Essex Lunatic Asylum, 255 "Fashion's " Devilries, 190, 318 Florists' Flowers, 53 Flowers and their Influences, 33, 62, 78. Frog, The, 119 Fruit, Its Use and Abuse, 279 Fruits and Flowers, Degeneracy in Races of, 125 Goats in Switzerland, 341 Gold Fish, 376 Gravel Walks, Advantages of, 256 Hackney Carriage Act, 59 Haddock, The, 61 Hawking,-The Heron, 42, 94 Herring, The, 252 Heated Vessels, A Paradox, 110 Hints to Amateur Gardeners, 48, 111, 174, 238, 251, 252, 254, 256, 304, 346 Home Birds in Foreign Lands, 213, 289, Horse, The, 317 Horse-hair Eel, The, 58 House-Marten, 273 Howqua's Own Tea-Garden, 242 Human Frame, The, 355 Hyacinths, and Early Tulips, 224 Hybridising of Plants, 152 Insects,-Deilephila Elpenor, 128, 189 Strength, 117 Instinct and Reason, 139, 284 Intoxication in India, 135 Jealous People, 22 Jeannette, The Amiable Monkey, 132 Judgment applied to Education, 90 King-fisher, The, 57 318 Leaves of Trees, Impressions from, 125, 189 Life and Beauty in Damascus, 75 in an Oyster, 125 Light and Air, Importance of, 32 Masculine and Feminine, 62 Men and Monkeys, 154, 273 MISCELLANEOUS PARAGRAPHS. Absence, 223; Action, 27; Affection, 227; Bash- 66 Mistaken Charity, 337, 351 Mont Blanc, 150, 246, 375 Moths, To Drive away, 55 Mount Vesuvius, 24 Mountains of the Moon, 93 Mulberry Tree, The, 60, 188 Music, Its Effect in Insanity, 248 Nature's Gift to Man and Beast, 354 "Naturalists,"-Improperly so called, 283, 340 Niagara, Scene at, 90 Notes on the Season, Nov. and Dec., 372 Nuthatch, Nest of The, 149 Oak, The Evergreen, 128 Obituary,-Professor Adrien de Jussieu, 58 Observation,-Value of, 125 Parasitical Plants, 61 Parrots, 52, 53, 186 "Penny-Wise, "&c, 89 People who do not like Poetry, 12 Perfumery and the Fair Sex, 64 Photography, 190, 345 True Happiness, 68; Village Lovers, The, Poetry, Charms of, 86, 133 Proposed New Park on Hampstead Heath, 50 Railway Acts and Bills, &c., 255 Phrenology for the Million, 37, 104, 165, 229 Rananculuses in Winter, 53 291, 358 Pigeons, Affection of, 317 Pitcher Plant, The, 57 Plants Sprinkled with Water, 122 -Motion of, 58 -in Bed rooms, 119 Poultry, 54, 59, 121, 176, 240, 252, 314, 343 POETRY. "Address" by the "Devonshire Dove," 339; REVIEW OF BOOKS, AND MUSIC. ABC Railway Guide, 286; Boys and their Rulers, MUSIC:-Sailing on the Summer Sea, 192; Reading at Meal Times, 120 Shrike, The, Red-backed, 283 Snow Storm in May, 84 KEDD'S OWN JOURNAL AUGUST, 1853. WHAT DO WE ALL LIVE FOR? WHAT'S "LIFE?" At best a wandering breath; When saddest, but a passing sigh; When happiest, but a summer wreathA sigh of roses floating by. C CROLY. HEERFULNESS, IT IS WELL KNOWN, IS THE CHARACTER ISTIC FEATURE OF OUR LIFE. We hate long faces; and whereever we find them, we zealously set to work to reduce them to the shortest possible length, in the quickest possible time. We do this on the great principle, for in order to be "happy" we must be cheerful. The one is the natural consequence of the other. In all that flows from our pen, we try to establish this truth. Yet with all our cheerfulness, let it not be imagined that we are, or can be, indifferent to the scenes that are daily passing around us, or that we fail to sympathise largely with what we are necessitated to witness in the way of sorrow. He who is the possessor of a heart," has enough to do, if he live in London, to control the emotions which that heart must feel between sunrise and the close of day. 46 It may be said, that all people have hearts. They have truly; but all hearts are not tender alike. That which causes one to sigh, will more frequently produce merriment in another. We see this, whenever we walk abroad; and blush for our race. We have headed this paper-"What do we all Live for ?" We are not going to say what we all ought to live for. Our sentiments on this matter are impressed upon every page of OUR JOURNAL. We are going to speak of that which Is. At no season of the year more appropriately than the present, could we take observations. Every street is full of life and motion; all the shops are attractively set out; every temptation that can catch the eye, and draw the purse-string, is exhibited in the windows. Let us watch the passersby. The tempter has but to tempt, and his victim is bagged! VOL. IV.-1. Just now, amusements and excursions are the order of the day. We see multitudes of people flocking in all directions; commencing at early dawn to meet the various steamboats and railway-trains. Every face betokens excitement. All seem bent on pleasure. If they have but one five-shilling-piece in the world, there are many we wot of who would spend it to its last farthing. This is to carry out their "great principle,”-for, be it known, there is a great principle attaching to all grades of society,—but whether a bad or a good principle, we do not say. Thought, reflection, prudence, economy, "the peoforesight-rule very little among ple" in August. "Fun" must be had. Care must be banished. "The great folk have gone out of town, so must we." And away they go ! Now we are not against these amusements of the people. Far from it. We would promote them to the fullest extent. We love to see all the world "happy." It is to the view they take of "happiness" that WE demur. We want to see their joys more natural, their ideas more rational, their description of a "pleasant day" a little more refined. At present-eating, drinking, smoking, and romping, are their summum bonum of enjoyment. As for the devotees of fashion,- -our remarks can never reach them. They live for fashion only. They care for nothing save appearances. They do not deny it. We note their sufferings day after day, and smile at the ennui which attends them in their strict routine of severe duties. They dwell in an atmosphere of their own. They are not free agents, but move quite at the will of others. Men, women, and children, pass us daily, whose countenances but too plainly indicate how unenviable is the life they lead. Hypocrisy,-conventional hypocrisy,-sways every action of their life. They have a face for everybody (etiquette demands this), and are, we imagine, glad to tear off the mask at midnight. It must be a terrible part to play! Downright hard work. Drudgery. But let us proceed. Whilst those of whom we have been speak B Do good by stealth,-and blush to find it fame. ing are squandering away fortunes in the pur the other proceeds from a purer fountain. chase of new bonnets, ribbons, fashionable We allude to those whodresses, &c.; visiting exhibitions, attending concerts, making morning calls, and frittering away their time amidst unceasing gaiety, frivolity, &c., let us take a peep at other passers by-all children of one great Father. Note those poor emaciated, sickly girls, hurrying along with large paper boxes. Those boxes contain what they have been sitting up night after night to finish, in order that the painted butterflies of fashion we have made mention of may be rendered still more gaudily attractive. These poor, pale girls, are "in the habit" of sitting up night after night. They are used to it! What care the gaudy, glittering butterflies? Nothing! The Slaveys are paid for what they do." And see those care-worn countenances, that ever and anon flit past us. Does not each one of them tell of a heart consuming with sorrow? And who shall say what that sorrow is? Perhaps a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick child, or a dying parent, are awaiting anxiously the issue of that hurrying step. Application, most probably, is about to be made for the payment of a small bill-long since overdue. The applicant is anticipating a rebuff, and too well knows what he has every reason to expect. Alas! What are mankind made of? Hearts are broken daily, by the hundred; simply because people will not be honest enough to pay what they owe! It has become "a crime" to ask for one's own. But why need we multiply cases of sorrow? Daily is the bell heard "tolling" for the dead. Daily are funeral processions passing in array before us. Daily are pictures of sorrow, starvation, and horror, haunting us at every step, still is the game of life played merrily out. Nothing seems to soften a heart naturally callous. Selfishness and exclusiveness close the door against all sympathy. Sad, but true! Our much-loved correspondent, "FORESTIERA," has placed in our hands facts connected with the labors of certain religious women, that cause us to love the sex better than ever. She has arrayed her facts in the simple garb of truth. The narrative is unadorned, but sweetly eloquent. Her examples are worthy of imitation. It is true they relate not to England. We wish they did! But they are pleasing proofs of what may be done, and is done, by many a noble-hearted woman. We care not where she dwells. It is sad that we should require to be taught by foreigners what is "our duty towards God and our fellow-creatures." Yet do the documents sent us by "FORESTIERA prove that we have much to learn in this matter. Self-denial, privation, poverty, and devotion, prevail largely abroad. Can this be said truly of England? Hardy indeed must he be, who would dare to assert it! No! We who inhabit a "Christian land," must hide our heads when any searching inquiry be made touching our "self-sacrifices." Our lives are patent to all. Whilst human misery dogs our footsteps wherever we tread, we pass on, Levite like,—without feeling much, if any compassion, for the sufferer (unless, indeed, our names are to be printed up). Our pleasures must not be interfered with,-nor our amusements interrupted. In a word, " Charity begins at home." Is it not so? Surely we shall be pardoned for having raised the question,-"What do we all Live for." Life never could have been bestowed upon us for the unworthy purpose to which we are in the habit of applying it. Let us reflect upon this. THE MORNING AIR. Such is the world! But are there no Yes; thank God there are. THERE is something in the morning air that, exceptions? Whilst Mammon holds his court in public, shallow philosophy, adds brightness to the blood, while it defies the penetration of our proud and there are many secret angels of mercy tracing freshness to life, and vigor to the whole frame. out the abodes of sorrow, and ministering to The freshness of the lip, by the way, is, accordthe necessities of the unfortunate. No recording to Dr. Marshall Hall, one of the surest marks is there in the newspapers of their good deeds; neither knoweth their right hand what is done by the left. This is true charity. Do not let it be imagined for one moment that our remarks have reference to those wellmeaning, but misguided, silly Englishwomen, who, at all hours (seasonable or otherwise); rush hither and thither, distributing a parcel of "Tracts." Surely not! We allude to something more sensible, something more rational, something more pure and holy. The love of praise too often rules the one; of health. If you would be well, therefore—if you would have your heart dancing gladly, like the April breeze, and your blood flowing like an April brook-up with the lark-"the merry lark,' as Shakspeare calls it, which is "the ploughman's clock," to warn him of the dawn-the odor of budding flowers, and all the fragrance up and breakfast on the morning air-fresh with of the maiden spring. Up, up from your nervedestroying down bed, and from the foul air pent within your close-drawn curtains, and, with the sun, "walk o'er the dew of yon high eastern hills." |