Mutual complaisances, attentions, and sacrifices of little conveniences, are an implied (1) compact among the well bred. It is asserted that next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one, is the most pleasing. Very few, scarcely any, are wanting in the respect which they should show to those whom they acknowledge to be infinitely their superiors. It is the manner of showing that respect which differs.

The man of fashion, and of the world, expresses it in its fullest extent, but naturally, easily, and without concern: on the contrary, a man who is not used to keep good company expresses it awkwardly; one sees that he is not used to it, and that it costs him a great deal (2).

TRUE WEALTH.

A long and cruel war had been carried on between Egypt and the empire of Constantinople. The two monarchs, equally moved by the calamities that discord occasioned, agreed to a peace. To cement their union, the sultan of Egypt gave his daughter in marriage to the emperor's son, and the daughter of the Grecian prince was destined for the son of the sultan : the two sovereigns formed by this intermarriage a most intimate correspondence, and neither of them engaged in any affair of con sequence without consulting the other. The sultan one day wrote to the emperor thus: 66 A father ought to have nothing dearer to him than his children, for in

(1) Implied, bien entendu.

(2) A great deal, beaucoup.

them he lives again even after death; and therefore he should use his utmost efforts to secure them from the attacks of indigence. Persuaded of this truth, I have accumulated riches for my son why do not you follow my example, and direct your attention to the state your son will be in after you?"

66

The emperor returned for answer : A wise man does not place his confidence in the goods of this world; prodigality may dissipate, and misfortune snatch them away; my son will find after my decease acquisitions more permanent and solid : I have enriched his mind with those inestimable gifts of which no one can deprive him; qualities that form the heart and embellish the mind." The sultan of Egypt acknowledged that a good education was the most valuable riches that a father could bequeath to his children.

PRECEDENCE.

A person who occasionally (1) gave entertainments to authors, had the fancy to place them at table each according to the size and thickness (2) of the volumes they had published. He commenced with the folio authors, and proceeded through the quarto and octavo, down to the duodecimo, each according to his rank.

(1) Occasionally, de temps en temps. (2) Thickness, épaisseur.

Mutual complaisances, attentions, and sacrifices of little conveniences, are an implied (1) compact among the well bred. It is asserted that next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one, is the most pleasing. Very few, scarcely any, are wanting in the respect which they should show to those whom they acknowledge to be infinitely their superiors. It is the manner of showing that respect which differs.

The man of fashion, and of the world, expresses it in its fullest extent, but naturally, easily, and without concern: on the contrary, a man who is not used to keep good company expresses it awkwardly; one sees that he is not used to it, and that it costs him a great deal (2).

TRUE WEALTH.

A long and cruel war had been carried on between Egypt and the empire of Constantinople. The two monarchs, equally moved by the calamities that discord occasioned, agreed to a peace. To cement their union, the sultan of Egypt gave his daughter in marriage to the emperor's son, and the daughter of the Grecian prince was destined for the son of the sultan : the two sovereigns formed by this intermarriage a most intimate correspondence, and neither of them engaged in any affair of consequence without consulting the other. The sultan one day wrote to the emperor thus: "A father ought to have nothing dearer to him than his children, for in

(1) Implied, bien entendu.
(2) A great deal, beaucoup.

them he lives again even after death; and therefore he should use his utmost efforts to secure them from the attacks of indigence. Persuaded of this truth, I have accumulated riches for my son why do not you follow my example, and direct your attention to the state your son will be in after you?

d;

The emperor returned for answer : "A wise man does not place his confidence in the goods of this world prodigality may dissipate, and misfortune snatch them away; my son will find after my decease acquisitions more permanent and solid: I have enriched his mind with those inestimable gifts of which no one can deprive him; qualities that form the heart and embellish the mind." The sultan of Egypt acknowledged that a good education was the most valuable riches that a father could bequeath to his children.

PRECEDENCE.

A person who occasionally (1) gave entertainments to authors, had the fancy to place them at table each according to the size and thickness (2) of the volumes they had published. He commenced with the folio authors, and proceeded through the quarto and octavo, down to the duodecimo, each according to his rank.

(1) Occasionally, de temps en temps. (2) Thickness, épaisseur.

SINGULAR FUNERAL.

Attila died in 453, and was buried in the midst of a vast plain, in a coffin, the first covering of which was of gold, the second of silver and the third of iron. Along with the body were buried the spoils of his enemies, harnesses enriched with gold and precious stones, rich stuffs and the most valuable articles taken from the palaces of the kings which he had pillaged; and, that the place of his interment might not be known, the Huns put to death without exception all those who had assisted at his funeral.

The Goths had previously done the same for Alaric, who died in the year 410, at Cosenza, a city of Calabria. They turned for some days the course of the river Vasento, and having caused a trench (1) to be dug in its former channel, where the stream was usually most rapid, they buried the king there with immense treasures. They put to death all those who had assisted in digging the grave, and restored the stream to its former bed.

HOW TO PROCURE A DINNER.

Doctor Arne, a celebrated musician, when once travelling, stopped at an inn where in consequence of the house being full, he found great difficulty to procure a dinner. The only joint (2) remaining had just been

(1) A trench, une tranchée.

(2) Joint (of meat), morceau de viande.