poor miserable
creatures, when they are turned out of their comfortable quarters, will
not be totally unprovided for in their old age. Ruin, it is true, is
staring them in the face; but still their few declining years may be
rendered comparatively happy, by their being still supplied with those
comforts which the custom of a whole life has turned into nothing less
than positive wants. To prove we bear no malice towards those who are
fallen, we wish every success to these "TURTLE SOUP KITCHENS FOR
DESTITUTE ALDERMEN;" and, as soon as the casseroles are got into boiling
order, we are ready to pay our first subscription.
* * * * *
SHORTCOMING OF THE CITY.
The City of London is not quite PLATO'S Model Republic. It has not
completely realized its idea of corporate perfection. Not permitting the
subjects of its jurisdiction to measure or to carry their own
commodities, it has established corn, coal, fruit, and oyster-meters,
and fellowship-porters, whom it obliges them to employ on terms
prescribed by itself. But it does not carry out the principle of
preventing individuals from managing their own affairs, by prohibiting
them from doing anything whatever for themselves, which it is possible
that somebody else may do for them. It has not established Civic
Barbers, empowered to shave all men who reside within its precincts,
whether willing or unwilling to submit their chins to those officers,
and it does not deny anybody the right of shaving himself.
* * * * *
[Illustration: "THERE--THAT WAS A PORTRAIT OF MY MOTHER'S FATHER,
PAINTED BY LE SANGE, IN 1802."
"LA! WHAT GUYS OUR GRANDFATHERS MADE OF THEMSELVES!"]
* * * * *
CORPORATE ASYLUMS.
The prisons of the City seem, in general, to have been better conducted
than any other of its institutions. May this fact be accounted for on
the supposition that roguery has an instinctive tendency to provide for
itself?
* * * * *
WHAT BEST CONSORTS WITH THE CONSORT'S DIGNITY.
The best monument on which, at present, (and may it be "at present" for
many years to come!) to inscribe PRINCE ALBERT'S abilities and
amiabilities, is to be found in the columns of the Newspapers.
* * * * *
AN INJUDICIOUS PATRIOT.
[Illustration: W]
We read among the speeches delivered at the late Polish Anniversary
Meeting, one whi
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