------------------------------------------------------------------------ _MUSIC._ [Illustration: “ENDING BY SHINNING UP A TREE.”] A WILD cat was listening with rapt approval to the melody of distant hounds tracking a remote fox. “Excellent! _bravo_!” she exclaimed at intervals. “I could sit and listen all day to the like of that. I am passionately fond of music. _Ong core!_” Presently the tuneful sounds drew near, whereupon she began to fidget, ending by shinning up a tree, just as the dogs burst into view below her, and stifling their songs upon the body of their victim before her eyes—which protruded. “There is an indefinable charm,” said she—“a subtle and tender spell—a mystery—a conundrum, as it were—in the sounds of an unseen orchestra. This is quite lost when the performers are visible to the audience. Distant music (if any) for your obedient servant!” _Ambrose Bierce_ (“_Dod Grile._”) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _MAXIMS._ NEVER spare the parson’s wine, nor the baker’s pudding. A house without woman or firelight, is like a body without soul or sprite. Kings and bears often worry their keepers. Light purse, heavy heart. He’s a fool that makes his doctor his heir. Ne’er take a wife till thou hast a house (and a fire) to put her in. To lengthen thy life lessen thy meals. He that drinks fast pays slow. He is ill-clothed who is bare of virtue. Beware of meat twice boil’d, and an old foe reconcil’d. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich. He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner. _Benjamin Franklin._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _MODEL OF A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION OF A PERSON YOU ARE UNACQUAINTED WITH._ PARIS, _April 2, 1777_. SIR,—The bearer of this, who is going to America, presses me to give him a letter of recommendation, though I know nothing of him, not even his name. This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is not uncommon here. Sometimes, indeed, one unknown person brings another equally unknown, to recommend him; and sometimes they recommend one another! As to this gentleman, I must refer you to himself for his character and merits, with which he is certainly better acquainted than I can possibly be. I recommend him, however, to those civilities which every stranger, of whom one knows no harm, has a right to; and I request you will do him all the favour that, on further acquaintance, you shall find him to deserve. I have the honour to be, etc. _Benjamin Franklin._