ramid with me, from his having this idea. Many of the Arabs ascribe the erection of the pyramids, and all the most stupendous remains of antiquity in Egypt, to Ga'n Ib'n Ga'n, and his servants, the ginn; conceiving it impossible that they could have been raised by human hands.-Lane's Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians. 1836. IDLERS. The idle levy a very heavy CHRISTIANITY MUST UNDERGO A RгNOVATION.-If God has sent his Son, and has declared that he will exalt him on his throne, the earth and all that it inherit are contemptible in the view of such a plan. If this be God's design, proceed it does, and proceed it will. Christianity is such a holy and spiritual affair, that perhaps all human institutions are to be destroyed to make way GOLDSMITH'S INDEPENDENCE AND DISfor it. INTERESTEDNESS.-"A few months," writes but if there is no effusion of the Spirit of Men may fashion things as they will; Mr. Montague, "before the death of Dr. God on their institutions, they will remain Scott, author of Anti-Sejanus and other poli-barren and lifeless. Many Christians appear tical tracts in support of Lord North's admito have forgotten this.-Cecil. nistration, I happened to dine with him in company with my friend Sir George Tuthill, who was the doctor's physician. After din-tax upon the industrious, when, by frivolous ner Dr. Scott mentioned, as matter of asto- visitations, they rob them of their time. nishment and a proof of the folly of men who Such persons beg their daily happiness from are according to common opinion ignorant of door to door, as beggars their daily bread; the world, that he was once sent with a carte and, like them, sometimes meet with a rebuff. blanche from the ministry to Oliver Gold- A mere gossip ought not to wonder if we smith to induce him to write in favour of the evince signs that we are tired of him, seeing administration. I found him,' said the that we are indebted for the honour of his doctor, 'in a miserable set of chambers in visit solely to the circumstance of his being the Temple; I told him my authority; I tired of himself. He sits at home until he told him that I was empowered to pay most has accumulated an intolerable load of ennui, liberally for his exertions, and, would you be- and he sallies forth to distribute it amongst lieve it! he was so absurd as to say,-1 can all his acquaintance.-Lacon. earn as much as will supply my wants without writing for any party; the assistance therefore you offer is unnecessary to me, and so I left him," added Dr. Scott, in his gar ret.'" YOUTH LEAVING HOME.-The pain which is felt when we are first transplanted from our native soil, when the living branch is cut from the parent tree, is one of the most poignant which we have to endure through Akin to the disinterestedness which in-life. There are after griefs which wound duced him to refuse the proposal from the ministry, the following story is told. Having received for the Deserted Village a note for one hundred guineas, he was told by a friend whom he met when returning from the bookseller, that it was a large sum for a short performance; and seeming to be of the same opinion by the remark "that it was more perhaps than the honest man could afford," he returned and delivered it up.Prior's Life of Goldsmith. 1836. CHOICE OF COMPANIONS.-Lay this down as a rule never to be departed from, that no youth, nor man, ought to be called your friend, who is addicted to indecent talk, or who is fond of the society of prostitutes. Either of these argues a depraved taste, and even a depraved heart; an absence of all principle and of all trust-worthiness; and, I have remarked it all my life long, that young men, addicted to these vices, never succeed in the end, whatever advantages they may have, whether in fortune or talent.-Advice to Young Men. more deeply, which leave behind them scars never to be effaced, which bruise the spirit, and sometimes break the heart: but never do we feel so keenly the want of love, the necessity of being loved, and the sense of utter desertion, as when we first leave the haven of home, and are, as it were, pushed off upon the stream of life.-Southey. A FAULT OF THE ENGLISH.-There is one great vice in English society, not indeed peculiar to them, but yet strongly marked. It exists under a specious name, and at first sight would seem to be an axiom in morals, or in the social relations. They express it as follows: "Let every one know and keep his own place." But, when interpreted by its exemplifications, it may generally be taken as meaning, in the mouth of him who uses it, something like this: "Let every one who is below or under me, stay there. Let him not presume to aspire." Thus every class conspires to keep down those who are below them.-Colton's Four Years in Great Britain, 1836. London R. Needham, Printer, 1, Belle-Sauvage-Yard, Ludgate-Hill, your places, and perform your parts, "Youth," says THE IMPORT OF THE APPELLATION, in its busy scenes. 66 YOUNG MEN. Dr. Johnson, “is the time from fourYOUNG MEN, in commencing my teen to twenty-eight." Within this remarks with this appellation, I de-privileged enclosure, and on this ensire, not merely to specify the class I vied elevation, you stand. What a propose to address, but also to possess rich distinction above the rest of soyou with an idea of the high import ciety! What a bright and boundless of your distinctive name. As human prospect all around! What gratitude beings, you are distinguished from all should fill your hearts to the gloother orders of sentient existence; rious Being who has conferred that you belong to a race whose nature distinction, and lighted up that prosallies you to the dust and to the pect! As young men, you are disDeity, whose moral relations reach tinguished from those who have atto the throne of God, whose eventful tained the meridian of life; they, for history resounds through the uni- the most part, have chosen their staverse, and whose unknown capabili- tions, and occupy the spheres, in ties require the amplitude of other which they are likely to end their worlds, and the ages of eternity, to days; while you, to a certain extent, evolve and employ. As men, you have "the world before you where are distinguished from about one half to choose." Between you and the of your own species; you constitute aged the difference is still greater. a sex,-that sex on whose head God" When we say a man is young," has been pleased to place the crown says Locke, "we mean that his age of sovereignty, and on which de- is yet but a small part of that which volves, by necessity of nature, the usually men attain to: and when we active duties of public life, and all the denominate him old, we mean that great movements of society. As young his duration is run out almost to the men, you are distinguished from all end of that which men do not usually those of your own sex who are still exceed.” We mean, especially, that in the age of childhood and ado- whatever the privileges and possibililescence. The appellation implies, that one stage of your life is passed already you have been children, but, in a literal sense, you can be such no more. You have "put away childish things," and have assumed them." the toga virilis. You are crossing the threshold of active life, to take ties of life may be, the old man has had them; and that, whether he has improved them or not, he is about to quit them for ever; while the young man is only beginning to possess 66 Young Men-it is a title, the highest title in the gift and heraldry C of nature; and when Piety puts her crown upon his head, he who owns the title moves and takes rank but a little lower than the angels. "See how the morning opes her golden gates, "after And takes her farewell of the glorious sun; How well resembles it the prime of youth." "Young Men"—there is a feeling In all our visions of the blessed above, of exhilaration in the sound. True, imagination pictures them in the it speaks to our fears as well as to bloom and energy of unfading youth. our hopes. It seems to tell of incon- It portrays the Christian, sideration and inexperience, of pleas- millions of millions of ages, still ing illusions to be dissipated, and youthful and flourishing, and gracesensibilities wounded, of confidence ful, as at the first; no wrinkles on the betrayed, and dangers yet untried, of suspicions to be awakened, and wisdom to be bought at the costly price of suffering. "If this were seen, The happiest youth, viewing his progress through, What perils past, what crosses ensue, do Would shut the book, and sit him down and die." face, no grey hairs on the head of eternity." What labour is bestowed by many to preserve even the appearance of youth; reminding us of the beautiful Tithonus, in heathen had granted his request of an earthly mythology, who finding that Aurora immortality, soon entreated that the boon might be withdrawn, unless it could be made an immortality of youth. How ancient the delusion, But the first and direct import of the that there is a secret somewhere in appellation is full of animation and nature, by which our "youth can be hope. It is associated in our minds renewed like the eagle's," and how with a rich fulness of life, with elas- strong the propensity of man to enticity of body, and buoyancy of tertain it. Every known element of spirit, with quickness of apprehension, nature has been tortured, every metal and wholeness of heart, with sensi- and mineral has been in the crucible, bility of soul, and energy of impulse to extract the precious gift; and, for experiment and daring. How after a thousand disappointments, it rich is youth in possibilities-how re- has only been necessary for a Paragal in its generosity-how affluent in celsus, a Cardan, or a Lully to arise, hope-how full of the poetry and ro- and to boast confidently of his pamance of life! All things bright and naceas and balsams, his amulets, and lovely in nature are its appropriate elixirs, in order to intoxicate age with emblems;—the drops of dew that run visions of terrestrial immortality, and together on the leaf, tell us of its to create hope "under the ribs of ready sympathies and earnest friend- death." Youth is a distinction so ships-the flowing spring denotes its great, a property so precious, that transparent sincerity-the same stream many an aged Croesus would cheerrushing impetuously down a moun- fully put you in possession of all his tain slope, represents its enterprise wealth in exchange for your youth; and onward course the virgin soil and, on the same terms, many a is a type of its moral fertility, and royal conqueror would gladly have readiness to repay cultivation-the placed his laurels on your head, and rising sun, the morning of the day, his sceptre in your hand. Young the spring of the year-all are the men, this invaluable privilege is yours; consecrated emblems of its winged and He who has conferred it upon hopes, and its sunny prospects. you is inviting you, from his throne in heaven, so to employ it as to turn it Christian benevolence to the society, into unfading crowns, and imperishable and the world in which you live? Do wealth. you sincerely ask, how you are to render this return? Joy is awakened in heaven at the inquiry. The Saviour himself undertakes to conduct you to happiness and to God. And the Eternal Spirit begins your renovation. Are you already rendering this return? Happy young man! Angels rejoice as they witness your onward course, and Christians unite to glorify God in you. IMPERFECT EDUCATION. Simpson's Philosophy of Education. "Young Men"-the appellation carries with it a solemn sound of prophecy, and speaks mysteriously of the future. It implies, not merely an unfinished and unfulfilled career, but that the great events of your life are yet to be begun. It intimates that however much of your character may have been already developed, there is many a fold yet to be laid open, and many an unlooked for quality to be brought to light-that the lightning yet sleeps in the cloud, and the stream, meandering near its mountain source, (From has not yet taken its final direction. 66 Young Men" the appellation A CATALOGUE of our social deimplies a capacity for great usefulness, fects, all referrible to the education and, consequently, involves the idea wherewith we are mocked, might be of responsibility. Every privilege expatiated upon to the extent of a implies a corresponding duty: youth volume; the remnants these, of baris privilege, and each of its distinctive barism which still clings to us and our attributes involves a correlative ob- institutions, customs, habits, and ligation; and for the practical recog- manners. I will venture to enunition of that obligation you are held merate a few of these. We direct responsible. Youth is the seed-time yet, for example, an evil eye to of life, and shall no seed be now our fellow-men in other communities, sown for the great harvest? Youth and speak of our "natural enemies!" is prerogative and power; but these We are disgraced by national jeaare for the possessor only in the se- lousies, national antipathies, comcond place; the good of those to mercial restrictions, and often offenwhom we stand related is the primary object intended. "Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike sive war. We have our game-laws, and criminal code also, to account for. Brought to the standard of sound ethics and reason, there are many of our customs that have as little chance as these of escaping the reproach of barbarisms, which an educated people Your capacity for usefulness, there- would disown; cruel rural sportsfore, is charged with an amount of for example, fox-hunting, horseobligation proportioned to its great-racing, betting, gambling, prize-fightness. Youth is a gift; but He who ing, duelling, and excessive convibestows it has not given it in such viality. The character and engrossa sense as to give away all right to ing claims of rural sports, as they expect from you a suitable return. are called, will astonish a future better Such an age will That return he expects—and shall he educated age.* not have it ?—in your cordial dedica- I say engrossing claims, for I grant that tion to himself, and in services of killing game is as legitimate as killing mut * scarcely believe "the butcher work so, that in the alternative of their 66 that then befell" the unsparing urban or rural excitement the objects slaughter of all that is furred and fea- are so low? Is it indeed so, that thered and finned, in field and flood, without the slaughter of its innocent "on mountain, moss, and moor ;" animals, which spread a living poetry they will discredit the graft of the over its fields, our better classes" hunting stage on the race upon a civi- find no attractions in the country, no lization at its lowest immensely in delight in "the green fields of Engadvance of that stage; they will re- land in the merry month of May," no ject the story that the boast of the luxury in the roses of June, the pride Iroquois and the Esquimaux was of July, or the mellowness of autumn? also the distinction of the most po- The same desire of wealth, added to lished ornaments of our drawing- ambition to rise above others, regurooms, namely, the havoc of their un- late or rather derange the whole erring aim, the life they have extin- system of life, and there is not one guished, the blood they have shed, ray of light but disregarded Christhe "head of game" they have gloried tianity, to guide in a direction more over as trophies spread out dead consistent with real happiness. This before them, and the larders which is ignorance of the moral condition they have outdone the butcher in of the human weal. An enlightened stocking! All is not right in our friend of the author's once asked an habits of thinking-in other words, in excellent young man about to embark our education-when our "elite" can for India, what views he entertained claim, and multitudes can accord, a of life, and the objects of his own excertain distinction to a 66 capital shot," istence. The question was new to the victor in what the Olympics knew him. He had been "well educated," a steeple chase," or the pro- in the common acceptation of the prietor of a pony which can trot six- words; but he had never conceived teen miles an hour! that life had any higher aim than to acquire a fortune, marry, rear a family, live in a fine house, drink expensive wines, die, and go to heaven! There was no provision in this for reaping enjoyment from the higher faculties of his nature; he was not aware that these had any other function to perform than to regulate his conduct in the pursuit of the gratification of his inferior feelings. This is the condition of mind in which almost all young men of the upper and middle classes of society enter into active life; and nothing can well be conceived more disadvantageous to their success and happiness. not-" I know the ready answer to such strictures on rural sports; and that answer implies the very educational vacuum which there is so much reason to deplore. It is of great importance, it is said, to our rural population, that the aristocracy shall pass a reasonable portion of their time in the country. They are the spoiled children of excitement; and if you withhold that in the country, they will seek it in the capital, in pursuits and pleasures infinitely more debasing and more ruinous to health and fortune. Look at Paris. Is an educated aristocracy here spoken of? Is it indeed ton, and do not quarrel with a subordinate and moderate resort to the field by those whose main avocations are most useful and dignified. It is healthful exercise; I cannot concede to it a higher merit. This deficiency in knowledge is also remarkably exemplified in young men born to large fortunes, who have succeeded in minority to their paternal estates, and, on attaining majo |