, 1872-01-09

DO they for a moment encourage . course Of
vain bombast and vulgarity in their children
which cannot but disgust every reasonable,
thinking man From a constant habit Of vieing
with each other in such out-and-out extraya-
canoes of conversation, in imitation, as they
tondly imagine, of the aristocracy, the very tone
OF voice becomes changed, and it becomes an
Impossibility for them to speak half a dozen
words without terminating three out of the six
with a lazy-sounding, dronish "aw." An old
school-fellow, who played at marbles, whipped
top, and joined in other pleasure-giying games
with them before they assumed the gard Of gen
tllity, or, rather, before their parents threw
aside the coarse apron ofthe shop, meets them
in their daily walk with a pleasant Good after
noon, George" and is greatly astonished to see
bis q~uondam companion adjust an eye-glass,
stare at him for a minute, and then, with the
tmost indifference, say, cav, let me see; can't
weally w~emembaw. Don't know yaw ~
Iii astonishing how prevalent among this
interesting section of the rising generation is an
unusual ambition for the knowledge of subjects
scientific and philosophical. According to some,
zoology is their favourite study; others prefer
chemistry; some, again, geology; and more, bo-
tany. Unfortunately, tits only in name they
have any idea of such a~ttainments; sound them
on either subject, and you generally find a blank,
a total want, which is excused bylaw, | can't
just now call to mind" Others a~gain-whether
from reading or from hearsay, it matters not
have SO much admiration for poetry that every
sentence they utter or write is interlined with
quotations from Scott, Moorel Byron, &c, and
even 90 so far as to consider themselves trust
worthy literary critics by eulogising or condemn
ing, as it may happen, the poems, of some of our
greatest authors, to the intense delight of their
fond and rather foolish parents, who, with open
ears and glistening eyes, are in a perfect maze
of delight and wonder at the astonishing know
ledge exhibited by their most erudite children.
Should it at all become necessary for any of
these young hopofuis to enter life and mako
their own fortunes (although such an idea is
generally secuted when mooted(, no trade must
be selected to attain such an end; nothing lower
than a profession; their capabilities, extraordi-
nary talents, education, and, chief of all, geRteeL
position, prevent any choice being made other
than being bred as physicians, barrlsters, dIVInes.
or at least officers i'll the army. Competitive
examination in the latter will probably be a
great bar to our would, be gentiity donnIng the
martial uniform. 'Tis in this manner our pro-
fessions are filled with halfstarvlng, Pennies
men, who, had they followed the trade which
enabled their parents to amass wealth, would,
no doubt, have followed in their footsteps,
But then, we forget, trade is vulgar. Many
such sons live in the hope of their fathers
death, and in many instances show their desire
SO palpably as to rob the parents declining
days of peace, his nights of much needed repose,
sqaunder what they can of his hard-saved
money, bring dishonor on his honest name, and
then wonder, when the wished-for death-bed
comes, that they are cut off witt an angry