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Show HISTORY MERELY A LESSON Paints Pictures Only That They May Be an Inspiration to Future Generations. History does not relate for the sake of relating; it does not paint for the sake of painting; it relates and paints the past that It may be a living lesson of the future. It proposes to Instruct new generations by the experience of, those who have gone before them, hy' exhibiting to them a faithful pietur of great and important events wltti their causes and their effects, with general designs and particular pas-slons, pas-slons, with the faults and virtues that are found commingled In human things. It teaches the excellence of prudence, courage, and great thoughts profoundly meditated, constantly pursued, pur-sued, and executed with moderation and force. It shows the vanity of immoderate pretensions, the power of wisdom and virtue, the impotence of folly and crime. Thucydides, Polybins, and Tacitus undertake anything rather than procuring new emotions for an Idle curiosity or a worn threadbare imagination. They doubtless desire to Interest and attract, but more to instruct; they are the avowed masters of statesmen and the preceptors of maukind. Victor Cousin. , |