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PEDIGREE OUT-PEDIGREED.

I remember a contest in the Court of Honour, betwixt the two houses of Constable-the one of Flamborough-head, the other of ConstableBuxton, both in Yorkshire-which should be the eldest. The decision was, it was never decided, both sides producing such ancient evidences that, in mounting up in antiquity like hawks, they did not only lessen but fly out of sight, even beyond the ken and cognizance of any record. Thomas Fuller.

THE ADVANTAGES OF COURTESY.

I have seen some people rude by being over civil and troublesome in their courtesy; though, these excesses excepted, the knowledge of courtesy and good manners is a very necessary study. It is, like grace and beauty, that which begets liking and an inclination to love one another at first sight, and in the beginning of an acquaintance a familiarity; and consequently, that which first opens the door, and introduces us to better ourselves by the examples of others, if there be anything in the society worth taking notice of.

Montaigne.

A PICTURE OF THE PRESS.

There she is the great engine-she never sleeps. She has her ambassadors in every quarter of the world-her couriers upon every road. Her officers march along with armies, and her envoys walk into statesmen's cabinets. They are ubiquitous. Yonder journal has an agent at this minute giving bribes at Madrid, and another inspecting the price of potatoes at Covent Garden. Look! here comes the Foreign Express galloping in. They will be able to give news at Downing Street to-morrow: funds will rise or fall, fortunes be made or lost; Lord B. will get up, and, holding the paper in his hand, and seeing the noble marquis in his place, will make a great speech; and Mr Doolan will be called away from his supper at the back kitchen, for he is foreign sub-editor, and sees the mail on the newspaper sheet before he goes to his own. Thackeray.

LITTLE THINGS.

"Every little helps to lessen the freight," said the captain, as he threw his wife overboard.

Dutch Proverb.

HISTORY.

History may be defined as the biography of nations. Arnold.

JESTING ALLOWABLE, IF HARMLESS.

Jesting, when not used upon improper matter, in an unfit manner, with excessive measure, at undue season, or to evil purpose, may be allowed. When jesting is so handsomely and innocently used, as not to defile or discompose the mind of the speaker,-not to wrong or harm the hearer, not to derogate from any worthy subject of discourse, not to infringe decency, to disturb peace, to violate any of the grand duties incumbent on us-viz., piety, charity, justice, and sobriety, it cannot be condemned. Barrow.

A HINT TO CHARITY.

Let the charitably-minded do what, when, where, how, to whom, and how much, God and their own goodness shall direct them. Thomas Fuller.

THE STRENGTH OF CUSTOM.

He ought to be very well mounted who is for leaping the hedge of custom.

Hill.

INUTILITY OF GENERAL MAXIMS.

Every man who has seen the world, knows that nothing is so useless as a general maxim. If it be very moral and very true, it may serve for a copy to a charity boy. If, like those of Rochefoucauld, it be sparkling and whimsical, it may make an excellent motto for an essay. But few indeed of the many wise apophthegms which have been uttered, from the time of the Seven Sages of Greece to that of Poor Richard, have prevented a single foolish action. Macaulay.

OSTENTATION.

As you see in a pair of bellows, there is a forced breath without life, so in those that are puffed up with the wind of ostentation, there may be charitable words without works. Bishop Hall.

LONDON.

"Fine village, ma'am, fine village," said Mr Wagg, "and increasing every day. It'll be quite a large town soon. It's not a bad place to live in for those who can't get to the country, and will repay a visit when you honour it.”

Thackeray.

D

INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS.

Mary Busybody never wants a bad day, and Mary Drone has God to give and bring to her. Spanish Proverb.

DUTCH WINDMILLS.

Do the Dutch grind their coffee, or chop turnips for their cows by wind? No: these baby mills are pumps; they are always at it; in an infinitesimal degree parts of that huge Waterstaat which is perpetually saving Holland from being swallowed up by the sea. The country sprung a leak in the year one, and all hands have been at the pumps ever since.

A PROVERB DEFINED.

Sala.

A proverb is much matter decocted into few words. . . . Six essentials are required to the completing of a perfect proverb, namely, that it be

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