The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-10-21
A CHAPTER OF EPiGRAMs.

Epieraras derive their origin from the
inscription placed by the ancients on
their tomhs. statues, temples, arches, etc
They were at first only simple epigrams
afterward, increasing their length, they
made them in verse, to he more easil,
retained They continued to be called
ny the same name after the first design
nf their institution was varied, and peo
pile began to use them for the relations
of facts and accidents, the characterize
ton Of persons, etc.
NJ lie Bruu's definition Of an epigram
is "a little poem susceptible Of ali kinds
of subjects, and ending with livelyjust
and unexpected thought, which are three
qualifications essential to The epigram
1t is generally allowed that tho '4ortert -l,'
me epigram the better. s.
Here are a few upon variety of sub
jects:
The poe Burns being in church one
Sunday, and having some difficulty in
procuring a seat, Young lady who per
ceived him. kindly made way for hin in
her pew The subject of the discourse
was the terrors Of the law as denounced
against the uuheieving sinner, in proof
of which the preacher referred to seve
raj passages Of Scripture,to all Of which
the lady seemed very attentive but some
what agitated. The poet, on perceving
this, wrote with a pencil on a leaf in her
Bible, the following lines:
"Fair maid. you need not take the hint,
Nor idle texts pursue,
Twas only sinners that he meant.
Not angelo such as YOU"
Tom Moore being at one time forced
to absent himself from a pleasant even
ing party on account of not having a
pair of dress breeches to wear, sent the
following to his hostess:
'.Betwixt Adam aud me the great differ ience is,
Though paradise each has been forced to
resign,
That he never wore breeches till forced out Of
f his,
While for uant Of my brsschss I'm turned out
sfgT'"s'
Fox, fhe celebrated orator, was told
one daa by lady whom he visited, that
she did not care "three skips of lame
louise for him" He Immediately took
out his pencil and wrote the following
lines: ~. .i.
"a lady has told me. and in her own house,
That she cares not for me three skips Of o
louse.' t..
forgive the dear creature for what she has
said,
Since women will talk Of what runs in their
head"
ANEW METHOD OF TIGHTENING SHIP.
ut blew hard storm, and in utmost confusion
The sailors all hurried to get absolution:
Which done. and the weight of the sins they
confessed - 7-'r'---'--
Transferred, as they thought. from themselve
to the priest;
To tighten the ship, and conclude the devotion
They tossed the poor parson souse into tn
| ocean.
A gentleman hearing lady praise th'
ewes Of certain prominent clergyman
wrote the following:
Il cannot praise the doctors eyes,
never saw his glance divine.
For when he prays he shuts his eyes,
And when he preaches he shuts mine
BYRoN's EPIaRAM ON ENGLAND. -
THE world is bundle of hay,
| Mankind are the asses who pull,
Each tugs in different way, ,-,......
And the greatest of all is John Bull
| Allen Ramsay, the pleasing author o
the Pastoral Comedy called "rhe Gen
tie Shepherd" wrote the following ol
receiving an orange from the Countes
Abovne:
Now Priam's son thou mayst be mute,
For1 can proudly vie with thee:
Thou to the fairest gave the fruit
The faires gave the fruit to me"