praise as well as vanity, provided the praise is delicate, comes from a respectable quarter, and is accompanied with the consciousness of being deserved. But vanity devours it voraciously, however coarsely served up, from whatever quarter it comes, and whether merited or not. The vain, continually afraid of losing importance in the world, avoid those of their acquaintance, however worthy of esteem, who are in an humble situation in life, or who are unfashionably dressed, and particularly if they chance to meet them when they themselves are in company with people of high rank. The truly proud man despising such conduct, and never afraid of losing his importance, accosts the humblest of his acquaintance with equal kindness, whether he meets them when alone, or in the circles of grandeur and fashion. THE CONTENTED YOUNG INVALID. WE arrived about three in the morning at a most miserable hotel, without the gates of CHad we been ever so much disposed to complain of hardship or fatigue, every murmur would have been suppressed by the behaviour of a young dragoon, who jumped from behind our carriage as soon as it stopped. His arm was in a scarf; he had lost at the action near M his thumb and two of his fingers-he told us he had been at Paris to solicit a small pension, to prevent him from starving; " because," added he, holding up his wounded hand, "with this single hand, I can neither fire a musket, nor work; the secretary of the minister, told me that I could not obtain a pension, without a recommendation from my colonel; I saw very well qu'il se f― de moi; for I knew that my colonel was with the army. I immediately determined to set out for it myself. The politeness of Monsieur le Courier, invited me to go behind your chaise, where I have set as happy as a king, for I always have been very fortunate." This poor fellow, had a little dog in his arms, which he endeavoured to dry with the skirts of his coat. We lamented to see him, quite drenched with rain. "It is nothing to me, citizen—I am used to it; but I fear my poor dog may be cold; come, come hither, poor fellow, and warm yourself;" continued the dragoon, caressing the dog: "my wife got this little dog when he was quite a puppy, and it will prove the most fortunate thing in the world, for I intend him as a present to my colonel, who is distractedly fond of dogs, and will, in return, give me a strong recommendation; but I have all my life been a very fortunate fellow." "You say you have two children," said Iyes, citizen," replied he, "and both by my wife." "I do not understand how you could maintain your wife and two children on the pay of a dragoon.". "The truth is," answered he, "it was my wife who maintained me and the children. She used to get three livres ten sols for making a shirt; now there are no people of quality, she receives only forty sols. I do not complain, because I am a good patriot-however, I have always been very fortunate." FIGHTING. THERE seems to be some principle in nature which renders the sight of fighting highly interesting to the generality of mankind. In this country, the only mortal combats which are permitted, and prevail as a public amusement, are those of cocks; but the shocking scenes which were acted on the Roman amphitheatres, prove to what a height this taste for bloody spectacles may be brought in a whole nation. To behold men cut and mangle each other; to expose them to be torn in pieces fighting with wild beasts, became the favourite entertainment of that people, and increased to such a degree, that all other amusements became comparatively insipid; they remained whole days in the amphitheatre, feasting their eyes on these horrid scenes, from which the calls of business or duty, were often too feeble to draw them. Were the Romans of a different nature from the rest of mankind? or, were the hearts of that people gradually hardened by the horrid policy of permitting such spectacles? Is it clear that those who take delight in viewing cocks mangle and kill each other, but think with horror of what passed on the Roman amphitheatres, would not gradually come to delight in the combats of gladiators, and of wild beasts, if such combats were permitted by the government and laws of the country? Mankind are essentially the same in all climates; the points on which they differ are few and trifling, when compared with those in which they agree. Britons are more humane than the Romans, because their government is better, their laws milder, and because the same scenes of cruely are not exhibited before their eyes. The Poet's observation respecting vice in general, is peculiarly true when applied to scenes of cruelty : "Which to be hated, need but too be seen; We first endure, then pity, then embrace." ENNUI. Or all the contrivances to exclude this intruding demon from the mind of man, the most debasing and destructive is the use of intoxicating liquors that pernicious habit blunts all de : sire of improvement, deadens emulation, obscures the understanding, sinks the soul into sluggishness, renders men insensible to the love of reputation, familiarizes them with the idea of contempt, and extinguishes every enjoyment but that maudlin delirium, executed by spirituous liquors, which soon carries them to their graves. LE PEUPLE, IN France, is a term of reproach-un homme du peuple, implies a want of both education and manners; un homme comme il faut, on the other hand, does not imply a man of sense or principle, but simply a man of birth or fashion; for a man may be homme comme il faut, and yet be devoid of every quality which adorns human nature. LE ROI.* AN Englishman, though he views the virtues of his king, with a jealous eye, during his reign, yet he will do them all justice in the reign of his successor. * We translate le Roi, by "the King," which is by no means equivalent. Le Roi does himself, and makes others do what he pleases. The king cannot do what he pleases, but acts according to the wishes of his people. |