AN
ORATION.
HISTORY informs us, that at Lagado, in Laputa, there was a grand academy established, in which there was a display of much curious learning.
"One artist, of a very philosophic taste, was racking his invention to make a pin-cushion out of a piece of marble.
"Another had formed an ingenious project to prevent the growth of wool upon two young lambs, by a composition of gums, minerals and vegetables, applied inwardly, and thus he hoped in a reasonable time to propagate the breed of naked sheep throughout the Kingdom.
"A third had contrived a plan to entirely abolish words; and this was urged as a great advantage in point of health as well as brevity. For it is plain that every word we speak is an injury to our lungs, by corrosion, and consequently contributes to the shortening of our lives. An expedient was therefore offered, that since words were only names for things, it would be more convenient for all men to carry about them such things as were necessary
