The Lost Arts (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from The Lost Arts

I, perhaps, might venture to claim that it was a medicine for what is the most objectionable feature of our national character; and that is self-conceit, an un due appreciation of ourselves, an exaggerated estimate of our achievements, of our inventions, of our contribu tions to popular comfort, and of our place, in fact, in the great procession of the ages. We seem to imagine, that whether knowledge will die with us, or not, it certainly began with us. We have a pitying estimate, a tender pity, for the narrowness, ignorance, and dark ness of the bygone ages. We seem to ourselves not only to monopolize, but to have begun, the era of light.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Lost Arts

In 1830 the lyceum lectore-system, which has played so important and conspicuous a part in the political and intellectual education of the masses, was started by Horace Maun, Josiah Holbrook, Rev. Dr. Allen, Hon. Amasa Walker, George B. Emerson, and others. Mr. Phillips was one of the first to take part in the movement; and, as early as 1836, he delivered his first lecture. His subjects were almost invariably chosen from the realm of natural science, of which he was always more fond than of the law; and every succeeding winter his name appears as one of the lecturers in the stated courses of the day.

The lecture on "The Lost Arts," which has been conceded to be the most popular and the most charming lecture for the people ever delivered from an American platform, began its career in the winter of 1838-39. Previous to this time Mr. Phillips had spoken chiefly on themes pertaining to chemistry and natural physics, and occasionally on some of the discoveries and inventions in the field of mechanics. Being called upon rather suddenly to speak before a certain audience, it occurred to him that a familiar résumé of curious knowledge about the arts, which the ancients knew, and which we can neither rival nor revive, might possibly prove entertaining.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.