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Page 8
ADDISON.
Aristo tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of
her nature, was condemned to appear, at certain seasons, in the form of
a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of
her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings
which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect,
pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the
beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their
steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made
them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is Liberty. At
times she takes the form of a hateful reptile; she grovels, she hisses,
she stings; but woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her!
And happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and
frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her
beauty and glory!--_See Edin. Rev. vol._ xlii. _p._ 332.
P.T.W.
* * * * *
FIRST AND LAST.
(_From the Italian_.)
One single truth before he died
Poor Dick could only boast;
"Alas, I die!" he faintly cried,
And then--gave up the ghost!
* * * * *
FRENCH GAMING HOUSES.
(_For the Mirror_.)
Dicing-houses, where cheaters meet, and cozen young men out of
their money.
_Lord Herbert._
Begin with a guinea, and end with a mortgage.
_Cumberland._
What more than madness reigns,
When one short sitting many hundreds drains,
When not enough is left him to supply
Board wages, or a footman's livery.
_Dryden's Juvenal._
Gaming finds a man a cully, and leaves him a knave.
_Tom Brown._
The last "nine days' wonder" is the excess to which gaming is carried
among the higher circles of this country; but I much doubt whether the
present expositions of such enormity in a neighbouring nation will work
the desired effect on Englishmen.
Popular prejudices are obstinate points to combat; but every one who has
had opportunities for observation, must allow, that in their _taste
for gaming_, the French and English character are widely different.
In France, every one plays at cards, or dominoes, and at _all hours in
the day_, in every caf�, wine-shop, and road-side inn throughout the
country. I remember to have frequently seen, in the wine-shops at Paris,
carters in blue smock-frocks playing at ecart� and dominoes over a
bottle of _vin ordinaire_ at eleven o'clock in the morning,
particularly in the neighbourhood of the markets. In England such
amusements would be illegal, and the victualler who allowed them in his
house would probably be deprived of his license.
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