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ble in their profession, they would reply that they are too old to think of learning Latin.

Boccacio was thirty-five years of age when he commenced his studies in polite literature. Yet he became one of the three great masters of the Tuscan dialect, Dante and Petrarch being the other two. There are many among us ten years younger than Boccacio, who are dying of ennui, and regret that they were not educated to a taste for literature, but now they are too old.

Sir Henry Spelman neglected the sciences in his youth, but commenced the study of them when he was between fifty and sixty years of age. After this time he became the most learned antiquarian and lawyer. Our young men begin to think of laying their seniors on the shelf when they have reached sixty years of age. How different the present estimate put upon experience from that which characterized a certain period of the Grecian republic, when a man was not allowed to open his mouth in cases of political meetings, who was under forty years of age.

Colbert, the famous French Minister, at sixty years of age, returned to his Latin and law studies. How many of our college-learnt men have ever looked into their classics since their graduation?

Dr. Johnson applied himself to the Dutch language but a few years before his death. Most of our merchants and lawyers of twenty-five, thirty, and forty years of age, are obliged to apply to a teacher to translate a business letter written in the French language, which might be learnt in the tenth part of the time required for the study of the Dutch; and all because they are too old to learn.

Ludovico Monaldesco, at the great age of one hundred and fifteen, wrote the memoirs of his own times, a singular exertion, noticed by Voltaire, who was himself one of the most remarkable instances of the progress of the age in new studies.

Ogilby, the translator of Homer and Virgil, was unacquainted with Latin and Greek till he was past fifty.

Franklin did not fully commence his philosophical pursuits till he had reached his fiftieth year. How many among us of thirty, forty and fifty, who read nothing but newspapers, for the want of a taste for natural philosophy? But they are too old to learn.

Accorso, a great lawyer, being asked why he began the study of law so late, answered, that indeed he began it late, but that he should, therefore, master it the sooner. This agrees with our theory, that healthy old age gives a man the power of accomplishing a difficult study in much less time than would be necessary to one of half his years.

Dryden, in his sixty-eighth year, commenced the translation of the Iliad; and his most pleasing productions were writen in his old age.

We could go on and cite thousands of examples of men who commenced a new study, and struck out into an entirely new pursuit, either for a livelihood or amusement, at an advanced age. But every one familiar with the biography of distinguished men, will reccollect individual cases enough to convince him that none but sick and indolent will say, I am too old to study.

HOW TO RENDER ASSISTANCE IN ACCIDENTS.

In case of a fractured or dislocated limb, let the sufferer lie on the ground until a couch, door, gate or plank can be procured, place the door or gate alongside of him, cover it with something soft, and let men convey him steadily home, but do not put him into a vehicle of any kind. In Fits, if a person fall in one, let him remain on the ground, providing his face be pale; for should it be fainting or temporary suspension of the heart's action, you may cause death by raising him upright, or by bleeding; but if the face be red, or dark colored, raise him on his seat, throw cold water on his head immediately, and send for a surgeon and get a vein opened, or fatal pressure on the brain may ensue. In hanging or drowning, expose the chest as quickly as possible, and throw ice-water over it, whilst the body is kept in a sitting posture. In case of children in convulsions, deluge the head with cold water, and put the feet into warm water, till medical aid can be procured. In case of poison, give an emetic of a teaspoonful of mustard flour in a teaspoonful of warm water, every ten minutes, till vomiting ensues or medical assistance is obtained. In case of burns and scalds, let the burnt part be bathed in a mixture of turpentine and olive oil, equal parts, till the pain abates; then dress it with common cerate, and defend it from the air.

"Ma," said an inquisitive little girl, "will the rich and poor people live together when they go up to Heaven?" "Yes, my dear, they will all be alike there."

"Then, ma, why don't rich and poor Christians associate together?"

"Sally had better put you to bed, my love,—you are getting sleepy."

It were well if old age were truly second childhood; it is seldom more like it than the berry is to the rose-bud.

RHODE ISLAND NORMAL SCHOOL.

We took occasion, in the Annual Report made to the Legislature last January session, (see the February number of this Magazine,) to give our views on the subject of a Normal School. Many of the so called Normal Schools in our country, have degenerated into mere free academies.

We have now the pleasure of announcing to the teachers of the State, that arrangements are making for commencing a Normal School at Providence, in the beginning of November next. The following extract of a letter from Prof. Greene, will give the outline of the plan :

"The Rhode Island Normal School for ladies and gentlemen, will be opened in the ante.rooms of the Universalist Church, Broad-st., Providence, on Monday, the 1st day of November next, at 9 o'clock, A. M. Instruction will be given in the theory and practice of teaching, in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, geography, analysis and construction of the English language, rhetoric, elocution, the art of reading, penmanship, spelling, and the best modes of managing and governing a school. The lectures and drill exercises in the above branches, are to be conducted by the following gentlemen :-Samuel S. Greene, Professor of Didactics in Brown University; Prof. William Russell, of the Merrimack Normal Institute, and Dana P. Colburn, Esq., late of the Bridgewater Normal School. Others are expected to assist in some of the departments, among whom are Professors Chace and Guyot. It is expected that the members of the School will be permitted to attend courses of lectures at the University, especially on Chemistry and Physiology. They will also have access to the large and valuable library of the University."

The details of the plan will be hereafter announced. From conversations with Prof. Russell and Prof. Greene, we think the proposed institution will come nearer to our idea of what a Normal School should be, than any Normal School in the country.

The course will continue until April. It is desirable that the members should continue through the whole term, but provision will be made for those who cannot attend through the entire course. The charge for instruction will be moderate, but has not yet been fixed. Board can be obtained in different parts of the city, on reasonable

terms.

Teachers' Institutes will be held this fall at the usual time. More particular notice will be given in the next number.

STEWART'S WASHINGTON.

The State of Rhode Island is fortunate in possessing two portraits of Washington, by Stewart; one of which is in the State House at Providence, and the other in the State House at Newport. We extract the following notice of one of Stewart's portraits from the Literary World. Whether the portraits painted for his native State, were copied from the one here referred to, we do not know.

"George W. P. Custis, Esq., commenting on an engraving, recently issued by G. W. Childs, of Philadelphia, recites the history of the original.

"The history of the painting is simply this; it was painted for Mrs. Washington. After the sittings for the picture for the Marquis of Lansdowne, the chief declared he would sit no more for any one. Mrs. Washington, desirous of having an original, by Stewart, to place among the family pictures at Mount Vernon, entreated the chief to sit once more for her, Stuart being desirous of painting another original with a view to some improvements. The bargain was concluded; Stuart was to make certain copies, and then the last original was to have been handed over to Mrs. Washington. On the death of the chief, Mrs. Washington applied for the picture, both by letter and through the good offices of gentlemen then near the residence of the artist. On the death of the venerable lady she bequeathed all the family pictures to me: I wrote to Stewart and offered a price to be paid for the original, although it was to have been the property of Mrs. Washington, without money and without price.' All efforts of all parties failed. Stuart died, and the original, that should have been mine, was sold by his heirs to the Boston Atheneum."

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The Literary World is a journal published in New York, specially devoted to giving the earliest information of new publications, and of every thing of importance in the world of literature and art. We recommend it to all who are desirous of keeping up with the times. Its miscellaneous articles are always interesting.

By the way, we very often see Gilbert Stewart mentioned as a native of Newport. He was born in South Kingstown. See Updike's History of the Narragansett Church. The name should be Stewart, not Stuart.

A learned author, while talking to an accomplished and beautiful woman, held her hand between his during the conversation; when he let it go, one of the company exclaimed, "That was the finest work that ever came out of your hands."

KEEP HIM OUT.

"What noise is that ?" said a judge, disturbed in the hearing of a case.

"It's a man, my lord," was the answer of the door-keeper. "What does he want?"

"He wants to get in, my lord."

"Well, keep him out."

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The audience are comfortably seated; the case is going forward; to make room for the new comer, some must shift their seats; and perhaps be jostled about a little; so they are all perfectly satisfied with the judge's dictum "Keep him out!"

You have, yourself, been in an omnibus when a stout passenger has presented himself to the conductor, and petitioned for a place. You are all snugly seated-why should you be disturbed? "The seats are all full !" "Keep him out !" But, the intruder is in, he presses forward to the inner corner, perhaps treading upon some testy gentleman's toes. How you hate that new comer, until you get fairly "shook down," and settled in your places? The door opens again,-another passenger! "Keep him out!" cried the company, and strange to say, the loudest vociferator of the whole, is the very passenger who last came in. He in his turn becomes conversant, after having fairly got a place inside.

It is the same through life. There is a knocking from time to time at the door of the constitution.

"What's the noise ?" ask the men in power.

"It's a lot of men, my lords and gentlemen." "What do they want."

"They want to come in."

"Well, keep them out!"

And those who are comfortably seated within the gate, reecho the cry of "Keep them out." Why should they be disturbed in their seats, and made uncomfortable?

But somehow by dint of loud-knocking, the men, or a rush of them, at length do contrive to get in; and after sundry shoving and jostlings, they get seated, and begin to get comfortable, when there is another knocking louder than before. Would you believe it? the last accomodated are now the most eager of all to keep the doors closed against the new comers; and "Keep them out!" is their vociferous cry.

Here is a batch of learned men debating the good of their order. They are considering how their profession may be advanced. What is the gist of their decisions ?-the enactment of laws against all intruders upon their comfort and quiet. They make their calling a snug monopoly and contrive matters so that as few as possible are admitted to share the

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