e said, "how unbounded are your sympathies! Your unhappy brethren
of Africa, differing from you only in the colour of their skins, are so
dear to you, and you begrudge so little the twenty millions you have paid
on their behalf, that you love to have a memento of them continually in
your sight. Jim Crow is the representative of that injured race, and as
such is the idol of your populace! See how they all sing his praises! how
they imitate his peculiarities! how they repeat his name in their moments
of leisure and relaxation! They even carve images of him to adorn their
hearths, that his cause and his sufferings may never be forgotten! Oh,
philanthropic England! oh, vanguard of civilisation!"

Such are a few of the peculiarities of the London multitude, when no riot,
no execution, no murder, no balloon, disturbs the even current of their
thoughts. These are the whimsies of the mass--the harmless follies by
which they unconsciously endeavour to lighten the load of care which
presses upon their existence. The wise man, even though he smile at them,
will not altogether withhold his sympathy, and will say, "Let them enjoy
their slang phrases and their choruses if they will; and if they cannot be
happy, at least let them be merry." To the Englishman, as well as to the
Frenchman of whom Beranger sings, there may be some comfort in so small a
thing as a song, and we may own with him that

"Au peuple attriste
Ce qui rendra la gaite,
C'est la GAUDRIOLE!
O gue!
C'est la GAUDRIOLE!"

[Illustration: SHERWOOD FOREST.]

POPULAR ADMIRATION OF GREAT THIEVES.

_Jack._ Where shall we find such another set of practical
philosophers, who, to a man, are above the fear of death!

_Wat._ Sound men and true!

_Robin._ Of tried courage and indefatigable industry!

_Ned._ Who is there here that would not die for his friend?

_Harry._ Who is there here that would betray him for his interest?

_Mat._ Shew me a gang of courtiers that could say as much!

_Dialogue of Thieves in the Beggar's Opera_.

Whether it be that the multitude, feeling the pangs of poverty, sympathise
with the daring and ingenious depredators who take away the rich man's
superfluity, or whether it be the interest that mankind in general feel
for the records of perilous adventure, it is certain that the populace of
all countries look with admiration upon great and