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ciate my motive that you will not suffer my openness to prejudice me any farther.

"Do you accord what I ask?" he added, significantly laying his open hand on the seat of the sofa where they sat. She placed hers within it, and lifting her glistening eyes rewarded him with a smile of gratitude.

"You are indeed most kind," he continued, "and encourage a presumption at which one less generous might take offence. Then, my dear Miss Court

you, by your hopes of happiness, and your regard for the honor and dignity of your sex, of which every woman is an appointed guardian, to cherish, while you live, the same noble sentiment on which you now act; although you would not condescend to make a vaunting profession of it. Trust me, the woman, who, loving one man, marries another, commits the greatest crime of which, as a woman, she can be guilty and incurs a penalty inevitable as it is severe. If ever the tortures of the damned are inflicted by anticipation in this world, it is on her who condems herself to the hopeless misery of a loveless marriage. The worm that preys upon her heart is the prototype of that which never dies."

Saying this he raised her gently. She left him, to recover her composure in her own chamber, and the Colonel, after loitering about the rooms for a short time, quietly slipped away. [To be Continued.]

not more acceptable, at least less startling. It has been rather my study to make myself acquainted with you, and to give you, at the same time, a fair opportunity to know me. But I have been hurried into this step by what passed a few minutes ago. I see you do not understand my allusion. I advert to what you just now said of interested matches. Nay! do not be offended," he added, as she withdrew her hand, while a flush of indignation rose to her cheek. "I did not misinterpret your words. I understood them as a playful and dexterous eva-ney, let me go one step farther. Let me adjure sion of an ill-timed appeal, and was better pleased than I should have been at a flight of common-place declamation, which, on such a subject, seems to my mind unmaidenly. But I was taught to believe that the sentiment which you seemed rather to admit than avow was with you a settled and deliberate principle of action. I was taught to believe this, but I did not believe it; yet the idea that it could possibly be true was not to be endured. There was but one way to bring it to a prompt and decisive test. I had no reason to flatter myself that I had any hold on your affections. But I have no reason to think myself particularly disagreeable to you; and I am sure you must be aware that my circumstances, my station in society, and my standing in life are such, that a woman proposing to marry for convenience would hardly reject me. You see the risk I ran in affording you an opportunity to make us both wretched, by giving me your hand without your heart; but I beg you to believe that had I entertained any very serious apprehension of that sort, I would not have encountered it. But I was impatient to be freed from all doubt, which, on such a point, would have been intolerable, and might have marred all my efforts to please you. We now understand each other. You have but told me what I knew before: that you do not love me. But you have not told me that you never can. You have but done what I expected and wished. But you have not forbidden me to prosecute my suit, and to endeavor to show myself not unworthy of your favor. Let me now beg one indulgence at your hands. It is that you will keep my secret, at least for a season. I do not wish to be thought precipitate without having it in my power to explain my motives; and I do not wish that my endeavors to please you should be embarrassed and disconcerted by the nods and winks and all the nameless impertinences of meddling gossips. I hope my frankness merits this kindness, and that you will not think yourself bound to repulse the assiduities which my feelings will prompt, from the thought that it is your duty to discourage any farther attention from a rejected lover. I cannot consent to be considered in that light. I am sensible that a man may lose much by putting his mistress prematurely in possession of his secret. But this I have done cheerfully and I trust you so appre

VOL. X-90

THOUGHTS

Suggested by a Picture of Westminster Abbey. "Why at his lot should Godlike man repine?

Kings are but men, and man as Kings divine!
What are crowns and sceptres, courts and thrones,
But folly's playthings, made of human bones?"
Enter the portals, wide and vast,

Of yon time-honor'd pile;
Pause at ev'ry mould'ring tomb
And thread its every aisle.

Wind the steep of every height,

Stand on each time-worn tower;
Then think of Kings beneath your feet
And learn the worth of power.

There death, in its most courted form,

Beneath, around, is spread ;-
Kings, poets, statesmen, all are there;
Are there, but pulseless,-dead!
Their pride and grandeur all are gone!
Gone like a vapor's breath!
The crown and crosier, both are there,
The garner'd spoils of death.

And yet, the godlike soul of man

From its high path will turn, That when its mortal robe is rent, Here may be rear'd an urn.

Oh! give to me the path of peace,

Where life's calm waters roll,

That when this mortal strife shall cease,
God will inurn the soul.

Oh! give to me the flower-deck'd grave,
A peaceful, calm repose,
O'er which the summer grass may wave,
And wreathe the winter snows.

Entomb me not in sculptur'd halls,
Where no spring floweret grows,
But let me by some lillied stream

In death's long sleep repose.

Where opening flowers at early dawn

The air with odors fill,

And gentle dews from twilight's urn
Shall on my grave distil.

Providence, R. I.

W. M. RODMAN.

be very ancient, and yet none of them were decrepit. Water, as far as our voyagers could learn, was the usual and the only drink of the New Zealanders." Their diet is not specified, but it is of the "most nutritive and simple character." As natural laws admit of no exception, this happy state could not occur, unless it was within the capabilities of the human race. If we take instances of individual life, we can find evidence to confirm our proposition. Men may be congenitally, or constitutionally distempered, so that no course of regimen could give them healthful organs and healthy functions. But we allude, of course, to those who are naturally and primarily constituted healthful, when we say, that the corporeal frame of man is so constituted as to admit of his enjoying organic health and vigor, during the whole period of a long life. And a healthy, cheerful mind is the natural result of a vigorous body, healthful in all its actions.

Because the pernicious use of intoxicating drinks has been most frequently and suddenly carried to extreme excess, a very large amount of the effort directed to physical and moral reform has been bestowed on this particular species of intemperance. It has attracted most attention on account of the rapidity and terrible character of its destructive powers. But perhaps the main reason why it is so strenuously attended to, whilst other sources of evil are suffered to go unrebuked, is found in the Regimen and Longevity, comprising Materia Alimentaria, more comprehensive character of its effects. A National dietetic usages, and the influence of civiliza-man given to drunkenness becomes not only usetion on health and the duration of Life. By John Bell, M. D., &c., &c. Haswell and Johnson, Philadelphia, 1843.

THE ECONOMY OF LIFE.

less, but often, he is an actual pest, and sometimes even an object of fear to those about him. While another may stupify, besot and even destroy himself from the character and quantity of his diet, and no one but himself being injured, no interference is offered. A principle of self-preservation prompts us to repel the one character of evil, while in the other form, we do not feel called upon to interfere.

We believe that it is deducible from experience and sound philosophy, that, if man would study and learn well all the natural laws under which he lives, and strictly follow their requirements, he would be both good and happy. Holy Writ teaches us that to make ourselves good and happy in the future state, we must obey higher laws, and act We did not place the work of Dr. Bell at the from higher motives than these. But as we have head of these cursory remarks, with an intention seen, the whole system of our nature, functions and of reviewing it, or even of presenting a condensed relations, affords the most ample evidence, that the view of its valuable contents. But our object is physical and organic laws were intended for, and to elicit the reader's interest in, and attention to adapted to our growth, vigor and welfare, physi- the subject under consideration, as one of the most cally, mentally and morally. It may be difficult important that could engage general attention; and to demonstrate the truth of this proposition by re-in doing so, the work before us presents itself as a ference to the history of any community, or nation but it would be equally hard, by the same testimony, to prove the reverse. It is said in the life of Captain Cook, "one circumstance peculiarly worthy of notice, is the perfect and uninterrupted health of the New Zealanders. In all the visits made to their towns, when old and young, male and female, crowded about our voyagers, they never observed a single person who seemed to have any bodily complaint!! Many of them, by the loss of their hair and their teeth, appeared to

of men,

volume of information, which is indispensable to a thorough acquaintance with the branch of the general economy of life, on which it particularly treats. The work is confined principally to the discussion of diet and drink, with a promise in the preface to treat hereafter on other subjects embraced in “the latitude of interpretation, not unusually given to Regimen," and first, of air and exercise.

On all subjects relating to the welfare of men, both in health and disease, we have no higher authority, in the estimation of the writer, at least, than Da.

JOHN BELL.

The facts he has here adduced, gath- | self, and intimates that much of his savageness was ered from the dietetic usages of almost every na- innate. But may not that which the learned doctor tion on the globe, if closely studied in connection calls his "innate savageness," have had its growth with the natural laws that govern organic life, are and perpetuity in these excesses to which we are calculated to produce more healthful and durable alluding? reform in the habits and pernicious opinions of in- In asserting that the economy of life has not redividuals, and the misguided usages of communi- ceived its due portion of care and study, we would ties, than all the "temperance lectures" that the not be understood as saying, that "table comforts," learned author could have delivered in the whole as they are miscalled, have not absorbed a goodly of his industrious life. We have said that our ob- share of attention. We know, on the contrary, ject is the awakening of attention to the general that they form, with a large class, objects of the science, or art of living, which teaches us, not how most anxious solicitude. To provide the table with we may breathe and groan away a life of misap- excellent and bountiful supplies has ever been a high plied toil, but which acquaints us with our own ca- purpose with a great many people. But they have pabilities, privileges and powers in using the means looked upon feeding with about the same notions of happiness so profusely given us, and at the same that our milliners, tailors and fashion-mongers do time warns us of the dangers that lie hidden in upon clothing,-any amount of bodily comfort and their abuse. In this science, the subject of diet freedom of action is to be sacrificed to a genteel stands conspicuous, if not paramount in impor-"set" and a "tasty style." Fashion has been as tance. The human body, as an organized sub-changeful and extravagant in her rule over the stance, is ever undergoing the compound process palate, as in her laws of dress and amusement. of growth and decay. It is the office of one class The great art and science of cookery have been of organs to replenish and support, and of another exerted to add to the long catalogue of the articles class, to eliminate and throw off those portions of of food throughout both ancient and modern times. the substance which have served their purpose, to In ancient times, we are informed that cooks were make room for fresh sustenance. To this latter much more perfect in their art than our modern class we address medicines, and to the former, food. practitioners are. Athenæus mentions numerous Food and drink are the sources whence our ever instances of their superior skill. But as excellence wasting frames derive their sustenance. They are in a profession is usually attained in a ratio proportaken into every point and particle of our structure, tioned to the rewards it brings, this excellence was and, in fact, it is of them, that we are made what probably owing to the superior rank and emolument we physically and substantially are. Viewed thus, awarded the professors of culinary science in those as the material of our constitution, it would seem days. The discovery, or invention of a new dish that the substances of our aliment should form brought immortal honor and renown to the fortumatter of the most assiduous study and diligent nate genius who claimed its paternity, and handed care in practice. Not that we might learn how to his name down to all future generations of gourcombine, season and dress it, so as to enable us to mands. Philosophers discoursed and poets sang consume the greatest quantity at a single meal, but of the wonderful achievements in this delightful that we might ascertain precisely how to select, art. And one of them says, with exulting emprepare and guage it, so as to contribute most to phasis, that although various delicacies can only our physical health and vigor, our mental activity be enjoyed in their proper season, yet we can and energy, and our moral firmness and equanimity. talk about them with watering mouths all the year For, that the kind and quantity of our physical ali- round." We are informed that one of the profesment does exercise a powerful influence upon all sors of this luxurious art arrived at such consumthese three attributes of our constitution, is a de- mate skill, that he could serve up a pig boiled on monstrable fact in the experience of every one. A one side and roasted on the other, and stuffed with diet over-abundant in amount, or highly stimulating all manner of delicacies without the incisions in its character, is sure to render our bodies lan- through which they were introduced being perceivguid and heavy, our intellect dull and oppressed, able. Amongst the multifarious articles which go and our moral temper impatient and irritable. Lord to make up the catalogue of man's edibles, from Byron furnishes, perhaps, the most distinguished ancient down to modern times, nearly every subinstance of a splendid mind warped and perverted stance that could possibly admit of it may be found. by physical excesses. With all his enviable en- Though variable in its objects, the same thirst for dowments of person and fortune, which most men novelty and the same spirit of extravagance have would expect to make them happy, he declared ever prevailed. That philosophy, which in our day that the most serene and delightful moments of his teaches that no labor is to be accounted productive, life were produced under the depletory effects of but that which is directed immediately to the proEpsom salts. Dr. Bell quotes his lordship's alle- duction of the raw material of food and clothing, gation, that whenever he ate meat for any length is prompted by the same comprehensive spirit that of time, he felt an increase of savageness in him-'enlightened Sinon to the discovery that cookery

66

was the basis and grand object of all science. | weight of authority is on the side of vegetables, Those men who habitually light up their appetites as the chief food of man, whilst he is almost uniby a torch of brandy, by way of facilitating the versally set down as an omnivorous animal. Dr. expansion and blunting the sensibility of their Millenger says, "according to the country he instomachs, on the approach of a meal, are but the habits, its productions and the nature of its purimproved disciples of Philoxenus and his "school," suits, his mode of living differs. The inhabitant who accustomed themselves to drink large quanti- of the cold and sterile regions on the borders of ties of hot water, that they might be able to attack the ocean becomes ichthyophagous, and fish, fresh, scalding dishes before less fire-proof guests could dried, smoked, or salted, is his principal nourishdare to taste them. Thus, by comparison, we may find that man has in all ages, when he had the ability, been disposed to deify his stomach and sacrifice all his higher sources of enjoyment upon its ever burning altar. We eat and drink to make us happy, and when we find happiness from any other source, we must fall to eating and drinking to enjoy it, as though we possessed no social powers but those of a sensual character. Men now-a-days acquire the greatest fame, from rearing the largest hog, or the fattest ox, as did, in olden times, one Fulvius Herpinus, who immortalized his name by fattening snails, which Horace informs us were served up and broiled upon silver gridirons to give a relish to wine. The modern fashion of lulling the pangs of an excessive meal, by a resort to the soothing powers of the "fragrant weed," is but a refinement upon the ancient practice of using on such occasions the warm bath, or an emetic.

ment. The bold huntsman lives upon the game he pursues; while the nomadian shepherd, who tends his herds over boundless steeps, supports himself on the milk of his flock." This is all very beautiful, and however true it may be generally, and theoretically, it is perhaps most often found, that these romantic practices are more the results of necessity and circumstance, than of any natural and uniform law pertaining to the species. The great object of our search,-the grand truth to be discovered, is not, what can we subsist upon, or what kind of usages men may have been subjected to under particular circumstances in which they were placed; nor how far nature may be overcome and subdued by habit. But we should rather seek to know what are the laws by which our sustenance is governed, and how we must administer them, so as to avoid the most evil and attain the greatest good. In other words, how shall we make What particular class of substances was de- and keep ourselves what our Creator intended us signed by nature for the food of man is a question, to be,-vigorous, healthful and happy. This is we believe, which has never yet been definitely the object our author had in view in the treatise settled. Philosophers, in all times, seem to have before us. He has explained what the principle given the subject a portion of their study, but un- of nutriment is, and exhibited the various proporfortunately, they have rarely given the question tions of that principle contained in the different such a shape, as would lead to a profitable discus- articles of diet, and also the quantity of other, sion. The question has been, what have the (frequently indigestible,) matter with which it is organs of nature given him power to eat, and combined. He also reviews "the national dietetic not, (as it should have been,) what has nature af- usages" of the different countries, and then conforded best adapted to his natural wants and wel- siders the nutritive qualities and value of the diffare. With a view to ascertain what kind of sub- ferent kinds of aliment. Thus setting forth such stances man has been qualified to devour, by means data as cannot fail to lead the reader to the most of his masticatory and digestive organs, the pecu- just and beneficial conclusions on this most imporliar form of his grinders, the position relatively to tant subject of study. The savage state is freeach other, the peculiar motive capability of his quently pointed to as one most congenial to health jaws, and the anatomical structure of his stomach, and longevity. Because there are very few invahave all been examined. Baron Cuvier comes to lids found amongst savages, the short-hand concluthe conclusion, that "the natural food of man ap- sion is assumed, that this exemption is owing to pears to consist of fruits, roots and other succu- the healthful tendency of the peculiar habits of lent parts of vegetables ;" and others, as Sir Eve-the savage life. But a slight examination of the rard Home and Lawrence, concur with the Baron. subject will show the true cause to lie in another How far this mode of judging of the suitableness direction. Such persons as are infirm and invalid of a thing, by the power possessed to appropriate it, amongst civilized people, are, in savage life, conmay be just, is, we think, questionable. It was by signed to an early grave, and the old adage is rethis mode of reasoning, that Dr. Franklin decided membered, "dead men tell no tales." Dr. Bell that man was naturally a wine drinker. He says, has proven, from historie facts, that pure civiliza"the only animals created to drink water are those tion is the most favorable state to health and long who, from their conformation, are able to lap it life. What is meant by pure civilization, we are from the surface of the earth, whereas, all those to understand from the following remark of our who can carry their hands to their mouth, were author, "Looking at eivilization in its elements destined to enjoy the juice of the grape." The and combination," says he," we are bound to re

ject the vicious and the absurd, as foreign to it, or civilized, in every sense of the word, than those at least, as fungous growths and excrescences who derive the greater part, or all of their aliment from, but not an integral part of it. This is the from the vegetable kingdom." It must not be inhigh, moral and religious test by which civilization ferred, however, that our author is a "Grahamite," should be tried." The city of Geneva, of whose or an exclusive "vegetable man." It is against population, births and deaths, an accurate history the disproportionately large quantity of animal food, has been kept for nearly the last three centuries, so generally and perniciously used, that his facts shows a striking illustration of the principle already and arguments are arrayed, while he agrees that laid down, viz: "the ameliorating influence of animal aliment, within proper bounds, (very limited,) civilization in prolonging human life among a peo- may be useful. As regards the effects of dietetic ple." The history of other places is referred to usage on the constitution and character of men, in confirmation of the same principle. This re- history affords the fullest accounts, but we have sults from the nearer adaptation of the habits of not space to introduce them here. But the early civilized life to the organic laws of our nature. Greeks and Romans, the Spartans, the Egyptians Amongst the errors that have prevailed, and still and the Chinese may be mentioned. "A pound prevail, in regard to the diet of men, perhaps the and a half of rice daily is the allowance on which most general, and one of the most pernicious is the an adult Hindoo will not only live, but labor, his opinion that animal food is necessary to render drink the while being water. The palanquin bearthem robust and courageous. All persons acquainted ers, four of whom carry a traveller and his baggage, with the history of men in this regard, must see and the carriage itself, weighing in all from four the fallacy of the opinion. The miserable and to five hundred pounds, are fed in this way. Dr. timid inhabitants of Northern Europe and Asia, are Olin, in his late narrative of travels, mentions the remarkable for their debility, both physical and scanty fare of the Eastern laborers, and whenever, moral, although they live chiefly upon fish and flesh, from a feeling of charity and sympathy for their whilst the South Sea Islanders, can vie in bodily privations, he would give those in his employ meats exercises with our stoutest men. Our savage from his own larder, it invariably produced a fit of aborigines are frequently cited as living proofs of sullenness and stupidity, not unfrequently amountthe courage, agility and vigor arising from the use ing to insubordination. Mr. Stephens, in his "inof animal food. The exercises of the chase, no cidents of travel," speaking of the Monks of Sinai doubt, produce great agility of muscle, and the free says, "they never ate meat-no animal food of any use of animal food may contribute to the ferocity kind is permitted to enter the convent. During of their character, which is often mistaken for all their abode in the convent not one of them had courage, but divest them of the imaginary qualities eaten a particle of animal food, and yet I never which romance has thrown around them, and our saw more healthy looking men. . . . The Monk "red brethren" are a sullen, lazy and cowardly who guided us up the mountain, and who was more "The citizen soldiers of republican Rome, than sixty years old, when he descended after a hard living on the simplest vegetable food and water, or day's labor was less tired than either Paul or mywater mixed with vinegar for their drink, overcame self." Mr. Stephens also adduces his own expeall their enemies, whereas, the degenerate slaves rience in confirmation of the opinion that animal of the Empire, supplied with animal food and wine, food, to do no injury, must be sparingly used. The were beaten by every invader, and their city plun- courageous, hardy and athletic Irish might be dered alike by Goth and Vandal. The greatest mentioned in this connection, and every one is part of the people of the world subsist on vegeta- familiar with the history of the old time Scotch ble diet alone, and a portion admit animal aliment fighters,-thrifty, acute and clear thinkers, who not as a regular daily allowance, but only as an always lived upon the simplest vegetable fare. Of occasional addition, and in small proportion. This them Holinshead quaintly says, “In old times these remark will apply to the world from the days of North Brittons did give themselves universally to Abraham and the Pharaohs down to the present great abstinence, and in time of war their soldiers time. And what is most interesting, and to us would often feed but once or twice in two or three meat-eating Americans most astonishing, is the days, especially if they held themselves in secret, fact, "that wherever the diet is mostly vegetable or could have no issue out of their bogs and moin its character, there the people have been found rasses, through the presence of an enemy, and in most uniformly hardy and healthful in body, and this distress they used to eat a certain kind of confirm and complacent in mind. The effects of diet fection, whereof so much as a bean would qualify in this respect are more remarkable, perhaps, on their hunger above common expectation." Thus the mental and moral constitution than on the phy- we might go on to almost any extent to prove, from sical frame. After examining the state of facts demonstrative evidence, the sufficiency and the supebearing on this particular point, Dr. Bell remarks, riority of vegetable nourishment alone in supporting that "the people who eat much flesh meat, and in the most vigorous health of both mind and body. greater proportion than vegetable food, are less In proof of the small amount of any kind of diet,

race.

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