X. ANALOGY.

This

Reasoning by analogy is drawing conclusions about one subject from its resemblance to another. form of argument is rather illustrative than conclusive. It is often employed with good effect to explain our meaning more clearly to the reader; but it is scarcely sufficient to produce conviction. Analogy means a likeness, in a certain respect, between two things, which in other respects may be quite different. There is an analogy between the sovereign of a country and the father of a family. They are both rulers. The one stands in the same relation to his subjects as the other does to his children; but beyond this one point the likeness fails, for in all other respects they may be different from each other. This form of reasoning is frequently adopted in arguing on moral or practical questions; but we should take great care that our analogies be well founded, and that we do not argue concerning two things as if they were alike in all respects, because they resemble each other in one point.

The following paragraph is modelled upon the principle of analogy :

MODEL.

society is held together.

Given proposition . . . . Perfect equality is impossible. Obedience is one of those principles by which Take it away, and the whole fabric falls to the ground. Without it, none of the business of life could be carried on. There would be neither king nor subject, commander nor soldier,

master nor servant.

The opinion that there should be no difference of rank in society is about as absurd as to expect that all trees or all mountains should be of the same size, or that all men should be of the same height. No; Providence, for the wisest purposes, has created an infinite variety in external nature, and most undoubtedly intended a similar variety to exist in the moral world.

The propositions in the following list are to form the subjects of short paragraphs, and are to be argued upon as in the above model.

Propositions to be illustrated by Analogy.

1. Human life is brief and transitory.

2. The barbarians invaded the Roman Empire. 3. All that's bright must fade.

4. Nothing could appease his anger.

5. His head was turned by his success.
6. He had lost all his former tastes.
7. The conversation flagged.

8. The cholera appeared in the country.
9. The poor child died of a fever.

10. She was deeply afflicted.

11. The lady was gorgeously dressed.

12. The gentleman has great powers of conversation. 13. He is of a most benevolent disposition.

14. My friend was in high spirits at the news.
15. A precocious genius is seldom lasting.
16. There are limits to human knowledge.
17. The stately ship cleaves the calm waters.
18. Repeated attempts will at length succeed.
19. Treat others as you would be treated yourself.
20. Indolence corrodes the mind.

XI. FABLES.

Another form of reasoning is where the writer refers to, or quotes, a fable in support of his position. Fables are short stories in which animals or inanimate objects carry on the action, and which convey some moral lesson. The principle example before precept' is here literally fulfilled, for the example is found in the story of the fable, and the precept in the moral which follows it. In the fable of the 'Hare and the Tortoise,' we are taught the superiority of steady and determined perseverance over a brilliant but irregular genius; and from the fable of the 'Dog and the Shadow,' we draw a lesson against greediness.

The following model will show how this form of reasoning may be practised :

There is nothing more pernicious to the character than to listen to flattery. It increases our vanity, gives us a false idea of ourselves, and becomes an insurmountable barrier to all improvement. For it is obviously impossible for one who believes all the fulsome adulation poured into his ear, to make any progress either in knowledge or virtue; and he is sure at length to fall a victim to one who will profit by his folly. Had not the crow lent a willing ear to the artful insinuations of the fox, she would not have had to mourn, when too late, the consequences of her silly vanity.

Propositions to be supported by reference to Fables.

1. A known liar is never believed.

2. We must take the consequences of disregarding good advice.

3. Honesty is the best policy.

4. Every one should provide for a future emergency. 5. Industry is the only sure road to wealth.

6. Envy makes ourselves as well as others miserable. 7. It is mean and cowardly to insult the unfortunate. 8. Great boasters are generally great cowards.

9. Persuasion is better than force.

10. Affectation is sure to meet with ridicule.

11. A comfortable competency is preferable to splendid affluence.

12. We should never despise even the weakest.

13. Innocence falls an easy victim to tyranny. 14. Consider well the consequences of a change.

15. It is no merit to abstain from vices we cannot practise.

16. Those who claim more than their due will get less than their due.

17. We should not be over sanguine.

18. Do not attempt a task beyond your strength.

19. Heaven assists the industrious.

20. Be not dazzled by a brilliant appearance.

XII. EXAMPLES.

When we reason from examples, we adduce cases, drawn either from public or private life, in support of the proposition we desire to prove. It is better, when it can be done, to accumulate examples, as the greater the number of them that can be brought to support our

opinion, the more likely are we to produce conviction on our reader's mind. By this form of reasoning, Mr. Aiken endeavours to show that wars were more frequent, destructive, and cruel before the invention of fire-arms. With this view, he cites examples of the wars among the states of Greece, those of Rome, the innumerable attacks of the northern barbarians on the Roman Empire, and the millions of human beings that fell in the Crusades.

The following model will illustrate this form of reasoning :

Given proposition

MODEL.

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A literary age follows some political struggle.

It has been frequently remarked, that the period of the highest literary glory of civilised nations is generally found to follow close on some remarkable or portentous achievements in commerce or in war. Among the ancient Greeks, the combination of great literary names in the age of Pericles follows the defeat of the Persians. The Roman age of Augustus, when that mighty nation was resting from her conquests, produced the same galaxy of genius. In the same way, the famous literary age of Louis XIV. was certainly prepared, if not produced, by the religious wars of the Reformation, and after the national enthusiasm had been excited by the success of the French arms in Germany and Flanders. In our own case, a gigantic revolution had been accomplished. The intellect of England had been engaged in a violent struggle for religious liberty, and the nation now started on its race of poetical immortality.