favourite maxim, exactly as they have their favourite pill. Nor is the analogy weakened by the fact that samples of each article exist, possessing discrepant tendencies and qualities. Some are tonic, others relaxing; some urge enterprise-"Nothing venture, nothing have;" others inculcate prudence" Festina lente," "Slow and steady wins the race," "Look before you leap," and " Marry in haste, and repent at leisure." Some may be taken without inconvenience while travelling-" Homekeeping youth have ever homely wits;" others require the patient to remain snug and warm at home-"The rolling stone gathers no moss."

We often find maxims interspersed in books, whence we cull them, as children pick out plums from pudding; which shows that the human race has an instinctive craving after maxims. Collections of maxims, of sufficient merit, are almost sure to take their place in a literature as standard works, from the Wise Man's Book of Proverbs, to the printed slashes of Rochefoucauld's dissecting-knife. America now presents her contribution, in How to Live Long; or, Health Maxims, Physical, Mental, and Moral. By W. W. Hall, A.M., M.D. an inexpensive little book, which is well worth buying. The author has the wisdom not to recommend that his advice should be taken in all at once. He only attempts to communicate general principles, in short phrase, few words, and disconnected sentences, to be taken up and laid down at a moment's notice, on steamship, tramway, packet, or rail-car, at such odds and ends of time as fall to the lot of travellers and others. Many who would not give up the time needful to hear a lecture or read a book, are thus enticed to peruse a paragraph now and then in reference to the care of the body-and of the mind alsowhich, being put into practice, may have an important bearing, Dr. Hall hopes, in the prolongation of the reader's life. Amen; so may it be. The present writer desires nothing better, especially as the doctor's maxim-pills are for the most part excellent, although which is no wonder, seeing that there are fourteen hundred and eight of them-a few may be looked at twice before swallowing.

It is delightful to find a maxim-maker or collector stopping up the wheelrut of long-used and antiquated prejudice. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," is a bitter pill to many. We don't like it, but we dare not say a

word against it. We take it only when imperious necessity forces it down our throats. Getting up in the cold by candlelight has caused as many wry faces as Epsom salts. Ugh! If it must be, here goes then! Off fly the bedclothes! Down goes the dose! When you really are in for a thing, it is no use shirking or trying to do it by halves. Quick! Bring the hot cup of tea or coffee, to wash away all matutinal disagreeables.

Relief from this ugly quarter of an hour is offered by our American mentor. If we believe him-and grateful thousands will; ever since I have read his book, my hot water has been brought up three-quarters of an hour later-"Early to rise" is all error and nonsense. It is not healthy, we are told, in any country, at any season of the year, or at any time of life, to get up early habitually; the old are better rested by lying late, even if not asleep, while the young require all the sleep they can get. In all latitudes, in warm weather, the morning air, although feeling cool and fresh, is laden with the pestiferous miasma. In winter the atmosphere, before breakfast, is so cold and chilly and searching, that it fairly shrivels up man and beast, chilling to the very marrow sometimes. Hence, the average duration of human life would be increased, and the amount of sickness largely diminished, by late, rather than early rising, as all the older nations full well know and practise.

After this, it is a necessary consequence that "the last thing a man should sell is his bedstead;" but in reality it is considered by the ignorant and unfortunate poor as the most dispensable thing in the house. Hence, sickness is soon added to their poverty-" a most unhappy combination." The reason for not parting with one's bedstead is, that the carbonic acid gas, expired at each breath and combined with moisture, is heavier than common air, and settles near the floor. Moral: never sleep on a shake-down-unless on a table, dresser, sofa, shelf, or other raised support-if you can help it, especially when several sleepers are crowded in the same dormitory.

Our author would forgive the sluggard, whom Dr. Watts heard complain, "You have waked me too soon; let me slumber again." He never tires of bestowing hard knocks on early rising. It is a great mistake to get up two or three hours earlier than usual, to do “a good day's work," as it is called; because sleep, which is the foundation of strength to work, being cut

short that much, there is no more strength to be used during the day, and not as much as if the full amount of sleep had been gotten. Again: said the author of Ten Years in Eastern Lands to his Chinese servant, "Did you ever see the sun-rise ?" "No, sir; nor have I ever known a man who did." The nations of the Old World, from centuries of observation, have learned that it is better not to rise very early, and to eat something before they go out to work. Besides urging us to take a liberal allowance of rest, the doctor tells us how to sleep, with such full directions and explanations as to deserve from all good sleepers, his admiring disciples, the presentation of a testimonial, in the shape of a model bedstead and fittings.

Health and wealth are coupled together, by reason as well as by rhyme. Dr. Hall proves it logically, and he is supported by other experts. The mental states," he says, "have a more controlling influence over the bodily condition than most persons imagine." Now a well-known ditty, made up of truisms, sings, or sighs, "Want of money makes us sad." Ergo, incoming money rejoices us, beneficially affects our mental state, and improves our health. According to our aphorist, of two persons taking exercise for the health-one walking five miles to a post, and then walking back again, another receiving an encouraging remuneration for the same-the latter would derive many-fold more benefit. If my expenses are paid to South America and back, with a handsome honorarium besides for every article describing it, the voyage is much more beneficial than if travel were its own reward, and I had simply the satisfaction of ascertaining whether the Patagonians were coffee-coloured, chocolate, or cocoa. Has not ALL THE YEAR ROUND told us that a Billingsgate salesman is consoled, for being called a "bummaree," by earning ten or fifteen pounds of a morning, before most West-enders are out of bed? Would he get up at four in the morning, to be called a bummaree, and act as such, for the mere pleasure of early rising? Could he do it?

Dr. Hall holds that there are not a few maladies of mind and body which would rapidly disappear on embarking in a successful pecuniary enterprise, or on being promoted to a position of ease, distinction, and power. All ranks, professions, and conditions of men and women experience the exhilarating effects of cash. A Parisian

actress, oppressed by low spirits, wrote to a friend for a little money. He sent her a bank-note in a billet-doux, stating, "Herewith are inclosed a thousand francs, and ten thousand compliments." With polite promptness she answered, "Thank you for both. They have done me good. Nevertheless, I should have preferred a thousand compliments and ten thousand francs."

Dr. Foissac reminds us that, according to the alchymists, gold has the property of restoring youth, and prolonging life indefinitely. Avicenna recommended it for affections of the heart, weakness of sight, and mental prostration; Hahnemann for hypochondria and melancholy, but in infinitesimal doses, whereas, to do auy good, it should be administered in considerable quantities. Thus Bouvard cured an unhappy wretch who, after a series of losses, had fallen into a low state of mind, with a decidedly suicidal tendency, by the simplest of prescriptions-namely, a cheque for thirty thousand francs. This is only a confirmation of the transatlantic notion that legitimate money-making, by any congenial employment which is encouragingly remunerative, is a most efficient medicine. It inspires a man with higher self-respect, enlivens the spirits, invigorates the circulation, and wakes up the whole man to a new energy, adding a lease to life of at least ten per cent. It gives more fire to his eye, more animation to his face, a firmer tread, a more elastic step, and a happier heart.

Therefore, my son, make money; honestly, if you can.

Keep your mouth shut. This is not meant to intimate that, if speech may be silver, silence is gold; nor that the sage turns his tongue seven times in his mouth before he utters a word. Still less is it intended to contradict the advice to open your mouth and shut your eyes, whenever good things are falling from the skies. By no means. The eyes may be kept open as much as you please; one eye even during sleep. It is a purely literal and material injunction to keep the mouth shut and the nostrils open, for the benefit solely of the throat and lungs, though teeth inclined to ache may profit by the precaution. Maxim one hundred and twenty-fifth informs you that at all times, seasons, and places, it is better to cultivate the habit of keeping the mouth shut, and breathing through the nose exclusively. This tempers the air in its passage through the head to the lungs, develops the chest, and keeps bugs, flies,

such huge fires burning in his apartments that those who came to visit him were compelled to leave in a very few moments. But he kept up only that amount of heat which was comfortable to himself; and so should all the old, all invalids, and those of frail constitution. This one precaution by such would be a very great protection to health and life.

To the young, warmth is of not less vital importance. Whenever a lady feels that a shawl is comfortable in her house, then she may be sure that there should be a good fire somewhere. Putting out house-fires too early in the spring, and deferring their kindling too long in the fall-cause many a tedious illness, many a premature death. The former gives rise to spring fevers, which are the reaction of a cold or a chill; the latter to colds or agues, which are to worry and annoy all winter. Ventilation is a good thing, yet many persons are ventilation mad. To enter a public vehicle when heated by a previous walk, and to open a window because the air feels close, is to invite death. It is less dangerous to faint in an impure warm air, than to risk an attack of inflammation of the lungs by a draught of cold pure air. Whatever causes a chill, can cause inflammation of the lungs, which never comes on without a chill.

Avoid a chill, wherever you be,

For getting a chill was the death of me. So we will maintain good fires, bundle up well before going outdoors, keep our mouths closed against frosty air, eat three meals a day and not an atom more, reading now and then, and digesting a bit of How to Live Long, in which it would be unkind to point out a few flaws and errors, when there is so much that is good.

ETON.

fellows of Eton, than with the working of the school. These offices, which soon fell to the disposal of the ruling power in the State-whether the sovereign or his ministers-were much sought after; and Eton can count among her provosts many men of high ability and fame. Of these may be mentioned William Waynflete, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Henry Savile, Sir Henry Wotton, Francis Rous (Speaker of the "Barebones" Parliament), and others whose names, though high among their contemporaries, have since been almost forgotten. An amusing story is told of one of them, Richard Allestree, who held office in 1665-80,and is said to have owed his appointment to his ugliness. Some cavaliers, says tradition, were discussing the personal appearance of Lauderdale, when the Merry Monarch challenged any one of them to produce an uglier man in half an hour. Lord Rochester accepted the challenge, went out, and presently returned with Allestree, whom he had met in the street, just as he was despairing of success in his search. The king owned himself beaten; and then, turning to Allestree, apologised for his rudeness, and made him a promise of preferment, which was not forgotten when the provostship of Eton fell vacant. Bacon tried for this post after his disgrace, but without success.

Henry's foundation provided for seventy scholars; but he doubtless expected that many boys of independent means would also seek their education at Eton; and soon after the dissolution of the monasteries we find mention of them in considerable numbers. At the present time these boys, called the "oppidans," form by far the greatest part of the school, the scholars, or "collegers," being still only seventy in number.

The early records of the school are scanty. The earliest letter from an Eton boy extant is that written in 1479 by Master William Paston to his brother, and included in the famous Paston Letters. This document does not throw much light on the condition of Eton, being, indeed, much the sort of letter that any schoolboy might write now. He acknowledges money received;

raisins which his brother tells him are on the road; and in a later letter hints that a further supply of money might be acceptable. He must have been rather a precocious youth though, for he had fallen in love, and enters into a full and grave account of the young gentlewoman's