real dress from China, if not quite so elegant few there were finer. Then a Noble of Venice I thought a nice dress, though I thought it a Tudor I freely confess. Garibaldi's red shirt made one think of brave deeds; and a Monk stood all solemn with cowl and with beads. But I see I'm forgetting the ladies' attire, an omission that may be exciting their ire; though I fear it's so little I know of such tertaining of histories. "Winter," I saw there with snow-flakes of down, and "Marie Antionette" of hapless renown, with Peasants from Normandy, Rome, and some more, but where they belonged to I could not be sure. I noticed the dress of a French Vivandière-Longfellow's "Evangeline" likewise was there; also "Erin,' with rows of the shamrock so green, and the harp of "Ould Ireland" on her was seen; the tartan of Scotland I also saw there, and Genoa, Munich, and Venice the fair, and an antique costume, too, with powder in hair. Nor should I omit, mid the lords of creation, an Arab chief's dress that gained much admiration. A page that came with him I rather admired, and a Spanish bullfighter most gaily attired. Then some had their rivals, dressed nearly the same, and many bright uniforms also there came. Indeed, to attempt to describe every dress is rather beyond me, I freely confess. Nor will I write down all I saw or I heard-by many perchance it might not be preferred; perhaps sensitive natures might take some offence, if minutely I chronicled all the events; so as I intend not to wound, but amuse, without further preamble accept my adieux. GORGONIA.

their fingers so taper, in sewing on leaves to long strips of brown paper, and twisting up things of bright tints they called "roses," though that they resembled such no one supposes; yet if the forms were not to botany true, 'twas a pleasing effect they produced to the view, as in garlands and wreaths they hung high on the wall, festooning the passage, and staircase, and hall. Yes, arriving amidst so much foliage and flowers, one seemed to be entering fairy-mysteries, mine won't be the most enlike bowers. Then coffee, &c., was served on the landing, the guests as they came in partook of it standing; and behind was a hiding-place, known but to few, wherein were concealed a young lady or two, who wished, without joining, the revels to view. Now the guests were beginning the stairs to ascend, and in curious contrast the gay dresses blend. But I should have informed you the hostess was "Night," with owl's head and crescent and planets bedight; and her daughter a Lady of Naples' fair city-a dress that most thought was remarkably pretty. First came "Lord Dundreary," who looked rather queer, he complained he was not quite "the thing" and was weary; and the next to arrive, I don't scruple to own here, was the writer who's known to you all as "Gorgonia," in legal apparel bewigged and begowned, though his knowledge of law is not very profound. Next a small party arrived altogether-one meant for a Turk, and I do not know whether the dress was erroneous, but by some strange freak, the printed accounts put him down as a Greek. A "Woodnymph," with dew-drops and moss, was another, and, "Twilight"| 'twas said was the dress of her mother. The next was a Flower-girl-I doubt what she'd earn, and the next a costume of the Canton de Berne. Then came a Stock-driver from distant Australia; they called him "Bushranger," but that was a failure; still the Он, the luxury of a sea-side walk! dress was unusual, with pistol and spur, Who does not remember with pleasure and cabbage-tree hat, so 'twas hard to the shingly beach and the smooth yellow infer. Then a lady came too, in the sand glistening in the rays of the morning costume of France, time of Louis XIV. it sun? And there are the rocks, green and was seen at a glance; and as to their friend, slippery with the seaweed, that is brought I could but define a man, dressed as he out in richer colouring by the glistening was as a regular Chinaman: but more sunbeams: how harmoniously are the and more yet, still the cry is "They colours blended! The graceful little come," some strutting, some bashful, some rhodosperm, with its scarlet-tinted robe, lively, some dumb. They crowd in so now contrasts well with its more sober neighthat I cannot make bold to tell who came bour in velvet green. How bright they next, but in velvet and gold saw a tall ca-look, with the skimmering sun lighting up valier of our own Charles the Second, who, strangely, the twelfth Charles of Sweden was reckoned; and with him a Muleteer's graceful costume, which somebody said was the best in the room; also a Mandarin's

A SEA-SIDE WALK.

their fairy-like forms! and how gay they are, compared with the dingy hue of the olive-coloured seaweed! Oh, why are they called weeds? Surely flowers would be the more appropriate name-for are they

OFFERINGS FROM OUR COUNCIL.

not, in truth, "ocean's floral garniture ?" Here is a poor star-fish, left by the receding tide to close its little life in solitude; perchance it may become the prey of some adventurous school-boy in search of curiosities; we know not, but turn to gaze on that wild sea-bird, with its snowy plumage: how erratic is its flight! Now sweeping low it skims the surface of the waters, dipping its wing in the occan spray: anon it soars aloft, seeming to pierce the fleecy clouds that border the horizon. And there is the long black pier that stretches far out into the water, and around it are the little fishing boats, with their snowy sails, gently swaying to and

fro with the undulation of the waves. And how grim and gaunt is that old ruin that crowns the hill beyond! Its hoary head has weathered many a storm; even now, in its desolation, it looks proudly down on the rushing waves beneath. Listen! what can be the meaning of that low murmur that falls softly on the ear? What the burden of old Ocean's ceaseless song? Ah, if we could but know all the

secrets that ocean bears bosom !

upon

its fitful

But even while we pause to listen, the murmur is changed into a harsher roar as the impetuous waves come rolling on, lashed into foam by their battle with the rocks; onward they come, resistless in their flow, till at length the crested billow is content to fall in a thousand ripples at our feet. Oh, how glorious how truly grand is the ocean! So I thought the last time I walked on the sands of one of England's fairest and most famous It was a lovely autumn watering-places. morning, but too cold to sit and dream; so we had a scramble on the rocks. What fun to see pretty Nina Selwood ascend so gracefully!— and charming Darcy, too, nearer acquaintance seemed to desire a with the slippery pavement. At any rate he emulated the fair Nina's example, much to our amusement; there they were, slipping about-were they propitiating the sea-nymphs? Ah, well, the walk, like everything else, came to an end, and I bade a reluctant farewell to the "briny waves;" but often I think of the pleasant -, and especially our time we spent at rambles on the sand.

CALLER HERRIN'.

WISDOM.-It is one of the hardest things in nature to make any man as wise as he should be who imagines himself wise enough already.

LAUGHTER.

PHYSIOLOGISTS talk of the excitation

and perturbation resulting from irritation
of the medulla oblongata, the little organ
that plays the tune of laughter. Philoso-
effect, and define it as the visible and
phers dive in search for the causes of this
audible symptom of inward satisfaction.
Physiognomists compute its length, breadth,
and depth, gauge the value of its index to
individual peculiarities of mind, and christen
it by as many names as bewilder a Spanish
infant.

The ancients distinguished its
various species: the Sardonic, or horse-
a favourite with logicians on the weak side
laugh, betraying brutality of character, yet
of an argument; the Syncrusian, or grin,
for the display of fine teeth; the risus, or
common laugh; the Ionic, or silent laughter
of smiles; the Chian, or simple dimple.
Moderns may add the sneer, the jeer, the
giggle, the sniggle, the simper, the whiffle,

and the cackle.

I do love to hear a good hearty peal of laughter. Not mere hilarity; not the sour snarls; not the laugh of scorn accompanying bitter jests, stinging satire, or cruel jeer at deformity, beating, as quaint Fuller says, the cripple with his own crutches! But laughter, the sunshine and melody of glad hearts, playing in brightened eyes, glorifying the face, and rippling off tongues to which it teaches sweetest music-the chorus of good-humoured conversation, to which it adds a harmless delight! Away with the affected gravity of foolish hypochondriacs; laughter is an elixir of life, a salutary exercise which enlivens vitality and makes good blood; presergives the best "life pills," is the most marvellous enameller, and the rarest " vative balm," "beauty wash," and what not, for "removing wrinkles.”

new and

A physician who practised for twenty many of them die of literal stupidity; the years among the Quakers, declares that absence of nervous excitement inducing a sort of atrophy, known about Liverpool as "the Quaker's disease." Recreative stimulus is essential to true life; the parable of the bent bow, and the proverb of "all work and no play make Jack a dull boy," are trite. Some temperaments are liable to extreme seriousness; others, from very cheerfulness, are perpetually sportive; but the boundary of wisdom is moderation, aud the beauty of life consists in justly mingled gravity and pleasure.

God has endowed every human heart with capacities for gladness; the gospel of

His apostles is "rejoice evermore;" skipping lambs, and larks singing up to heaven, symbol the whole happiness of nature. Colour, sunshine, perfume, flavour, music, and laughter, all may be necessaries in our pilgrimage of life, but they adorn its rough paths, and seem to shorten the long journey home, while they lengthen its enjoyments. For our innocent childhood they transformed earth again into paradise; and though older grown, our eyes dim, our ears deafen, and we become disguised by solemnities, they still sweeten our sterner present. The Cambridge mathematician who laid aside "Paradise Lost," because "it proved nothing," is one of a tribe of utilitarians, who would cultivate no flowers but cauliflowers, and in the end make men so many Dry-as-dusts. But in these go-a-head times, when men resemble high-pressure steamengines always at full working power, the safety-valve of relaxation is doubly necessary. The holidays of our forefathers, and the olden fondness for pleasant discourse are traditions, stowed away in the museums of memory, The nineteenth century motto is work, work, wORK! How much better to work and play-while thoroughly earnest over each, to blend the two, joining duty to pleasure, and use to beauty! How the domestic statistics of headaches would dwindle! Napoleon once lost a battle through a fit of indigestion, and thousands miss victory in the battle of life through confused heads and unbraced nerves. Wiser were the men of old! Look at Sir Isaac Newton, after abstruse studies jumping over chairs and frollicking with kittens -at Swift, running up and down the deanery steps-at Socrates, playing with children! Were these fools? Why, Archdeacon Paley held that he who was not a fool half his time was one the whole time. Dr. Crotch, being in the midst of a prank, and seeing a "Grave-airs" approaching, cried "We must be grave now, there is a fool coming!" Tupper says

There is a grave-faced folly, and verily a laughterloving wisdom;

And what if surface-judges account it vain frivolity? There is indeed an evil in excess, and a field may lie fallow too long;

Yet merriment is often as a froth that mantleth on the strong mind.

And note thou this for a verity,-the subtlest

thinker when alone,

From ease of thoughts unbent, will laugh the

loudest with his fellows :

And well is the loveliness of wisdom mirror'd in a cheerful countenance,

a

A life of routine, miscalled drudgery, is no calamity, but, on the contrary, invigorates the higher faculties, and imparts peculiar zest and elastic impulse to their creative powers. For instances, take the charming essays of Elia, with Charles Lamb busy clerk at the India House, and Lord Campbell's lives of the Lord Chancellors, written in the intervals of his scanty leisure. Most of all, however, is relaxation requisite to those engaged in intellectual occupations. All have heard of the Kilkenny cats, which devoured each other; perhaps it is not so well known that an orphan kitten remained of the breed, and began to eat itself up, till fortunately diverted by a mouse. Hood admirably compares with this kitten the mind, so apt to prey upon itself unless diverted by new attractions. Go to Oxford and Cambridge, and you find the senior wrangler captain of his college boat, and the athlete of the university a first-class man, robust with the mens sana in corpore

sano.

But some laughter rings with a pathetic sorrow. Of such was Hood; his heart-disease aggravated by all literary occupation, propped up in bed with pillows, dying, yet forced to work on, and producing those exquisitely humorous sketches. Cowper, writing ludicrous "John Gilpin" in morbid dejection; Scott, writhing on his sofa with cramp in the stomach, and unable to hold a pen, yet dictating his liveliest scenes; Liston, depressed in spirits, advised by stranger Abernethy to "see Liston act Paul Pry;" Charles Mathews, with cracked and sore tongue, delivering a monologue at which the theatre resounded with roars of merriment; Adam Ferguson (the gayest man I ever knew," said Scott); witty Tom Sheridan; Sydney Smith; have told the taxing fatigue of being always entertaining.

Still, serene good humour oils the mapleasure, which, in proper quality, quantity, chinery of the world, and is fertile in hourly and season, is no sin. Dances-animated grace, the laughter of feet-where is the harm of them? People may dance, not always like Robin Burns's Exciseman, in laugh, and yet be wise. company with the devil. People may

E. W. H.

GRIEF knits two hearts in closer bonds

Justly the deepest pools are proved by dimpling than joy ever can, and common sufferings eddies;

are far stronger than common joys.

machine in full operation-including the noise!

A SCHEME was lately "set on foot" to "stand on its merits," but the site chosen for it was so unstable that it toppled over "on investigation."

IT is reported that the "puppy" who grew up to be pronounced "a sorry dog," proves, after all, to be a good retriever. As the case is not without a parallel, we are disposed to give credence to the rumour. THE "free-and-easy" young man who was "upset" by a "set form" might have "set out," in disgust, for Australia, had he not, as a preferable "settlement," "set up" in business. But he was not by nature qualified to "settle" either his mind or his accounts; and when a "set" of un" set "isfied creditors, becoming lively, made a "dead set" at him, he failed to show a "set-off." It is believed that his affairs, like his views, are still "unsettled." CARACTACUS.

CROSS READINGS. WANTED, by a young lady, a situation as governess to-An army of thirty thousand men, now stationed in-A small furnished room with two windows, for reference apply to-The Shadows on the Wall, thrown by-The Glenfield patent starch, which is extensively used by The Puritan's Daughter on-The Great Desert of Sahara.

The Great International Exhibition, that contained-Apartments for a single gentleman at five shillings per week, no children, with the use of-Thorley's food for cattle, which is -The best souvenir you can have of the Prince of Wales's marriage.

Found, on Monday afternoon, wrapped in a brown paper parcel-A female evening class, consisting of- Officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates of the First Rifle Volunteers-If not claimed within seven days, they will be sold toThe committee of the General Soup Kitchen, who respectfully inform the public that their soup is made from-Grates and kitchen ranges of superior make- Meadow and pasture land-Cod liver oil of the best quality, and-Parr's life pills, which are a sure-Road to death and disease, dealing devastation all around-The sun, moon, and stars-At forty per cent. below prime cost.

This is to give notice that- A gray Welsh pony, five years old-Gives lessons on the pianoforte and harp daily-And that he may be consulted upon-The Prize. Sewing Machine- Loss of teeth, &c.Upon receipt of a stamped directed envelope, containing-A large and commodious dwelling house, with garden attachedBoth of which have been suffering severely from-Coughs, colds, and rheumatism, which are effectually cured by-The Great Western Railway, who have-Another new tale in the press, entitled — Best Price Just published, in two volumes octavo-given for Waste Paper, Old Ledgers, AcA fine healthy dog pointer pup, beautifully count-books, &c -Which will sail shortly marked, answering to the name of-New for-The Easter Quarter Sessions. Dutch butter, which is far superior to—

TRIP.

FAMILY PASTIME.

We wish to improve this department; we, therefore, ask the Councillors to put out all their powers; and in order to stimulate them to exertion, beg to offer the following as

THE EDITOR'S PRIZE :

For the best enigma in verse, not to exceed thirty-two lines in length, a Volume value Five Shillings.

For the best Poetical Charade of similar length a Prize Volume of like value.
For the best Cryptograph a Prize Volume of like value.

For the most correct Solutions to the Enigmas, &c., in this Number, a Prize Volume of like value.

Each volume will bear the name of the winner in the autograph of the Editor. In order to give competitors for these prizes ample time, we propose to make the awards in the June number. All competitive exercises must, therefore, reach us by May 14.