PERSONAL ELEGANCE

Is that kind of beauty which results from the whole, bnt which is easier conceived than expressed; it is thus happily delineated:

"PERSONAL elegance, or grace, is a fugitive lustre, that never settles in any part of the body you see it glance and disappear in the features and motions of a graceful person; it strikes your view; it shines like an exhalation; but the moment you follow it the wandering flame vanishes, and immediately lights up in something else. You may as well think of fix. ing the pleasing delusion of your dreams, or the colours of a dissolving rainbow.

"Elegance is of this fugitive nature, because it exists chiefly in motion. It is communicated by the principle of action that governs the whole person; it is found over the whole body, and is fixed no where. The curious eye pursues the wandering beauty, which it sees with surprise at every turn, but is never able to overtake. It is a waving flame, that, like the reflection of the sun from water, never settles; it glances on you in every motion and dispo sition of the body: its different powers through attitude and motion seem to be collected in dancing, wherein it plays over the arms, the legs, the breast, the neck, and in short the whole frame: but if grace have any fixed throne, it is in the face, the residence of the soul, where you think a thousand times it is just issuing into view.

"Elegance assumes to itself an empire equal to that of the soul; it rules and inspires every part of the body, and makes use of all the hu

man powers; but it particularly takes the pas sions under its charge and direction, and turns them into a kind of artillery, with which it does ipfinite execution. Usher.

THE MARCH OF LIFE

Isso truly interesting to us all, that useful hints will be accepted- take these suggestions, pro ceeding from a sensible and liberal mind.

"IN our progress through the world a thou sand things stand continually in our way. Some people meet us full in the face, with opposite opinions and inclinations. Some stand before us in our pursuit of pleasure or interest, and others follow close upon our heels. Now we ought, in the first place, to consider that the road is as free for one as for another, and therefore we have no right to expect that persons should go out of their way to let us pass, any more than we out of ours. Then if we do not mutually yield and accommodate a little, it is clear that we must all stand still, or be thrown into a perpetual confusion of squeezing and justiing. If we are all in a hurry to get on as fast as possible to some point of pleasure or interest in our view, and do not occasionally hold back when the crowd gathers and angry contentions arise, we shall only augment the tumult, without advancing our own progress. On the whole it is our business to move onwards steadily but quickly, obstructing others as little as possible, yielding a little to this man's prejudices and that man's desires, and doing every thing in our power to make the journey of life easy to all our fellow travellers as well as to ourselves!" Mrs. Barbauld.

THE HORSE

Is so noble an animal that we are not to won. der that the natural historian is so profuse in his praise; his good qualities are entitled to our special attention.

"THE reduction of the Horse to a domestic' state is the greatest acquisition from the ani mal world which was ever made by the art and industry of man. This noble animal partakes of the fatigues of war, and seems to feel the glory of victory! Equally intrepid as his master, he encounters danger and death with ardour and with magnanimity. He delights in the noise and tumult of arms, and annoys the enemy with resolution and alacrity. But it is not in perils and conflicts alone that the Horse willingly co-operates with his master, he like. wise participates of human pleasures. He ex ults in the chace and tournaments--his eyes. sparkle with emulation in the course! But though bold and intrepid, he suffers not him. self to be carried off by a furious ardor. he represses his movements, and knows how to govern and check the natural vivacity and fire of his temper. He not only yields to the hand, but seems to consult the inclination of his rider. Uniformly obedient to the impressions he receives, he flies or stops and regu lates his motions entirely by the will of his master. He in some measure renounces his very existence to the pleasure of man. He de livers up his whole powers, he reserves nothing and often dies rather than disobey the mandates of his governor!" Buffon.

THE STAGES OF HUMAN LIFE

ARE gradual and successive, each is characterised by some striking peculiarity take them as described by the pen of an eminent physician.

"BEHOLD the Child whom you lately fondled in your arms now contending with his play. fellows in boyish sports! Again---observe him who lately returned from school with his satchel in his hand, now panting foremost in the chace! And now see Manhood stamped upon the downy cheek! Let us likewise remember the equally gradual declension. At length the sturdy son supports his feeble Sire! For he who in his youth was swiftest in the race, is now scarcely able to uphold his tottering limbs. The man of war, whose sturdy arm wielded the blood thirsting sword of battle, is now bending under the weight of his own body. Behold his sinews are dried up and the purple current that bounded in his veins, now heavily and scarcely creeps along! In every part alike the powers of this wonderful ma chine decay. The teeth, designed both for use and ornament, robbed of their beautiful enamel, become unsightly, and drop out of their sockets. The penetrating eye that searched into the very abyss of thought, is altogether useless or but dimly discern the rays of light. Manly fortitude is now no more and wisdom itself retires from the decayed mansion."

Dr. Hugh Smith.

THE WORKS OF CREATION

ARE a never failing theme of contemplation; every part is deserving attention; and affords a display of the perfections of the Supreme Being, but our faculties are limited and we meet with many things which exceed our comprehension.

"THE supreme intellect embraces in one comprehensive view, the whole system of cre. ation, and whatever is the work of infinite wisdom is destined to some useful and beneficial end. The lion and the tyger, the vulture and the shark, which seem made only for an noyance may have parts to act in the Universal System highly beneficial to the whole but, of which we are totally ignorant, and the mole, condemned to a life of subterranean darkness apparently destitute of every source of enjoyment, may experience a degree of happiness suited to its nature, and of which we cannot form any conception. If we examine a complex piece of mechanism, and observe the regularity of its operations and movements, although we may not perhaps comprehend the utility of each part, and the particular action of each wheel or spring, yet in considering that from the motions of the whole machine some great effect is produced, we shall readily con. clude that none of its parts are useless. These observations have an evident tendency to im. prove the mind and ameliorate the heart. They all concur to illuminate the understanding and to inspire the most exalted sentiments of morality and religion, to instruct the ignorant, to check presumption and confound Atheism."

Bigland.