YodelOut!

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Diamond Mining

    IN the middle eighties, a Mr. Gilkes, while prospecting for gold in the interior of British Guiana, found a diamond. At that time the enormous development of the diamond mines of Africa from the chance finding of a single stone, had already attracted universal attention and prospectors were not slow to follow any similar lead. […]

  • The Diamond

    OF many of her beauties, Nature gives us glimpses only. As swaying gossamer momentarily reveals and hides the charms of a dancing fairy, so the quick flashes of brilliancy and color, the changes of tone and atmosphere, the drifts of song and sighing, and the varying perfume of moods, flit about us, in the restless […]

  • Thoughts For A Thanksgiving Speech

    The manner in which the day was first instituted. The sore struggles and the small beginnings of that day compared with the greatness and abounding prosperity of the present. The warfare between Christmas and Thanksgiving, the one being thought the badge of popery and prelacy. The Battle of the Pies, pump-kin and mince, terminating in […]

  • Christmas

    APPROPRIATE TOASTS The Day of Good-will—to The Cold Weather with-out and the Warm Hearts within—to The Christmas Tree, which grows in a Night and is plucked in the Morning by the gladdest of fingers—to The Day in which Religion gives sweetness to Social Life—Christmas Gifts; may they bless the Giver not less than the Receiver—to […]

  • Washington’s Birthday

    APPROPRIATE TOASTS To Washington—to The Great Men of Revolutionary Times—to The Great Man who could not do what many modern Politicians can do—tell a lie—to The Childless Father of Eighty Millions of people—to The American Model Statesman—to The Greatest of Good Men and the Best of Great Men. THOUGHTS FOR A SPEECH IN RESPONSE TO […]

  • Memorial Day

    The celebration of this day has become general and has assumed a special and beautiful character. It might have been feared that angry passions engendered by civil strife would predominate, but the very reverse of this is true. Kindness and charity, tender memories of the sacrifices of patriotism, the duty of caring for the living […]

  • Fourth Of July

    At a Fourth of July banquet, or celebration, toasts may be offered to ” The Flag,” to ” The Day,” to ” Independence,” to “Our Revolutionary Fathers,” to ” The Nation,” to any Great Man of the Past, to ” Liberty,” to ” Free Speech,” to ” National Greatness,” to ” Peace,” to ” Defensive […]

  • Some Directions For Making Speeches, Toasts, And Responses

    1. Do not be afraid or ashamed to use the best helps you can get. Divest yourself of the idea that all you need is to wait till a toast is proposed and your name called, and then to open your mouth and let the eloquence flow forth. The greatest genius in the world might […]

  • The Purpose Of After-Dinner Speaking

    Briefly stated, it is to bring into one focus the thought of an assembly. While the good things of the table may be satisfactory, and conversation free and spontaneous, there is yet need of some expedient for making all thought flow in one channel, and of blending the whole company into a true unity. There […]

  • Illustrative And Humorous Anecdotes – Part 4

    75. TRUTHFUL PRISONER The eccentric old King of Prussia, father of Frederick the Great, while visiting the Potsdam prison, was much interested in the professions of innocence the prisoners made. Some blamed their conviction on the prejudice of judges; others, upon the perjury of witnesses or the tricks of bad companions. At length he accosted […]

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