DISCRETION IN CONVERSATION.

It is a great misfortune not to have mind enough to talk well, nor judgment enough to be silent. Bruyère.

EXPERIENCE.

He that at twenty is not, at thirty knows not, and at forty has not, will never be, nor ever know, nor ever have. Italian Proverb.

THE SECRET HISTORY OF BOOKS.

If the secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader! Thackeray.

THE WORLD A MIRROR.

We may be pretty certain that persons whom all the world treats ill deserve entirely the treatment they get. The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upcn you; laugh at it and with it and it is a jolly, kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice. Thackeray.

BAGPIPE MUSIC.

An air played on the bagpipes, with that detestable, monstrous drone of theirs for the bass, is like a tune tied to a post.

MEASURED Words.

Leigh Hunt.

"Twas

Words must be fitted to a man's mouth. well said of the fellow that was to make a speech for my Lord Mayor-he desired to take measure of his lordship's mouth. Selden.

CONDUCT OF LADIES TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER. With what smiles and curtseys they stab each other! with what compliments they hate each other! with what determination of long-suffering they won't be offended! with what innocent dexterity they can drop the poison into the cup of conversation, hand round the goblet, smiling, to the whole family to drink, and make the dear, domestic circle miserable! Thackeray.

DISAPPOINTMENTS.

To expect what never comes, to lie in bed and not sleep, to serve well and not be advanced, are three things to die of. Italian Proverb.

NATIONAL IMPUDENCE.

Impudence in an Englishman is sullen and insolent, in a Scotchman is untractable and rapacious, in an Irishman absurd and fawning; as the course of the world now runs, the impudent Englishman behaves like a surly landlord, the Scot like an ill-received guest, and the Irishman like a stranger who knows he is not welcome. There is seldom anything entertaining either in the impudence of a South or North Briton; but that of an Irishman is always comic. A true and genuine impudence

is ever the effect of ignorance without the least sense of it.

How To Go THROUGH THE WORLD.

Steele.

To go safely through the world, one must have the eye of a falcon, the ear of an ass, the face of an ape, the mouth of a pig, the shoulders of a camel, and the legs of a deer. Italian Proverb.

LAUGHTER.

One should take care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.

Addison.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE POET.

He who, in an enlightened and literary' society, aspires to be a great poet, must first become a little child. He must take to pieces the whole Iweb of his mind. He must unlearn much of that knowledge which has perhaps constituted hitherto his chief title to superiority. His very talents will be a hindrance to him. His difficulties will be proportioned to his proficiency in the pursuits which are fashionable among his contemporaries; and that proficiency will in general be proportioned to the vigour and activity of his mind. Macaulay.

WHAT IS A LIBEL?

A libel, according to Sir Francis Bacon, his description thereof, is a lie, a notorious untruth; and then a bell some loud and lewd tongue hath tolled, yea, rung it out, and perchance was welcome music to some hearers thereof.

REASON.

Thomas Fuller.

He that begins without reason, hath reason enough to leave off, by perceiving he had no reason to begin. Jeremy Taylor.

CHAOS DESCRIBED.

Mr

in his poem, makes trees coeval with chaos;-which is next door to Hans Sachse, who, in describing chaos, said it was so pitchy dark that even the cats ran against each other! Coleridge.

LOGIC AND ETHICS COMPARED. Ethics makes a man's soul mannerly and wise; but logic is the armoury of reason, furnished with all offensive and defensive weapons.

TABLE TALK OF THE ANCIENTS.

Thomas Fuller.

It would be unpardonable to omit mentioning the table talk of the ancients. In fact, it was one of the points in which they had an advantage over us; for though they were less domestic, they were more social. The absence of printing imparted to their conversation the same superior importance which it gave to their oratory. A modern philosopher lives like a hermit. and publishes in quarto; the ancient one carried his philosophy about with him, and propagated it in the market-place, in shops, and at suppers. The table talk of an age was its wisdom.

Hannay.