or Art, Science or Literature, there you have the first men in England to give it you.' 'Ah,' said my friend, 'it's all very well if one wants to meet those sorts of fellows, but, you see, one doesn't want to meet 'em.'

Prior's old soldier would have been quite thrown away on my worthy friend, who, I fancy, must be what is called a Philistine.

LIFE.

'When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat;
Yet fool'd with hope men favour the deceit ;
Trust on; and think to-morrow will repay—
To-morrow's falser than the former day;
Lies on; and while it says, we shall be bless'd
With some new joys, cuts off what we possess'd.
Strange cozenage! none would live past years again,
Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain ;
And from the dregs of life think to receive
What the first sprightly running would not give.
I'm tired with waiting for this chymic gold,
Which fools us young, and beggars us when old.'
John Dryden (1631-1701).

THE FIRST REAL GENTLEMAN.

'There have been persons who, being sceptics as to the divine mission of Christ, have taken an unaccountable prejudice to His doctrines, and have been disposed to deny the merit of His character, but this was not the feeling of the great men in the age of Elizabeth (whatever might be their belief). One of them says of Him, with a boldness equal to its piety, The best of men

""

That e'er wore earth about him, was a sufferer;
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit ;
The first true gentleman that ever breathed."

'This was old honest Decker, and the lines ought to embalm his memory to every one who has a sense either of religion, or philosophy, or humanity, or true genius.'

William Hazlitt.

THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

'The internal evidence of the Christian religion is greater than the external. In the matter of external evidence, other religions compete with the Christian; but in purity, wisdom, and power of cleansing the human heart, it is alike original and supreme; one of its greatest characteristics is its opposition to the monster vices of humanity.' Sir Philip Francis (1740–1818).

N

THE OLD STOIC.

'Riches I hold in light esteem,

And love I laugh to scorn;
And lust of fame was but a dream
That vanished with the morn :

'And if I pray, the only prayer
That moves my lips for me

Is, "Leave the heart that now I bear,
And give me liberty!"

'Yes, as my swift days near their goal,
'Tis all that I implore ;

In life and death, a chainless soul,

With courage to endure.'

Emily Brontë (1818-1848).

ARCHDEACON PALEY A JESTER.

Archdeacon Paley, seated at dinner, and annoyed by a draught of air, called out 'Shut this window behind me, and open that lower down, behind one of the curates.' This anecdote might have been told of the Rev. Sydney Smith. The clergy, when they condescend to jest, have a great advantage over the laity.

WITH A BOOK OF SMALL SKETCHES.

In days gone by, and year by year

I gleaned the sketchlets garner'd here :
Some pains they cost me, much shoe leather,
Before they all were got together.

Dear Children, I must flit anon;

O guard them kindly when I'm gone.

F. L.

A MOTTO FOR A PAPER-KNIFE.

Avia Pieridum peragro loca nullius ante trita solo.

Lucretius.

AN EXCUSE FOR DRINKING.

'He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.'

Samuel Johnson.

FIVE MORE EXCUSES.

Good wine, a friend, or being dry,

Or lest we should be, bye and bye—

Or any other reason why.

An American had three reasons for not drinking, and one of them a cogent one :

1.- 'I can't drink, for I've just lost a near relative.' 2.—(when he was much pressed) No, I really can't, you know-I'm president of a teetotal society.'

3.-(when he was much more pressed) 'No, I can't indeed-I'm liquor'd up to the bung.'

A LETTER OF HENRY FIELDING.

'On board the Queen of Portugal, Richard Veal, at anchor on the Mother Bank, off Ryde.

To the care of

the Post-master of Portsmouth-This is my date and yr direction.

July 12 (?), 1754.

'Dear Jack,-After receiving that agreeable 10%. (?) from Messrs. Fielding and Co., we weighed on Monday morning, and sailed from Deal to the Westward. Four Days long but inconceivably pleasant Passage brought us yesterday to an anchor on the Mother Bank, at the Back of the Isle of Wight, where we had last night in Safety the Pleasure of hearing the Winds roar over our heads in as violent a Tempest as I have known, and where my only Consideration were the Fears which must possess any Friend of ours (if there is happily any such) who really makes our Well being the Object of his Concern; especially if such Friend should be totally inexperienced in Sea affairs. I therefore beg that on the Day you receive this Mrs. Daniel