Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

How all who know-and where is he unknown?

To what far region have his songs not flown,

Like Psaphon's birds, speaking their

master's name,

[blocks in formation]

Nought, but the wide, cold shadow which it casts! Eventful volume!' change

whatso'er the

In every language, syllabled by Fame? Of scene and clime-th' adventures, How all, who've felt the various spells

combin'd

[blocks in formation]

The

bold and strange

griefs-the frailties, but too frankly told

The loves, the feuds thy pages may unfold,

If truth, with half so prompt a hand, unlocks

His virtues as his failings-we shall find

The record there of friendships, held like rocks,

And enmities like sun-touch'd snow

resign'd

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

SPIDER BAROMETERS.

the music of a country dance of ancient date :

The ist Man put his Wo. from him and the 2d Man pull his Wo. to him and sett. then the ist Man and 2d Wo. back to back. and go round their Partners both on the left hand at the same time then the 2d Man and ist Wo. turn right

country dance, which is a maniThe manner in which spiders fest corruption of the French concarry on their operations conform-tredanse, where a number of ably to the impending changes in persons, placing themselves oppothe atmosphere, is simply this:-site one to another, begin a figure. If the weather is likely to become The following singular directirainy, windy, or in other respects ons are taken from the bottom of disagreeable, they fix the terininating filaments on which the web is suspended unusually short, and in this state they await the influence of a temperature which is remarkably variable. On the other hand if the terminating filaments are made uncommonly long we may in proportion to their length conclude that the weather will be serene and continue so for a week or ten days. But if the spiders be totally indolent, rain generally succeeds; though on the other hand, their activity during the rain is the most certain proof that it will be of short duration and followed with fair weather. According to further observations, the spiders regularly make some alterations in their web every twenty-four hours. If these changes take place between the hours of six and seven in the evening, they indicate a clear and pleasant night.

Αλφα.

hands round to the figure of a Diamond -The ist Man turn the 2d Wo. and right hands round, then each to their own Partners, and hands round. Till they come to the Diamond again-each Man cross over with his own Wo. with

their left hands one to the other then back again to the left, till they come all on a Row longways, then clap both hands against each other the ist Man cast off to the left hand. and his Wo. follow him. the 2d Wo. Cast off to the left hand. and her Man Follow her. then each cross over with his own Partner. the ist Ca. being in the 2d Rank-then Move to the left hand to each others Places and clap hands the same back again. then right and left twice. each Beginning with his own Partner. then hands half round to the

left.

The Country Dance. This mode of dancing, from its name, is generally supposed to have been borrowed from the country people, but as our dances in general come from France, so does the

Origin of the word Dun.The true origin of this expression owes its birth to one Joe Dun, a famous bailiff of the town of Lin

Marshal Bassompierre, speaking of his dancing country dances here in England, in the contredanses. See his Memoirs, tom. iii. p. 307. time of king Charles I. writes it expressly--

coln: so extremely active, and so very dexterous was this man, at his rough business, that it became a proverb, when a man refused to pay his debts.-Why don't you Dun him? That is, why don't you send Dun to arrest him; hence it grew into a custom, and is now as old as since the days of King Henry VII.

with greasy, shining, and almost black skins, and black hair, braided in a long cue behind. They began talking very fast, in so loud a tone, and so uncouth a language, that we were a little intimidated. I shook hands with the foremost, which seemed to pacify them, and we were invited to a large tent : near its entrance hung a quantity. of horse flesh, with the limbs of dogs, cats, marinots, rats, &c. drying in the sun, and quite

Newton's Philosophy.-Sir I. Newton, shortly before his death, black. Within the tent, we found said, “I don't know what I may some women, although it was dif seem to the world, but, as to my-ficult to distinguish the sexes, so self, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

Travels.

CALMUCKS.

The following account of these singular people is given by Dr. Clarke in his Travels, speaking of one of their camps:

horrid and inhuman was their appearance. Through a grated lattice in the side of the tent, we saw some younger women peeping, of more handsome features, but truly Calmuck, with long hair, hanging in thick braids on each side of the face, and fastened at the ends with bits of lead or tin. In their ears they wore shells and large pearls of a very irregular shape, or some substance much resem

bling pearl. The old women were eating horse flesh, tearing it off from large bones, which they held in their hands. Others, squatted on the ground in their tents, were

"The sight of our carriage, and of the party approaching with it, seemed to throw them into smoking their pipes, not two inchgreat confusion. We observed es long, much of the manner of them running backwards and for- Laplanders. In other respects, wards from one tent to another, these two people although both of and moving several of their goods. eastern origin, and both nomade As we drew near on foot, about tribes, bear little resemblance.— half a dozen gigantic figures came The manner of living among the towards us, start naked, except a Calmucks is much superior to that cloth bound round their waist, of the Laplanders. The tents of

the former are better constructed,
stronger, more spacious, and con-
tain many of the luxuries of life;
such as very warm good beds,
handsome carpets and mats, do-
mestic utensils, and materials of

art and science, painting and writ-
ing. The Calmuck is a giant,
the Laplander a dwarf; both are
filthy in their persons ;
but the
Calmuck more so than perhaps
any other nation.

"Of all the inhabitants of the Russian Empire, the Calmucks are the most distinguished by peculiarity of feature and manners. In personal appearance they are athletic and very revolting. Their hair is coarse and black; their language harsh and guttural.High, prominent, and broad cheek bones; very little eyes, widely separated from each other; a flat broad nose; coarse, greasy, jet black hair; scarcely any eyebrows; and enormous prominent ears, compose no very inviting

countenance.

Humour.

Dr. Watts was remarkable for

his vivacity in conversation, al-
though he was never forward in
the display of it. Being one day
in a coffee-room with some friends,
he overheard a gentleman say,
"What is that the great Dr.
Watts ?" The Doctor, who was
of low stature, turned suddenly
round, and with great good hu-
mour repeated a verse from one of
his lyric poems, which produced
a silent admiration of his modesty
and talents.

"Were I so tall to reach the pole,
Or mete the ocean with a span,
must be measured by my soul;
The mind's the standard of the man.'

I

[ocr errors]

Dr. Goldsmith.-The following announcement of the death of this eminent writer appeared in one of the Journals of the time!

1774, April 4.-Died Dr. Oliver Goldsmith. Deserted is the Village; the Traveller hath laid him down to rest; the Good-Natured Man is no more; he Stoops but to Conquer; the Vicar hath performed his sad office; it is a mournful lesson, from which the Hermit may essay to meet the

“Their amusements are hunting, wrestling, archery, and horse racing. They are not addicted to drunkenness, although they hold drinking parties, continuing for half a day at a time, without intermission. Upon such occasions every one brings his share of brandy and koumiss; and the whole stock is placed upon the ground in the open air, the guests forming a circle, seated around | jesty being at a loss for a fit per

To be continued in our next.

dread tyrant with more than Grecian or Roman fortitude.

In the reign of George II. the see of York falling vacant, his ma

son to appoint to the exalted situation, asked the opinion of the

is vacant;

"the Rectory of B-
give it to me and that will be wit;"
"prove it," said his Lordship,
and you shall have it; "it would be

Rev. Dr. Mountain, who had raised himself by his remarkably facetious temper from being the son of a beggar, to the see of Durham. The Doctor wittily replied, "Had'st a good thing well applied," replithou faith as a grain of mustarded the Chaplain.

seed, thou would'st say to this Mountain (at the same time laying his hand on his breast), be removed, and cast into the sea (see)." His majesty laughed heartily, and forthwith conferred the preferment on the facetious doctor.

A medical mistake.-Doctor Vaughan, who, thirty years ago, resided in Union-court, Broadstreet, was called, one evening, to visit a gentleman ill with fever. The doctor, though one of the sprucest beaux of that day, was nearly seventy years of age, and quite purblind. "Put out your tongue, my friend," said he to the patient; and, applying his finger to the patient's unshaved chin instead of his tongue, cried out "Give him some drink! give him some drink! his tongue's as rough as a nutmeg grater!”

66

A Toast.-A Chaplain to a governor of Bengal, more remark able for the goodness of his heart than the brilliancy of his wit, being one day, at the table of his patron, asked for a toast, with much simplicity exclaimed"alas! and a lack-a-day! what can I give?"Nothing better,' replied the governor: Come, gentlemen, a bumper to the parson's toast---a lass and a lack a day.' -A lack of rupees is one hundred thousand pounds.

Foote being once annoyed by a poor fiddler “ straining harsh discord" under his window, sent him out a shilling, with a request that he would play elsewhere, as one scraper at the door was sufficient.

The Muff and Tippet.-The following mistake is said to have The Rev. Mr. Colton, in his been made a few days since, by a Many Things in few words," child of 3 years old, at a village in is often happy in his illustrations Cumberland:-A lady passed the by apt quotations. Thus-"Wit door with her muff and tippet; the is one of the few things which has child never having seen such orbeen rewarded more often than it naments cried out, " Mother, mohas been defined." A certain Bi-ther, here is a woman with a dog shop said to his Chaplain, "What in her arms, and its tail round her is wit?" The Chaplain replied neck."

« VorigeDoorgaan »