sence of mind of Madame Kayser, an actress.

The fire had already got considerable hold (1) at the back of the theatre without the audience knowing it, when Madame Kayser gradually approached the royal box, without interrupting her singing or action; then seizing a favourable moment she said to the king in a low voice : Leave the theatre, Sire, it is on fire. The king instantly quitted the house; when after giving him time to escape the crowd, she vociferated Fire! and gaining her box, threw herself out of a window, which not being very high from the ground, she escaped without injury.

N

RULE OF CONVERSATION.

This rule should be observed in all conversation, that men should not talk to please themselves, but those that hear them. This would make them consider whether what they speak be worth hearing; whether there be either wit or sense in what they are about to say; and whether it be adapted to the time when, the place where, and the person to whom it is spoken. (Tatler.)

ALEXANDER'S REPLY TO DARIUS.

Darius, king of Persia, being attacked by Alexander, thought to intimidate him by the number of his forces. He sent to his new enemy a pompous detail of the number of his troops. On the back of this letter Alexander re

(1) Hold, prise.

PHYSIC FOR THE MIND.

61

plied: A butcher that understands his trade (1) is not dismayed (2) by the number of sheep which are brought to him. "

PHYSIC FOR THE MIND.

A poet highly conceited of his own talents spent much of his time in composing what he found very few would read, or hear his self-love (5) hurt by this indifference brought on a state of melancholy, which impaired (4) his health. He consulted a physician (5) who understood his vanity as well as his constitution (6); and after having given him a long narrative of his complaints (7): Have you not, " said Esculapius to him, " lately composed some verses not yet recited to any one? 39 66 I have, "replied the poet. Well then, said the doctor, "The son of the Muses read, with great emphasis, a piece of considerable length, and his physician perceiving the pleasure it gave him, persuaded him to repeat it. As the patient displayed more action and vehemence of expression in this second reading : "Recite it once more, Isaid the doctor. And when

"read them to me.

66

the poet had again declaimed with the utmost (8)

(1) Trade, métier, état.
(2) Dismayed, effrayé.
(3) Self-love, amour-propre.
(4) To impair, affaiblir.

(5) Physician, médecin.

(6) Constitution, tempérament, santé.

(7) Complaints, maladies, indispositions, plaintes.

(8) Utmost, plus grand.

force,

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Now, "said the physician, "repose yourself, and to-morrow you will be quite recovered. "The remedy was efficacious.

SAGACITY OF A POODLE-DOG (1).

A shoe-black (2), who used to take his stand (3) before the entrance of the hotel de Nivernois, at Paris, possessed a large black poodle, which had the extraordinary talent of procuring custom for his master. This animal would dip (4) his large woolly (5) paw into the kennel, and put it upon every foot that came near him. The shoe-black was of course ever ready to offer his stool (6), with an invitation to the person bedaubed (7) to take a seat upon it and have the filth wiped off (8) his shoe. As long as (9) the dog saw his master employed, he would lay quietly by his side, seeming to know that he could not clean two pair of shoes at a time; but as soon as he saw him unoccupied, he went on (10) with his business. The sagacity of this extraordinary animal became the conversation of the servants

(1) Poodle-dog, chien barbet.
(2) Shoe-black, décrotteur.
(3) To take his stand, se placer.
(4) To dip, tremper, plonger.
(5) Woolly, poilu.

(6) Stool, tabouret.

(7) Bedaubed, crotté.

(8) To wipe off, essuyer.

(9) As long as, tant que.

(10) To go on with, continuer.

SAGACITY OF A POODLE-DOG.

65

of the hotel, and from the kitchen, his fame soon mounted into the drawing-room (1). A wealthy Englishman who happened to be on a visit at the hotel, was so delighted with the wonderful abilities of the poodle, that he offered the shoe-black 10 guineas for him; but the master loved his dog, and would not take the money offered. The gentleman doubled the sum, this was too great a temptation — he dropt a tear over his dog, took the money, and gave up (2) his faithful companion. The dog was immediately taken to go to London with his new master.

Fourteen days after, when the poor shoe-black had passed a very melancholy day, not having had a single shoe to clean, which of course made him doubly regret the loss of his dear dog, the poor animal came bounding towards his old master, licking (3) his face and hands and howling forth (4) his joy. The satisfaction of the shoe-black cannot be expressed. "My dear fellowworkman (5)," said he, rapturously (6) kissing his dog, "we'll (7) part no more; the Englishman may take his twenty guineas again, I would not now part with thee for a hundred times that sum.

It was ascertained that this poor dog had leaped from

(1) Drawing-room, salon.

(2) To give up, céder, abandonner.

(3) To lick, lécher.

(4) To howl forth, témoigner, exprimer en criant, hurler. (5) Fellow-workman, compagnon de travail.

(6) Rapturously, avec enthousiasme, extase.

(7) We'll, abrégé de we will. Voyez Grammaire pratique, 314.

the packet at Calais, swam to the shore and travelled to Paris in six days. The poor animal was almost starved on his arrival, having probably eaten very little during his journey.

NAPOLEON'S GRAVE.

The late emperor of France, as Napoleon Bonaparte called himself, and was styled by all the powers of Europe with the exception of England; after filling the world with terror and amazement while he lived, continues to attract attention now that he is dead.

From the statement we subjoin, it will be seen that his sepulchre has proved a place of great attraction, and at one time promised considerable annual income to the owner (1) of the spot where " he sleeps the long sleep. Before Napoleon died, he expressed a wish that his remains should be buried on a particular spot of land on the island.

This spot is situated in the midst of a valley, about three miles from the town of St.-Helena. It is close to the high road (2) and may be seen afar off (5) on all sides: the prospect (4) from it, is perhaps the finest in the island.

The grave is made under the pendent branches of several large weeping willows (5), which are the principal

(1) Owner, propriétaire.

(2) The high road, la grande route.

(3) Afar off, de loin.

(4) Prospect, coup d'œil.

(5) Weeping willow, saule pleureur.