any bullets or no; and I need appeal no further than to any officer that served in the Irish war, what advantages the English armies made of the Irish being such wonderful marksmen.
Under this head of academies I might bring in a project for an
I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilised and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women. We reproach the sex every day with folly and impertinence, while I am confident, had they the advantages of education equal to us, they would be guilty of less than ourselves.
One would wonder indeed how it should happen that women are conversable at all, since they are only beholding to natural parts for all their knowledge. Their youth is spent to teach them to stitch and sew, or make baubles. They are taught to read indeed, and perhaps to write their names, or so, and that is the height of a woman's education. And I would but ask any who slight the sex for their understanding, What is a man (a gentleman, I mean) good for that is taught no more?
I need not give instances, or examine the character of a gentleman with a good estate, and of a good family, and with tolerable parts, and examine what figure he makes for want of education.
The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the lustre of it will never appear. And it is manifest that as the rational soul distinguishes us from brutes, so education carries on the distinction, and makes some less brutish than others. This is too evident to need any demonstration. But why, then, should women be denied the benefit of instruction? If knowledge and understanding had been useless additions to the sex, God Almighty would never have given them capacities, for He made nothing needless: besides, I would ask such what they can see in ignorance that they should think it a necessary ornament to a woman. Or, How much worse is a wise woman than a fool? or, What has the woman done to forfeit the privilege of being taught? Does she plague us with her pride and impertinence? Why did we not let her learn, that she might have had more wit? Shall we upbraid women with folly, when it is only the error of this inhuman custom that hindered them being made wiser?
The capacities of women are supposed to be greater and their senses quicker than those of the men; and what they might be capable of being bred to is plain from some instances of female wit which this age is not without, which upbraids us with injustice, and looks as if we denied women the advantages of education for fear they should vie with the men in their improvements.
To remove this objection, and that women might have at least a needful opportunity of education in all sorts of useful learning, I propose the draft of an academy for that purpose.
I know it is dangerous to make public appearances of the sex; they are not either to be confined or exposed: the first will disagree with their inclinations, and the last with their reputations; and therefore it is somewhat difficult; and I doubt a method proposed by an ingenious lady, in a little book called, "Advice to the Ladies," would be found impracticable. For, saving my respect to the sex, the levity which perhaps is a little peculiar to them (at least in their youth) will not bear the restraint; and I am satisfied nothing but the height of bigotry can keep up a nunnery. Women are extravagantly desirous of going to heaven, and will punish their pretty bodies to get thither; but nothing else will do it, and even in that case sometimes it falls out that nature will prevail.
When I talk therefore of an academy for women I mean both the model, the teaching, and the government different from what is proposed by that ingenious lady, for whose proposal I have a very great esteem, and also a great opinion of her wit; different, too, from all sorts of religious confinement, and, above all, from vows of celibacy.
Wherefore the academy I propose should differ but little from public schools, wherein such ladies as were willing to study should have all the advantages of learning suitable to their genius.
But since some severities of discipline more than ordinary would be absolutely necessary to preserve the reputation of the house, that persons of quality and fortune might not be afraid to venture their children thither, I shall venture to make a small scheme by way of essay.
The house I would have built in a form by itself, as well as in a place by itself.
The building should be of three plain fronts, without any jettings or bearing-work, that the eye might at a glance see from one coin to the other; the gardens walled in the same triangular figure, with a large moat, and but one entrance.
When thus every part of the situation was contrived as well as might be for discovery, and to render intriguing dangerous, I would have no guards, no eyes, no spies set over the ladies, but shall expect them to be tried by the principles of honour and strict virtue.
And if I am asked why, I must ask pardon of my own sex for giving this reason for it:
I am so much in charity with women, and so well acquainted with men, that it is my opinion there needs no other care to prevent intriguing than to keep the men effectually away. For though inclination, which we prettily call love, does sometimes move a little too visibly in the sex, and frailty often follows, yet I think verily custom, which we miscall modesty, has so far the ascendant over the sex that solicitation always goes before it.
"Custom with women, 'stead of virtue, rules; It leads the wisest, and commands the fools; For this alone, when inclinations reign, Though virtue's fled, will acts of vice restrain. Only by custom 'tis that virtue lives, And love requires to be asked before it gives. For that which we call modesty is pride: They scorn to ask, and hate to be denied. 'Tis custom thus prevails upon their want; They'll never beg what, asked, they easily grant. And when the needless ceremony's over, Themselves the weakness of the sex discover. If, then, desires are strong, and nature free, Keep from her men and opportunity. Else 'twill be vain to curb her by restraint; But keep the question off, you keep the saint."
In short, let a woman have never such a coming principle, she will let you ask before she complies--at least, if she be a woman of any honour.
Upon this ground I am persuaded such measures might be taken that the ladies might have all the freedom in the world within their own walls, and yet no intriguing, no indecencies, nor scandalous affairs happen; and in order to this, the following customs and laws should be observed in the colleges, of which I would propose one at least in every county in England, and about ten for the city of London.
After the regulation of the form of the building as before;
1. All the ladies who enter into the house should set their hands to the orders of the house, to signify their consent to submit to them.
2. As no woman should be received but who declared herself willing, and that it was the act of her choice to enter herself, so no person should be confined to continue there a moment longer than the same voluntary choice inclined her.
3. The charges of the house being to be paid by the ladies, every one that entered should have only this incumbrance--that she should pay for the whole year, though her mind should change as to her continuance.
4. An Act of Parliament should make it felony, without clergy, for any man to enter by force or fraud into the house, or to solicit any woman, though it were to marry, while she was in the house. And this law would by no means be severe, because any woman who was willing to receive the addresses of a man might discharge herself of the house when she pleased; and, on the contrary, any woman who had occasion might discharge herself of the impertinent addresses of any person she had an aversion to by entering into the house.
In this house the persons who enter should be taught all sorts of breeding suitable to both their genius and their quality, and, in particular, music and dancing, which it would be cruelty to bar the sex of, because they are their darlings; but, besides this, they should be taught languages, as particularly French and Italian; and I would venture the injury of giving a woman more tongues than one.
They should, as a particular study, be taught all the graces of speech, and all the necessary air of conversation, which our common education is so defective in that I need not expose it. They should be brought to read books, and especially history, and so to read as to make them understand the world, and be able to know and judge of things when they hear of them.
To such whose genius would lead them to it I would deny no sort of learning: but the chief thing in general is to cultivate the understandings of the sex, that they may be capable of all sorts of conversation; that, their parts and judgments being improved, they may be as profitable in their conversation as they are pleasant.
Women, in my observation, have little or no difference in them but as they are, or are not, distinguished by education. Tempers indeed may in some degree influence them, but the main distinguishing part is their breeding.
The whole sex are generally quick and sharp; I believe I may be allowed to say generally so; for you rarely see them lumpish and heavy when they are children, as boys will often be. If a woman be well bred, and taught the proper management of her natural wit, she proves generally very sensible and retentive; and, without partiality, a woman of sense and manners is the finest and most delicate part of God's creation, the glory of her Maker, and the great instance of His singular regard to man (His darling creature), to whom He gave the best gift either God could bestow or man receive; and it is the most sordid piece of folly and ingratitude in the world to withhold from the sex the due lustre which the advantages of education gives to the natural beauty of their minds.
A woman well bred and well taught, furnished with the additional accomplishments of knowledge and behaviour, is a creature without comparison; her society is the emblem of sublimer enjoyments; her person is angelic, and her conversation heavenly; she is all softness and sweetness, peace, love, wit, and delight; she is every way suitable to the sublimest wish, and the man that has such a one to his portion has nothing to do but to rejoice in her, and be thankful.
On the other hand, suppose her to be the very same woman, and rob her of the benefit of education, and it follows thus:
If her temper be good, want of education makes her soft and easy.
Her wit, for want of teaching, makes her impertinent and talkative.
Her knowledge, for want of judgment and experience, makes her fanciful and whimsical.
If her temper be bad, want of breeding makes her worse, and she grows haughty, insolent, and loud.
If she be passionate, want of manners makes her termagant and a scold, which is much at one with lunatic.
If she be proud, want of discretion (which still is breeding) makes her conceited, fantastic, and ridiculous.
And from these she degenerates to be turbulent, clamorous, noisy, nasty, and "the devil."
Methinks mankind for their own sakes (since, say what we will of the women, we all think fit one time or other to be concerned with them) should take some care to breed them up to be suitable and serviceable, if they expected no such thing as delight from them. Bless us! what care do we take to breed up a good horse, and to break him well! And what a value do we put upon him when it is done!--and all because he should be fit for our use. And why not a woman?--since all her ornaments and beauty, without suitable behaviour, is a cheat in nature, like the false tradesman who puts the best of his goods uppermost, that the buyer may think the rest are of the same goodness.
Beauty of the body, which is the women's glory, seems to be now unequally bestowed, and nature (or, rather, Providence) to lie under some scandal about it, as if it was given a woman for a snare to men, and so make a kind of a she-devil of her: because, they say, exquisite beauty is rarely given with wit, more rarely with goodness of temper, and never at all with modesty. And some, pretending to justify the equity of such a distribution, will tell us it is the effect of the justice of Providence in dividing particular excellences among all His creatures, "Share and share alike, as it were," that all might for something or other be acceptable to one another, else some would be despised.
I think both these notions false; and yet the last, which has the show of respect to Providence, is the worst; for it supposes Providence to be indigent and empty, as if it had not wherewith to furnish all the creatures it had made, but was fain to be parsimonious in its gifts, and distribute them by piece-meal, for fear of being exhausted.
If I might venture my opinion against an almost universal notion, I would say most men mistake the proceedings of Providence in this case, and all the world at this day are mistaken in their practice about it. And, because the assertion is very bold, I desire to explain myself.
That Almighty First Cause which made us all is certainly the fountain of excellence, as it is of being, and by an invisible influence could have diffused equal qualities and perfections to all the creatures it has made, as the sun does its light, without the least ebb or diminution to Himself; and has given indeed to every individual sufficient to the figure His providence had designed him in the world.
I believe it might be defended if I should say that I do suppose God has given to all mankind equal gifts and capacities, in that He has given them all souls equally capable; and that the whole difference in mankind proceeds either from accidental difference in the make of their bodies, or from the foolish difference of education.
1. FROM ACCIDENTAL DIFFERENCE IN BODIES.--I would avoid discoursing here of the philosophical position of the soul in the body: but if it be true, as philosophers do affirm, that the understanding and memory is dilated or contracted according to the accidental dimensions of the organ through which it is conveyed, then, though God has given a soul as capable to me as another, yet if I have any natural defect in those parts of the body by which the soul should act, I may have the same soul infused as another man, and yet he be a wise man and I a very fool. For example, if a child naturally have a defect in the organ of hearing, so that he could never distinguish any sound, that child shall never be able to speak or read, though it have a soul capable of all the accomplishments in the world. The brain is the centre of the soul's actings, where all the distinguishing faculties of it reside; and it is observable, a man who has a narrow contracted head, in which there is not room for the due and necessary operations of nature by the brain, is never a man of very great judgment; and that proverb, "A great head and little wit," is not meant by nature, but is a reproof upon sloth; as if one should, by way of wonder say, "Fie, fie, you that have a great head have but little wit; that's strange! that must certainly be your own fault." From this notion I do believe there is a great matter in the breed of men and women; not that wise men shall always get wise children: but I believe strong and healthy bodies have the wisest children; and sickly, weakly bodies affect the wits as well as the bodies of their children. We are easily persuaded to believe this in the breeds of horses, cocks, dogs, and other creatures; and I believe it is as visible in men.
But to come closer to the business; the great distinguishing difference which is seen in the world between men and women is in their education; and this is manifested by comparing it with the difference between one man or woman and another.
And herein it is that I take upon me to make such a bold assertion, that all the world are mistaken in their practice about women: for I cannot think that God Almighty ever made them so delicate, so glorious creatures, and furnished them with such charms, so agreeable and so delightful to mankind, with souls capable of the same accomplishments with men, and all to be only stewards of our houses, cooks, and slaves.
Not that I am for exalting the female government in the least: but, in short, I would have men take women for companions, and educate them to be fit for it. A woman of sense and breeding will scorn as much to encroach upon the prerogative of the man as a man of sense will scorn to oppress the weakness of the woman. But if the women's souls were refined and improved by teaching, that word would be lost; to say, "the weakness of the sex," as to judgment, would be nonsense; for ignorance and folly would be no more to be found among women than men. I remember a passage which I heard from a very fine woman; she had wit and capacity enough, an extraordinary shape and face, and a great fortune, but had been cloistered up all her time, and, for fear of being stolen, had not had the liberty of being taught the common necessary knowledge of women's affairs; and when she came to converse in the world her natural wit made her so sensible of the want of education that she gave this short reflection on herself:
"I am ashamed to talk with my very maids," says she, "for I don't know when they do right or wrong: I had more need go to school than be married."
I need not enlarge on the loss the defect of education is to the sex, nor argue the benefit of the contrary practice; it is a thing will be more easily granted than remedied: this chapter is but an essay at the thing, and I refer the practice to those happy days, if ever they shall be, when men shall be wise enough to mend it.
Do you like this chapter?
Bookmark this pageNext Chapter
Chapter 14Previous Chapter
If you're writing a Daniel Defoe essay and need some advice, post your Daniel Defoe essay question on our Facebook page where fellow bookworms are always glad to help!
Book Status


text: I have a Blu Studio 5.0C HD that's currently stuck in boot loop. I can get into "recovery" mode (hard reset), but it accomplishes nothing. It did, once, go past boot loop, but then all I got was "Unfortunately the process, android process, acore has stopped" and "OOBE isn't responding". All I'm able to do is hard reset(about a dozen x's) and/or pull battery to shut off phone. Would like to get this phone operating again, so if you all have some good advice...I'm listening. THANKS: Rick


text:
While a small minority of people I've met seem to really enjoy the job hunting process, and thrive on the challenge of going out and promoting themselves to new organizations, let's not kid ourselves — for most folks, the job search journey is a roller-coaster ride and there are points where one is likely to feel significantly lost, stuck, frustrated, and confused.
All of this, I can assure you, is perfectly normal and part of the learning curve. And thankfully, the vast majority of people seem to overcome these sticking points eventually, gain traction, and successfully land a new assignment. This being said, however, one can certainly accelerate their success rate by taking these emotional "road blocks" seriously and embarking on proactive steps to minimize them. On that note, while I've written some posts in the past offering detailed suggestions around how to address career-related motivation and confidence issues, today I'm going to try a different tack. Below, you'll find a short punchlist of different ideas that both myself and other coaches/counselors have come up with for addressing common job search barriers.
While this list doesn't go into great detail, my hope is that it will illustrate just how many potential approaches can be utilized to shake off the job search doldrums — versus just letting these issues fester and stubbornly sticking to your same routine, day after day, hoping they'll resolve themselves.
1) Are you feeling frustrated by the job search process and struggling with negative, self-defeating thoughts? If so, you could potentially try…
• Surrounding yourself with positive people and distancing yourself from cynical, uninspiring folks
• Exercising regularly to release endorphins, increase your energy level, and feel the pride of accomplishment
• Giving yourself permission to keep living your life; don't feel guilty if you're not job hunting every second
• Reframing negative thoughts into positive ones as soon as you catch yourself engaging in pessimistic self-talk
• Reciting any negative thoughts you have out loud, in a funny voice, to take the power out of them
• Slashing your financial burn rate and streamlining your spending to give yourself more breathing room
• Volunteering time to those less fortunate in order to maintain perspective and gratitude about your situation
• Evaluating your expectations of what's "normal" in a job search these days; could they be outdated?
• Asking yourself "what will I regret NOT using this time off to do?" once you've landed your new assignment
2) Are you feeling confused by the job market, how to approach it, and what to be doing, exactly? If so, you might consider…
• Reading a steady stream of books, blogs, and/or articles on job hunting to "get smarter" about the process
• Picking the brain of other people who have landed jobs recently to see what worked (or didn't work) for them
• Engaging your school's alumni office or career center to see what potential resources they might have to offer
• Hiring a career coach or attending a career-related class, webinar, or workshop to improve your search skills
• Reading some classic sales and marketing books, since ultimately, these are the core disciplines of job hunting
• Managing your job search like a formal project and breaking it down into distinct daily tasks you can complete
• Researching and building a list of relevant target companies/contacts so you always have "another call to make"
• Committing to a daily output goal of some kind (measure this in actual deliverables, not time) and sticking to it
3) Are you feeling a bit isolated, lonely, and anti-social due to your career situation and the fact that you're not going into the office each day? If so, perhaps you could…
• Apply your free time to reconnecting with all those former acquaintances you feel guilty about losing touch with
• Get more involved in your hobbies and interests, attending related events and joining some meetup groups
• Change up your routine to be around people; search from a coffee shop, the library, or a co-working space
• Devote more time to getting involved in faith-based activities, events, or volunteer opportunities
• Search out job search support groups where you can network with others who will understand your situation
• Get more involved in professional associations and groups, either off the offline or online variety
• Kick off a research project (e.g. write an article, form a new group, give a talk) related to your career interests
4) Are you finding yourself struggling with motivation/accountability issues and putting consistent effort into your ongoing search? If so, you might be able to break through this by…
• Setting a clear agenda on a daily/weekly basis and establishing a reward system for successful progress
• Creating a formal tracking system for monitoring your progress and capturing all the steps you've completed
• Recruiting an "accountability partner" (often another job seeker) you can meet regularly for mutual benefit
• Figuring out the specific places and times of day when you're most productive — and adhering to them
• Again, joining a job search support group where a bit of peer pressure might help raise your accountability level
• Treating your job search as a portfolio piece; would outside observers be impressed by your efforts, to date?
• Going to a ton of interesting events, aside from job hunting, to break up the monotony and stay un-boring
• Setting additional goals you can totally control, such as diet/exercise, to gain a sense of daily accomplishment
5) And lastly, if your confidence is really suffering and you're struggling with pangs of inadequacy as a result of your employment status, I'd suggest you consider…
• Engaging your brain via some form of new learning whether through school, online courses, or self-study
• Reviewing past job evaluations, testimonials, and performance reviews to remind yourself of how good you are
• Practicing some of your top work-related success stories/examples; get your "success stories" down pat
• Conducting research into the new trends/skills/competencies in your field so you can jump the curve
• Gaining some training in whatever software applications you know you should be fluent in, but haven't learned
• Conducting informational interviews with relevant people to stay professional and plugged into the market
• Asking a wide variety of people (friends, customers, vendors, supervisors, subordinates) to serve as references
• Volunteering to work on a project in your professional discipline that will keep your skills sharp
• Using a personal branding survey like this one to solicit positive input/insights from people who know you
Again, while these lists are presented in "lightning round" format and certainly far from comprehensive, the main point I'm trying to make is that when your job hunt isn't going well, you have options. You can experiment. You can try stuff. You can form new habits and engage in numerous proactive activities to try to break out of the funk. The only real approach that doesn't often work well is to keep hitting the same roadblocks, hoping they'll magically resolve themselves without any real action on your part. In fact, I'd be tempted to label this behavior the definition of insanity — you know, as in the old cliche about "doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results" — but as an article in Psychology Today wisely pointed out, this phenomenon isn't actually insanity. It's good old-fashioned avoidance. So recognize it, when it pops up!
Hope some of these thoughts were helpful and if you need further details — or have any other great tips for getting around some of the common psychological pitfalls of job hunting — please don't hesitate to share them!


text:
This CD was recorded live in March, 2010, in Winston-Salem. Songs include The Word Was God; Arise, Your Light Has Come; Gloria; Candlelight Carol; Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella; I Am the Way; How Great Is Our God with Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Rescue the Perishing; Where Can I Turn for Peace; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; Jesus, Gentle Lamb; Hosanna to the King; He Chose to Die; O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus; It's All about the Blood; Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Because He Lives with He Lives; Do Not I Love Thee, O My Lord; Crown Him with Many Crowns; Hallelujah (from The Messiah).
$10 per CD (includes shipping and tax)
Contact Information:
Sherry Thompson, Ministry Assistant
(800) 395-5102 ext. 5634
(919) 459-5634
[email protected]


text:
His incoherent ramblings
When I bought a new laptop, I immediately replaced the hard drive with something bigger, and not wanting to see a SATA notebook drive go to waste I bought an Akasa ENP2NES P2 series external enclosure. I've used their 3.5" enclosures for some time, but this was the first 2.5" version.
Even better, the enclosure had both eSATA and USB 2.0 ports. My Shuttle SD37-P2 barebones desktop includes an eSATA port, although combined with Intel Matrix RAID on that box, the 3.5" enclosures never got on with it. However, I decided to have a go with the 2.5" version.
Importantly I decided to use a disk drive benchmark program from www.datamarck.com to compare the USB 2.0 and eSATA performance. All these are for read access only.
USB 2.0 - 28 Mb/s average read, ranging from 30 Mb/s to 23 Mb/s
eSATA - 37 Mb/s average read, ranging from 48 Mb/s to 23 Mb/s
Only rough figures from a couple of runs on each, but that seals it - Virtual PC images on the external drive run on my Shuttle PC from now on. They will get faster disc access and hardware virtualisation which my Windows Server 2003 box (Shuttle SB51G) doesn't have.
Print | posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:12 AM
Powered by: Geekswithblogs.net
Copyright © Liam Westley


text:
Understand your customer
- Updated on 17 Jan 2019
Early in your startup's journey, your goal is to get a validated business model by getting out of the building and interviewing customers. This activity will help you find out how to effectively reach your ideal customers and is called customer discovery.
A startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. — Steve Blank
In other words, you should function as a learning organization whose goal is not to sell but to acquire as much unbiased information as possible to avoid spending time, money and resources on something that will not work.
In Understand your customer we've compiled the best practices for you to extract the most insight from your customer discovery.
Was this article helpful?


text:
District 10 News | September 2018 Issue
Meet Our Leaders
Vicky Nann, District Director
Where are you in your Toastmasters journey? What opportunities await you on the road that lies ahead? What would you discover about yourself if you were to say "yes" to a chance to lead and serve? What could a mentor help you discover in yourself?
I encourage you this Toastmasters year to envision a goal, and take those next steps, no matter how tentative. Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Say "yes" to the opportunities that lie before you. Be distinguished — or Distinguished — in the way that's best for you. Read Vicky's Message from the District Director.
Vicky Nann, a Toastmaster since 2000, is a member of Medina Toastmasters and four other clubs. She has served the district previously as program quality director, club growth director, district public relations manager, and Eastern Division governor.
Missy Moore, Club Growth Director
I'm Missy Moore, 2-time DTM. My role in the district is club growth director. My objective is to help grow the district by finding prospective new clubs, keeping great clubs motivated and retaining their members, and finding new ways to encourage and inspire clubs that are struggling by providing energetic club coaches. The district has lost some clubs, and even though the previous club growth director did a phenomenal job of adding new clubs, the number of new clubs didn't offset the number of clubs the district lost. My goal is to pick up with the current leads to build on to the district as well as get some inspiring coaches in struggling clubs in order to retain existing clubs. I feel District 10's future has a great outlook.
Missy Moore is a member of the Bridgestone Firestone Toastmasters club in Akron. She has been a Toastmaster since 2005.
Sravanthi Vallampati, Program Quality Director
Greetings, fellow toastmasters!
As your Program Quality Director, I am committed to organizing and supporting education, training, contests, the spring conference and other value-added opportunities that will give all of us in District 10 the skills, information, and inspiration we need to make make our clubs successful and help our members achieve personal and professional growth with an air of informed self-confidence. In addition to my core responsibilities, I plan to also focus efforts on the following two objectives, which will be critical to retaining members and building a pipeline for new ones: 1. Continue to enhance and support the Pathways learning experience and 2. Pilot and establish Youth Leadership Programs in all divisions. I am excited to work with my peers in the DEC and so many of you talented Toastmasters in District 10 to do what we set out to do as a team—excellence! I know I cannot accomplish anything significant alone, so I ask for your support and promise to stay accessible, aware, and inspired in your service.
Fun Fact
Fun Fact
Distinguished Toastmaster Corner
Toastmasters who want to move and improve: Connect with District 10's DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) Chair, Charles Kramer. He will help you advance your skills and move to the next level!
"You will get encouragement, guidance, and counseling in your journey through the projects needed to reach the DTM award." Learn more
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
October 27, 2018 | Marketing Institute
Do you want ideas for how to promote your club, attract guests, and retain members? You'll get lots of ideas at the Marketing Institute. You don't want to miss this free training. Mark your calendars; more information coming soon!
December 8, 2018 | Second Toastmasters Leadership Institute
Mark your calendar for the second round of officer training. Interesting and useful training sessions are being planned. Remember, officers need to be trained two times during the Toastmasters' year in order to receive the DCP point for officer training.
May 10-11, 2018 | Annual District 10 Conference and Speech Contests
Our (now) annual contest will be held at Walsh University in Canton, Ohio. Save the date!
District Updates
District Updates
Speech Contests
Fall Speech Event. In lieu of the fall speech contest season, District 10 will hold a special Speech Event to keep up the excitement of speech contests. Details will be coming your way soon. Do you want to help plan the event? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Annual Speech Contests. Speech contests will be held only once per year now. The contests are International and Evaluation. Competitors will still begin at the club level and then move to the area, division, and district competition. District winners of the International competition will still advance to the International competition. Club contests, however, begin much earlier than in the past.
Contest Timeline for 2018-2019
- Club: September 1 – December 15
- Area: January 1 – March 9
- Division: March 18 – April 30
Pathways Pointers
Still Have Pathways Questions? Support Is Coming!
As the new Pathways Education Chair for District 10, Bill Simpson, DTM, is making plans to help us all get the most out of Pathways. Read about them here.
Pathways Basics
How does Base Camp know you've completed project 1?
You need to complete the post-assessment. It's the same for project 2 and 3. Complete the post-assessments, and the projects will be marked complete.
Base Camp Managers
What steps do you need to take when a member completes a level?
You need to do 2 things. First, look for the member's pending request for approval in Base Camp. You may approve the request or deny it, but if you deny it you should have definite reason for believing the request should be denied and you must include your reason when you enter the denial. Second, if you approve the Level completion, submit the achievement in Club Central. With step 2, the achievement is credited toward your club's Distinguished Club points.
Note that if any of your members are in more than one club, their requests for approval of level completion will be sent to all clubs in which they are members. Any of the clubs may approve, but before submitting the achievement in Club Central, be sure to check with the member to be sure which club he or she wants the achievement to be associated with. DCP credit will only go to one club.
Educational Awards | July – August 2018
Help Wanted
Help Wanted!
- Chair + committee members to organize a fall "speech event." Contact email@example.com.
- Website graphics. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
- District Mentoring Chair. This person will help match experienced Toastmasters up with members of brand new clubs for one-on-one new-member mentoring. Mentoring can be done remotely (via Skype, for example, or phone). Contact email@example.com.
- Videotaping services for the district speech contest in the spring. This is straightforward recording – no editing, music, subtitles. Just plain recording. Requirements can be found on page 15 of the 2018 Rulebook. Contact email@example.com.


text:
3/4 mask jurassic world t-rex halloween accessory
3/4 Mask Jurassic World T-Rex Halloween Accessory - Child Size. T-Rex to save the day! From the blockbuster Jurassic World movie, this tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur mask offers immeasurable detail. The molded mask offers detailed scale, eyes, and sharp teeth design that makes a great addition to your costume. The Buyseasons 3/4 Mask Jurassic World T-Rex Halloween Accessory - Child Size Features: Includes one tyrannosaurus rex molded mask Cutout eye detail Detailed scales, yellow eyes, and sharp teeth Light brown and black dinosaur scale coloring Molded PP plastic Imported Officially licensed Jurassic World product Does not include costume Includes mask. Does not include costume. This is an officially licensed Jurassic World product. 22 years after the original Jurassic Park failed, the new Jurassic World theme park is open for business. After years of studying genetics, the scientists have genetically engineered a new breed of dinosaur. What could possibly go wrong? Toys R Us has a great selection of all your Jurassic World needs from action figures, electronics, building sets, books and more right here at Toys R Us. Get them now before they're all chomped up! Toys > Category > Holiday Shops > Halloween Store > Costume Accessories > Masks. Apparel & Accessories > Costumes & Accessories > Costumes.
Browse all deals at Toys"R"Us
See more in Costumes
* This offer may contain time-sensitive information and offers. Please check with Toys"R"Us to confirm actual price & availability.
Please enter your name
- Be the first to comment!
1 location
4822 N.W. Whipple Avenue
4822 N.W. Whipple Avenue
Canton, OH 44718


text:
From: Silver Screen
El Ángel" is a stylish foreign crime thriller
What is the power of influence over film?
I can still recall with amazing clarity when I first saw Faye Dunaway's devious smile in the classic "Bonnie and Clyde." There is also Warren Beatty donning his handsome mug and plenty of violence and gore to knock the socks off any movie-going audience. That film focuses on two criminals who fall in love while pulling off a series of ever-escalating and audacious heists, while also exploring themes of sexuality, criminality, and identity.
"El Ángel," Argentina's official submission to the 91st Academy Awards, doesn't aspire to be a straight and narrow adaptation of "Bonnie and Clyde," but it most certainly borrows some elements from it. In doing so, it provides for us a wondrous new text for us to borrow from—raising the bar for Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque films to a new height.
Set in 1970s Buenos Aires, "El Ángel" is an odd combination of a coming-of-age story and a crime thriller. Carlos, played by relative newcomer Lorenzo Ferro, is our main protagonists–and boy does he love to steal things. He is befriended by Ramón (Chino Darín) and the two begin a series of crimes that become increasingly audacious in scope.
Ferro has the makings of a young Timothée Chalamet a la Hot Summer Nights—he plays his part cool and collected with the right amount of sadistic qualities that straddle that line between sanity and excess. This descent into the criminal underworld—the lower Carlos sinks—is portrayed with wondrous quality and candor that make him a star to watch.
Ferro's performance is the most significant standout, although the rest of the ensemble play their parts well. Of note is Darín's Ramon's somewhat muted performance-- he's still just as ambitious in his criminal goals, but Ramon plays the part with grit but grace.
Director Luis Ortega should be commended for his great work here—this film oozes with style. It's beautifully shot and images are composed extremely well with an eye for excitement and drama. Music accompanies the dramatic heists very well and will leave a tune in your ear.
"El Ángel" reminds us that while films regularly borrow from others, there's always more we can learn. This film is a great work of cinema that deserves your attention—and reminds us that films of the global south can forge their own paths into greatness.
Rating: A-
"El Ángel" Releases on November 16


text:
<-- Return to all news
Tooth mascot Dr. Tomás MediDent helped kick off Virginia Garcia's Happy Mouth Happy Body oral health integration launch. Virginia Garcia (VG) was awarded a two-year grant by CareOregon Dental to improve how their medical and dental care teams work together. The grant focuses on reducing care gaps for at-risk populations (people with uncontrolled diabetes, pregnant women, young children) with the goal of expanding medical/dental integration to all VG clinics.
VG is aware of the connections between oral health care and primary care: A number of VG clinics are co-located and they know that providers would refer patients to each other. The referrals, however, weren't consistently happening across VG or being documented, and there was no follow up with patients.
Research demonstrates a direct connection between good oral health and overall health, especially in controlling diabetes. Combine that with a national call to action to integrate oral health into primary care, VG decided to make medical and dental integration a priority. "More people access primary care than dental," said Daniel Ornelas, VG dental program manager. "Patients listen to their primary care provider. If the provider sees something and recommends the patient talk to a dentist, they've set something in motion to follow through with a referral."
Dental and medical integration is one of VG's Strategic Initiatives. VG's first priority is to focus on at-risk populations including pregnant women, children, and diabetics. The goal is to provide seamless communication among all team members engaged in patient care. VG will be working with OCHIN to create tools for Epic's medical/dental integrated electronic health record. These tools will be shared with CareOregon Dental's partners and will enhance the ability to close care gaps across departments, from medical to dental.
As part of the plan to increase access to dental care, VG has embedded an expanded practice dental hygienist in the Women's Clinic for oral health assessments, screenings, treatment and referrals to medical or additional dental services or both. The hygienist will also become part of the diabetes management team, helping to identify areas that oral health messaging could be incorporated, and eventually being embedded in a primary care team seeing patients with diabetes.
"This project has the potential to improve communication between medical and dental teams across VG," said Conchita Lovato, integration project manager. "Working together, we can vastly improve the services for our patients as well as improve their health and meet our metrics."
Submitted by Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
Thank you for the comment! Your comment must be approved first
You've already submitted a review for this item
Thank you! Your review has been submitted successfully
Login to be able to comment
Comment cannot be empty
Rating is required
You typed the code incorrectly. Please try again


text:
Hand made in Cornwall these earrings are a stunning mix of aquamarines, slate, rock crystal chips, and a cracked crystal bead on solid silver hooks. Beautiful earrings inspired by the colours of the ocean, perfect to team with matching pendants.
Each piece is handmade and may differ from the picture shown.
**Price includes packaging and delivery - Please allow 7 days for delivery**


text:
|About Us (Video Intro)
|Contact Us
(1) When it is start-up, all setting will be at zero automatic, and the total volume
will be auto adjusted.
(2) With tone transposition function and karaoke line control system.
(3) It can connect to the VOD computer system with all function remote control.
(4) With Karaoke squelch circuit .
(5) Bran-new professional digital mixer.
(6) With grading output jack, it is easy to show the mark of your singing.
(7) With recording output jacks, you can record the music.
(8) With prefect protect function for speaker.
(9) It can connect to the main track and the incidental track.
(10) With subwoofer output port, it can connect to the subwoofer that is with amplifier.
(11) Three microphone input jacks are both in front and back of the panel, it is easy
for installing.
Output Power(1KHz,4ohm): 150W+150W
Frequency Response: 20Hz-46KHz
Signal to Noise Ratio: 75dB
Separation 48dB
T.H.D.: ≤0.18% 1KHz
Power Requirements: AC220V/50Hz
Weight: 9.2Kg
MIC input sensitivity: 10mV
Dimensions(mm):(L x H x W) 430x130x330


text:
Abu Ali Simjur -Muzaffar al-DawlehEnglish 1673 Views |
در این متـن میخوانـــیم :
Abu Ali Simjur, titled "Imad al-Dawleh" and "Muzaffar al-Dawleh", of Simjurid dynasty which ruled for 80 years over Khurasan. He was a Simjurid scholar and great amir of Samanids. His father Abul Hasan Muhammad Simjur was the commander-in-chief of Khurasan in Samanid period. There is not information of his birth date and the first years of his life, it is said that he studied under his father and learnt the Quran in the presence of Abul Hasan Muhammad Muqri who was an outstanding figure in Khurasan. In 972, was appointed as the ruler of Heart by ####his father who was at that time the commander-in-chief of Khurasan. After his father's death in 989, he became the ruler of Nishapour. His opponents stimulated his brother "Abul Qasem Simjur" to go against Abu Ali, but Abul Qasemnot only gave him his father's slaves and treasure but also obeyed his brother. In 992 Abu Ali requested the commanding of Khurasan from Nuh Samani and Nuh accepted, then gave him the title "Imad al-Dawleh". All the southern parts of Oxus were ruled by him. In 993 samanids failed, Nuh Samani escaped from Bukhara and asked Abu Ali for help but he refused. In 996 Nishapou was attacked by Abu Ali's army, at that time Mahmud Ibn Sebuktigin (sultan of Ghaznawid dynasty; b. 971, r. 998-1030) was the amir of Khurasan. When Abu Ali's army arrived Nishapour, the people supported them and fought against Mahmud. Therefore he went to Heart but his father Sebuktigin attacked Abu Ali and defeated his army. Abu Ali was imprisoned in Chorasmia but then released by Nuh Samani, then Nuh imprisoned him again. In 998 was killed by the order of Sebuktigin. Abu Ali was going to weaken the Samanids in order to rule over all the parts but was prohibited to gainpower by Ghaznawids and Qarakhanids. He loved poetry and wrote poems in Persian. "Abul Faraj Sagzi" and " Abul Qasem Unsuri (d. 1049)" are the most famous poets of his court. He had also relationship with Saheb Ibn Abbad (vizier and man of letters of the Buyid dynasty).
Islamic encyclopedia
0 Comments Share Send Print Ask about this article Add to favorites