but without a cultivated mind, and an acquaintance with the due management of that vehicle by and through which his intelligence. is communicated, he is poor and uninteresting indeed.

PARADOXES.

THE author of the French poem, "Des Saisons," Marquis de Saint Lambert, once introduced to the celebrated Madame Geoffrin, who who was a great favorite with the literati of of her time, a worthy man, known for many. excellent works on political economy. Madame Geoffrin received him kindly, as she did every one, more especially those presented by Saint Lambert. The "protege" of the poet was punctual in his visits to her for many months. One day, when he was entering her mansion, a domestic stopped him, and said very gravely that his mistress could not receive him. "What! has she gone out?" "No,

but she cannot receive you." "But is she sick?" "Monsieur, pardon me," replied the servant; "I can only repeat what I have before said; Madame cannot receive you." This, of course, was not to be resisted, and the political economist bowed to the domestic, and departed. He went immediately to seek his friend, told him that he had been rejected, and asked him what indiscretion he could have been guilty of, to produce such coldness on the part of Madame Geoffrin. Saint Lambert took from his pocket a letter, which he requested his friend to read. It was from Madame Geoffrin, and was written thus: "I shall shut my door upon your learned acquaintance, my dear Marquis. His society is insupportable. He states too many facts, makes assertions which are undeniable, and is always in the right." These few words enlightened, all at once, the learned man; and Saint Lambert took the opportunity to caution him against wearying his hearers by constantly and methodically dwelling upon facts, without advancing disputable opinions. Accordingly, the economist changed his system, and was soon restored to the favor of Madame Geoffrin. In fact,

he became one of the most entertaining men in that "coterie" from which he had been so harshly expelled; and his conversation, varied with paradoxes and singular propositions, was sought after by all. He was thenceforth delightful as a conversationist, although necessarily dull as an author.

Paradoxes give animation to conversation, by affording room for the expression of different views. A logical speaker in a drawingroom, whatever he may be as an orator, is a wearisome and uninteresting companion. Absurdity, if original, is preferable to tameness.

Fontenelle was celebrated for the influence which he exerted in his time, as a man of wit. Conversation never languished when he was present. He was faithful to the theory of paradoxes, and consequently successful; keeping up the interest by throwing in as fuel to the fire of conversation, the wildest and most "outre" opinions, if found necessary for the purpose. He called a paradox "the thunder of conversation, preceding the storm of discussion, the tempest of words,- and purifying the atmosphere of society."

1

COMMON-PLACES.

WHAT would poets, orators, advocates and others do without resort to trivial digressions, those accessory aids to the imagination when logic and eloquence are at fault? Aristotle and his "learned cabal," all rhetoricians, from Quintilian downwards, have condescended to make use of common-places; allowing themselves the liberty to treat of hackneyed subjects, to discuss outlawed questions, and to introduce topics which Adam and Eve, in their domestic paradise, were perhaps engaged in disputing about. It is a happy art, that of clothing common things in fresh colors,making the old garments of thought look like

new.

In an epic poem, there must be a tempest, a personification, an invocation and a battle; its merit consisting in the mode of description. differing from all preceding epics. A skilful advocate makes an exordium to attract interest towards his client; and invokes the indulgence of the judges in favor of himself. Every

shrewd attempt to relax the severity of justice, every familiar reminiscence and happy association seized upon, adds to the chances of success for the cause which he pleads.

Society, however, is neither a tribunal nor a lyceum, and common-places of a descriptive nature are not admissable. There are personal details, also, which may be termed common-places, but which should be carefully avoided; such as particular accounts of one's native town, his birth, the village-clock or the cradle of his infancy, his school-boy scenes, exploits, escapes, and successful or unsuccessful manoeuvres in business. The world has not the least conceivable degree of sympathy with egotism; it abhors those matters of private interest which self-love is continually dictating. My talents, my personal appearance, my family, my property, my speculations, my commendable or censurable qualities, are common-places of the very worst

and most pitiable description.

To speak of the rain and of fair weather are perhaps the only common-places which society allows; and yet it is rather by a sort of tacit convention. The heavens, over-arching all,