flexible as to allow of movements the most varied, and complex, and graceful withal as Hogarth's line of beauty. These are its characteristics in manhood; but as old age creeps on, the changes I have endeavoured to explain take place, and the "strong men" bow to the fiat of an august and almighty power. The reason, perhaps, why so many commentators have mistaken the meaning of this figure, is the fact that when the spine bends forward, the knees must do the same in order to preserve the centre of gravity. Even in young persons who stoop naturally, there is a corresponding bending of the knees from a like cause.

The importance of mastication to the well being of the human economy was known to Solomon, and claimed a notice in his picture of the decay of the human frame. By the process of chewing, substances which we take as food, are prepared for the action of their solvent, the gastric juice. This operation is performed by the teeth, here called "grinders" a very expressive term and especially applicable to the double teeth; which, in scientific language are called Molars, from Mola, a mill; their masticating surfaces being marked with ridges and corresponding depressions like the stones of a corn mill; and by a side to side movement the food is ground or triturated by them. Coverdale, in his version of the Bible, translates the original word by the term millers. "The millers shall cease because they are few." In old people most of the teeth are gone, or at least but a few stragglers are left, insufficient to carry on the operation of grinding. From the loss of teeth many inconveniences arise. The food not being masticated passes into the stomach in an unprepared condition giving rise to the distressing pains and feelings called

indigestion, rendering life burdensome. Thanks to dental science many of the evils can now be remedied. The grinding ceases, because the teeth are few, and "the sound of the grinding" that is the noise produced by mastication is "brought low."

"And those that look out of the windows," etc. The windows are the orbits, or sockets in which the eyes are placed; and those that look out of them are the eyes. Perhaps no organ of the body possesses so much interest as the eye. If we examine its delicate and beautiful structure, and the adaptation of each part to the known laws of optics; we are compelled to admire the infinite skill of Him who formed it and to enquire with the Psalmist, "If He that formed the eye shall not see?"— Consider too the various ways in which it conduces to the enjoyment of life, by enabling us to contemplate the varied beauties of nature; flowers with their innumerable colours-the ever varying sky-the cloud capped mountain-the ever changing ocean; or, if we have a taste for the awful and sublime the eye enables us to gaze upon the bounding cataract "or the shattered sides of thundering Etna." Some conception of the value and importance of the organs of vision may be formed by reflecting on the loss of them. The very mention of the word blind provokes our sympathy and our hand involuntarily proffers charity because we rightly estimate the fearful deprivation. We know the external world is to them a blank. How the blind Milton laments his loss, although it was in a measure compensated for by his supernatural endowments.

"Oh, loss of sight, of thee I most complain :
Oh, worse than chains,

Dungeon, beggary, or decrepit age!

Light, the prime work of God, to me extinct,

And all her various objects of delight annulled."

In old people the cornea becomes flattened; causing the rays of light to come to a focus behind the retina, or nervous membrane, on which objects are painted, producing indistinct or confused images. This constitutes what is usually called aged sight. Even a more serious affection may mark the evening of life, opacity of the crystaline lens, whereby the rays of light are intercepted in their way to the retina; producing what is called cataract. Aged sight is not so serious an affection now, as it was in the days of Solomon, for "art helps nature with spectacles," and the skilful surgeon may remove the cataract, other changes may cause those that look out of the window to be darkened" but the result is the same; the beauties of nature no longer afford pleasure.

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"Seasons return, but not to him returns,

Day or the sweet approach of even, or morn
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer rose
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine
But clouds instead, and ever-during night
Surround him; from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair
Presented with an universal blank

Of Nature's works to him expunged and rased
And wisdom at one entrance, quite shut out.”

The next figure, "The doors shall be shut in the street," requires but little explanation. The teeth being gone the alveolar process or socket in which they were placed becomes absorbed, and the prominence natural to the jaws is lost. The lips, now called doors, having no longer the support of the teeth, their sockets fall in, "and the doors are shut in the street." This shutting of the doors is a wise provision of nature to prevent the food falling out while being chewed. Old people who have lost their teeth, always masticate with their lips closed; and mastication being performed by the smooth surface of the

gums less noise is produced than when done by the teeth so that "the sound of the grinding is low." The next three or four figures indicative of the decay of other parts of the body, have no particular anatomical meaning, or they have for the most part been correctly explained by commentators therefore I give what seems to be their obvious meaning. "And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird," refers to the light sleep of old age; persons advanced in life cannot enjoy the profound and continued sleep of youth, and rise up at "the voice of the bird" and complain :

"That tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep

He like the world his ready visits pay

To youthful smiles-but old age he forsakes."

"The daughters of music shall be brought low" refers to the ear and voice. The organs for producing, and appreciating sounds. In old age the voice loses its compass, and melody, and the ear, its critical appreciation of musical sound so that the singing of a Grisi, or Jenny Lind, would make no impression on the obtuse organs. Even the most celebrated vocalists whose notes have ravished our ears, have to bow their painful farewell— because "the daughters of music are brought low."

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high." Old people are afraid to ascend any high place, because difficulty of breathing is produced, and giddiness caused by looking down from an eminence. "And fear shall be in the way." Mark how cautiously old people progress : with eyes bent on the ground, they are careful of every step they take. They neither ride nor walk with their

former boldness.

"And the almond tree shall flourish." Age naturally produces change in the chemical constituents of the hair; resulting in greyness, so that when this change is complete

the head looks like an almond tree in full blossom.

In eastern countries, the grey or hoary head was a mark of age and wisdom, and claimed the greatest respect and deference. Eliphaz, reproving Job for the assumption

of knowledge, says: "What knowest thou then that we know not? With us are both the grey-headed, and very aged men." The Psalmist prays: "When I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not." The hoary head, etc. I am afraid respect for age is not a prominent feature in our times. We do not speak of "venerable fathers," but of "governors," and "old fogies." We are apt to consider them in the way, are annoyed at their peculiarities, and restless under their control.

"The Grasshopper shall be a burden." This insect, common in the East, makes a monotonous, chirping sound, which persons active and busy scarcely notice; but the mind of the aged, being less occupied, dwells on the increasing noise until it becomes a burden. Finally all the pleasures of sense are tasteless and sapless.

"Desire shall fail." It frequently happens that when there is incapacity for sensuous enjoyment, the desire remains; but the last and strongest feeling must succumb before the ravages of time and desire fails-even the desire to live. One other duty remains-that of conducting this dry, shrunken, shrivelled old man, with his backbone bent, his knees projecting forward, and his arms backward, and his head downward, to his last home, and for him "the mourners go about the streets.”

This is the conclusion of one part of the wonderful allegory; but Solomon knew that the termination of life was not always so gradual and gentle as he had just depicted, which may be considered as the natural progress