"Glaphyra told this dream to several women of her acquaintance, and died soon after. "I thought this story might not be impertinent in this place wherein I speak of those kings. Besides that, the example deserves to be taken notice of, as it contains a most certain proof of the immortality of the soul, and of divine providence. If any man thinks these facts incredible, let him enjoy his own opinion to himself, but let him not endeavour to disturb the belief of others, who by (100: 5) instances of this nature are excited to the study of virtue." L. XI. SUNDAY WITH SIR ROGER [No. 112. Monday, July 9, 1711. ADDISON.] Ἀθανάτους μὲν πρῶτα θεοὺς, νόμῳ ὡς διάκειται, Τίμα. PYTH. I am always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the seventh day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could (10) have been thought of for the polishing and civilizing of mankind. It is certain the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet together with their best faces, and (15) in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent[60] subjects, hear their duties explained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week, not only as it refreshes in their minds the notions of religion, but as it puts both the sexes upon appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exerting all such qualities as are apt to give them a figure in the eye of the village. A country fellow distinguishes himself as (101: 5) much in the church-yard as a citizen does upon the Change,[61] the whole parish politics being generally discussed at that place, either after sermon or before the bell rings. [60] What is the meaning of the word here? [61] Short for "Exchange." My friend Sir Roger, being a good churchman, has (10) beautified the inside of his church with several texts of his own choosing; he has likewise given a handsome pulpit cloth, and railed in the communion table at his own expense. He has often told me that, at his coming to his estate, he found his parishioners very irregular; (15) and that in order to make them kneel and join in the responses, he gave every one of them a hassock and a Common Prayer Book, and at the same time employed an itinerant singing-master, who goes about the country for that purpose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of (20) the Psalms; upon which they now very much value themselves, and indeed outdo most of the country churches that I have ever heard.