lory, and sadness of deepening
gloom when the eyes grew moist in the twilight and secretly drank their
tears.

And yet, wonderful as it was, that noble and passionately beloved
Highland scenery was wanting in one great element that a writer
imperatively needs. In all that natural magnificence humanity held no
place. Hidden behind a fir-clad promontory to the north, there still
remained, it is true, the gray ruin of old Kilchurn, and far to the
south-west, in another reach of the lake, the island-fortress of
Ardhonnel. But there was not a visible city with spires and towers,
there were only the fir-trees on the little islands and a few
gravestones on the largest. Beyond, were the depopulated deserts of
Breadalbane.

Here, where I write to you now, it seems as if mankind were nearer, and
the legends of the ages written out for me on the surface of the world.
Under the shadow of Jove's hill rises before me one of the most ancient
of European cities, _soror et aemula Romae_. She bears on her walls and
edifices the record of sixty generations. Temple, and arch, and pyramid,
all these bear witness still, and so do her ancient bulwarks, and many a
stately tower. High above all, the cathedral spire is drawn dark in the
morning mist, and often in the clear summer evenings it comes brightly
in slanting sunshine against the steep woods behind. Then the old city
arrays herself in the warmest and mellowest tones, and glows as the
shadows fall. She reigns over the whole width of her valley to the folds
of the far blue hills. Even so ought our life to be surrounded by the
loveliness of nature--surrounded, but not subdued.

FOOTNOTE:

[14] How purely this is the misery of a man of culture! A peasant
would not have gone so far.

INDEX.

Abolition of custom, how to effect, 252

Abstinence from newspaper reading, 461

Accomplishments, masculine and feminine, 303

Accumulation of preparatory knowledge, 448

Accumulators, great, of money, 237

Activity, mere, a waste of time, 190

Adult brain, the, 162

Advantages of few authors to poor, 244
-- of experience, 420

Affectations of caste, 351

Affirmations based upon authority, 282

African traveller and map-makers, 469

Alcibiades, education of, 117

Alphabet, Greek, 354

Amateurism, 134

Ampere, profoundly scientific, 278
-- anecdote of, 287

Amusement, necessity of, 454

Analytical observation, value