Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-09
From Mrs Jameson's COMMONPLACE Book Of
Thoughts, Memories, and Fancies.l
sydney Smith and Theodore Hook.

At dinner, to-day, there was an attempt made
by two very clever men to place Theodore Hook
above Sydney Smith fought with all my might
against both. IL seems to me that mind must be
strangely warped that could ever place on par
two men with aspirations and purposes SO different
whether we consider them merely as individuals,
or called before the bar Of the public as writer's
l do not take to Sydney Smith personally, because
my nature feels the want of the artistic and imagi-
native in his nature; but see what lie has done for
humanity for society, for liberty, for truth, for us
women. ~ a BA5a Z
What has Theodore Hook done that has not per-
ished with him Even his wits---and have been
in company with both--I could not compare them,
but they say the wit of Theodore Hook was only
fitted for the company of men--the strongest proof
that it was not genuine of its kind, that was most
bearabe, it was most superficial. set aside the
other obvious inference, that it required to be
cited by stimuants and those OF the c0arsest gross
est kind. The wit of Sydney Smith almost always
Involved thought worth remembering for its own
sake, MS well as worth remembering for its brilliant
vehcle--the value Of ten thousand pounds sterling
of sense concentrated into cut and polished dia-
mond. tg t.t
It is not true, as have heard it said, that after
leaving the society of Sydney Smith, you only re-
nembered how much you laughed, not the good
things ut which you had laughed. Few men-wits
by profession--ever said so many memorable things
as those recorded Of Sydney Smith,
MAN SUFFERING BY COMPARISON WITH A DOG.
Once, when ! was at Vienna, there was dread
Of hydrophobia, and orders were given to massacre
all the dogs which were found unclaimed or I'M
collared in the city or suburbs. Men were en-
ployed for this purpose and they generally carried
q short, heavy stick, which they flung at the poor
prescribed animal with such certain aim as either
10 kin or main It MORALLY at one blow. 1t hap
4 L.. x,a. IL k<, thaa Ixrt al r.,,.
near the Ferdinand 3 Brucke, one of these flung
his stick at wretched dog The poor animal,
following his instinct or his teaching, Immediately
plunged in redeemed the stick, and laid it down
at the feet of the owner, who snatching tup, DASH
ed out the creatures brains.
wonder what the Athenians would have done
to such man !? they who banished the judge of
the Areopagus because he flung away the bird
which had sought shelter in his bosoms
MAcAuLAYs BALLADS.
Joanna Baltic had great admiration Of Macau-
Laws Roman ballads. "But," said some one, do
YOU really account them as poetry" She replied,
aThey are poetry, if the sounds Of the trumpet be
music |"
We all remember the famous bon mot Of Talley-
rand When seated between Madame de Stael and
Madame Becamier, and pouring forth gallantry,
first at the feet of one then of the other, Madame
dc Stael suddenly asked him if she and Madame
Becamier fell into the river, which Of the two he
would save first. Madame" replied Tdleyrand,
~ crois que ro1 po'iuey nagerp Now We will
match this pretty bon mot with one far pretter,
and founded on L.: Prince S., whom l knew
formerly, was one day lettering on the banks of
the Zoar, in the English garden at Munich, by the
side Of the beautiful Madame ", the object Of his
devoted admiration.
For while he had been speaking to her OF his
mother, for whom, so,vien as he was, he had ever
shown the strongest ilial love and respect. After
wards, as they wandered on, he began TO pour
forth his soul to the lady OF his love with all the
eloquence of passion. Suddenly she turned and
said TO him
"If your mother and myself were both TO fall
into this river, whom would you save frstf"
"My motherl" he instantly replied and then,
looking at her eKpressively, Immediately added,
"To save you first would be as II | were TO save
myself frstl"