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any thing else, the balance-wheel of society. It doubts incorporated benevolence, especially when vented abroad; and its home charity is spiced with a certain brusquerie which furthers this truth, that the best way to lighten a burden is to stiffen the back that bears it.—An excellent thing in society is common sense. It minds its own business, and has no faith in "boiled mutton and near relations." It is not disputatious—fast to agree or to disagree, but has an honest self-respect which is the charm of all intercourse. Nothing can be more insipid and unnerving than conversation with a person of no antagonism,—one who agrees by halves to sentiments which he does not entertain, and all but swallows his opponent in eagerness to assure him when he coincides.

And in society, even as amid the beauties of nature, man should be capable of fearless scrutiny and enjoyment, and especially be capable of doing his good purpose through all tribulation and strife. Man is the greatest of curiosities; and man is most curious in his excited and abnormal conditions. But from these conditions fly away the timid, perhaps with the hypocritical consolation that they are too civilized to be brave. Wavering between what they know men to be, and what the books insist they themselves ought to be, every hour of what they design to be honorable lives brings their ideal in collision with their personal fears. The proud override the weak, and they would rebuke them, but dare not. Ruffianism is abroad, and every day bears witness to injured innocence. Accident and neglect put human life in daily jeopardy; yet their assistance and personal risk